The Placer herald., 1862-09-13
AGRICULTURAL.

How THE CHINESE MAKE DWARF TREEs.
Ne have all known from childhood how
the Chinese cramp their women's feet, and
so manage to make them "kerpers at home" "
but how they contri,e to grow miniat"re
pines aud oaks in flower pots for II half q
century has always been much of 4 secret.
1t is the product chiefly of skiIlful, long
continued root pruning. They aim, first
and last, at the sea, of vigorous growth, en-
deavoring 10 weaken as far as may consist
with the preservation of life. They begin
at the beginning. Taking yonng plant
(say Seeding or emitting of ce'lAr,) when
only two or three inches high they ca off
It's tap root rs soon rs it has enough of other
r""tIels to live upon, anl replaut it in n
shallow earlhen pot or pan. The cad of
the tap root is genera y made to rest on the
bottom of the pan, or on u fl 1t stone within
II. AIuvlaI clay Is then put int" the pot :,
much Of 1t in bits the size of beans, HnI
just enough III k'nl and quantity TO furnish
"a s'anty nourl,lment tor the plant. Water
enough is gwen To keep 1t IN growth, hut
not enough To excite II vigorous habit. So,
likewise, in the apphra,io, of hight and heat,
shape of their miniature trees, they use
stings, wires, and pegs, and various other
mechanical rontrivance>, to promote sym
metry ot habit, or Ia fashion their pets into
old fancy figures Thus by ,he use Of very
shallow pans, the growth of the tap-ronls is
out OF lhe question, by the use of the poor
soil, and llllle OF it, and little water, strong
growth is prevented. Then, too, the tap
and side roots being within easy reach Of
the gardener, are shortened by his pruning
knife or scared with his hot iron. So the
little tree, finding itself healed on every
side, gives up The idea of strong growth,
asking only for life, and just growth enough
to look we'll. Accordingly each new set of
leaves becomes more and more stunted, the
buds aud rootlels are diminished in proper
ton and at length balance is establi. he'd
between every part of the tree, making it a
dwarf IN all respects. In some kinds of
trees, this end is rea"hed in three or four
years; in others, ten or fifteen years are neces
sary. Such is fancy horticulture among the
Celestials
MODE OF DRYING THE COMMON RED Gun.
RANT The curranls should he quite ripe
when gathered, with the stems atia ahel, and
washed or rlnsed etfeclualy and drained off
Then stem then and wash them thoroughly,
and to each pound OF rurranls a'l! quarter
OF a pound Of good Havana sugar; then
place them IN common preserving kettle
over fire until they come to a scald lieut.,
when they are turne out into white earth
ern dishes, and exposed To the action of The
sun, until, 10y evaporation they become har
dened on the upper side. Then they >Tr
turned over, and there remain until they be-
come 50 on the other s-, and SO alternate
nn,lI they become of Il s,rt # lealh-rv tex
'nrr, when they are pat away in ear,hrln
Ts or boxes unill they are wanted tor use.
Care mus, be taken TO keep them from the
lews of night anl rams during the Process
"t dryin-; finally, the utmost rleanlne>s
>h"u Il lie observe from first To last.
When used, enol IN hot VA -r Is required
to dissolve them or render them lo a.,v con
>islenry suitable fr ,ar,-, lily a.. Al the
same Time more sugar Is required to make
them quite ralalab Z, which mus, nf course
be governed hy taste. Curranls in tins way
Lave kept well with us for three years, and
he pr->u nplion is that they will keep for u
longer time it well cared for The Horh
cuLturiSt recommends the above to our lady
rea lers as AN excellent method Of preserving
their surplus stock Of currants.
CULrIvArING THE CANrELoupE.-Th Ger
man'own (Pa) Telegraph mss the following
'For the canleonpe u sandy loan is al.
ways to he preferre'i; but any light, friable
sol, with southern exposure, free from pre-
valllng moisture, will answer. The ground
should he converted into II tine tllil-ihe
hills should tie dug out ten or twelve inches.
eighteen inches IN diameter, which should he
filled with one'thirl well'rnlled short ma'
nure, onellhr'l good sanl (>h"ull the soil
not possess ANY, and one.;hirL rich earth
we'll mixed! The hills should be from -iaht
I" Twelve feet apart each way, rs room may
allow, ana the s,.e'l, SAY five /" a hill, should
to planted over The whole hill an inch below
the surface. When the sprouts are Two in
ches high, 81 q them n sIrinkIiny Of wo"I
ashes, while the dew is on, or after watering
them, and repeat three or four times during
the two following weeks. This will drive
away the insects When they are six inches
hl4i, remove all but two or three vines, ac'
corolng to The space between the rows. and
carefully PM round, net to the vines. u Ill,le
guano. In renewing the weeds from the
,'c'is, the vines should not be disturbed as
the root!ets which penetrate the earth from
the vines, and which supply the principa
nourishment to the fruit, will be destroyed"
CURRANr WINE--To one quart of cur.
rant juice add two quarts of water, and two
and a-half pounds of coffee sugar to The gal
Ion. Let it work in the cask, and bottle at
least six months.
Almost a million and half bushels Of
grain were shipped from New York for Eu
rope in one week, besides 35,432 barrels Of
flour. This is a fine fact. considering that
Europe is at peace, while we have a civil
l.