The constitutional union., 1861-02-01
AGRICULTURAL.

edly, says The Country Gentlemen, urged the importance of draining for the purpose of protecting orchards at the West, from the effects of cold winters. A correspondent in Illinois has been very successful with his trees, both in nursery and orchard, by plow- ing good surface furrows to carry of all excess of water before freezing up, and by planting his orchard on ridges made by blowing strips of land as wide as the rows. We find the following useful remarks on this subject, in a late number of The Prairie Farmer:
 q visited, not long since, the successful orchard of seventy-fve acres, owned by Mir, James Wakeman, of Cottage Hill, Du Page county. One of the leading features of this orchard was that the trees had the appearance of being planted on ridges which was caused by annually blowing towards the trees. He 1 commences to blow next the tree first, which leaves deep furrow in the center, between the rows, which acts as partial drain-a very | efficient aurface drain in winter. For when the snow is thawed by the influence of the sun, the ground being frozen, 1t runs into the 1 hollows. It cannot penetrate the soil. If the slope is completed to the dead furrow, it goes there. But if there is a hollow, immediately about the body of the tree, 1t flows there. 1 have seen 1t stated recently, that the expan- sion or lifting power of ice is nearly equal to twice the lifting power of gunpowder Hence the effect of body of ice immediately about the body of tree Hence, too, the impor- tance and benefits of banking up with earth, in the fall, immediately about it. have had trees destroyed in this manner, by ice form 1 ing about the collar. 1 have seen hardy grapes ruined in the same way. Scores of trees, whose bodies are otherwise protected by the sun, are killed at the collar by this lifting ice. It is a good plan, think, to bank up about trees in the fall, and especially plow orchards, as above described"
 GRATING THE GRAPE.-Select the gratis while the vine is dormant The one-year old does not answer a good purpose, from the fact that it is nearly all pith. The two year olds will not do, on account of the difficulty of forcing bud; but the two combined answer admirably.
 Keep moist, and in cool place, until the leaf of the vine Is fully expanded, and not until the buds are fully started on the stocks but insert in the vine at that time, and my experience is, that failure will certainly be the result, as the excessive flow of sap will prevent the parts uniting.
 Late in the season. the sap becomes thick and gummy, and there is no need of failure once in a thousand times, if properly inserted
 Cut with two or three buds, one is sufh- cient, if the joint be long enough to place the splice five or six inches below the surface ot the ground three inches is long enough fol the two year old wood Two inches from the end, cut it almost half in two, but not quite then turn the opposite side, and cut 1t in the same way. Split out the two sides leaving a thin silver in the center, just sufficient tC serve as a splint to bind the graft and stalk together The shoulders should be square Now remove the earth from the stalk, cut tht root off square, slit 1t in the center insert the graft so that the shoulders of the graft anC stalk will fit closely; tie a string around tho top of the stalk, draw the earth up and tramp firmly then draw little loose earth on t prevent baking from the previous tramping and my word for 1t, there Is no such word a. fail. have seen them grow thirty feet tn, first summer. Valley Farmer.
 DWARF APPLE TREEs.-Dwarf apple trees are fast becoming tayorites Although they will never be so extensively employed for orchards as dwarf pears they will un doubtedy be freely brought into garden where variety is desired in q small space Every season proves these trees to be wha they have been set out for They are pro- ductive and easily managed the heads bein. low, they are easily sheltered, and protected if necessary, during the winter Every bar of the tree is immediately under the eye 0 the cultiyator, by which he Is able to contro perfectly their forms, and to destroy any i'll sects that may attack them.
 We are aware that they public know ltt of these trees, but, after several years obser vation, We have no hesitation in te,titying tC their value. The trees can be planted si, feet apart, so that quite a variety can b planted in any garden, without occupying much space.
 Like pears grow on dwarf trees. the frui of dwarf apple trees is usually larger an' finer than the same varieties grown on stand ard trees.
 The best age to transplant the trees is a two years from the bud or graft, and the, will commence to bear the first year after trans planting.
 At the West where fruit is scarce, and i'm mediate produce very desirable, and where also, high winds are prevalent and tn changes of temperature in the winter seasol are very sudden, we think these trees nigh be planted to great advantage. And, indeed we are aware that the Western people hay, already commenced to plant them considerably
 [Genesee Farmer. ' DON'T be afraid of little fun at home good people don't shut up your houses, les the sun should fade your carpets, and you l l l. l 1 L