The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-04-12
AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.
from the American Agrieulturist.
Cotton CulfiyatIon

were corfu using the morse ana nan0- noe 70
keep down the weeds AS soon as the first
bolls open. pick the cotton; and repeat the
operation at intervals as successive bolls RI
pen. Early frosts will very likely cut off
q portion of the crop, but if the season is
at all favorable, enough will mature. south
Of 40 deg, to pay for the trial. Besides,
there is no doubt that persistent efforts, u.s.
ing the earliest matured seed of that grown
at the North, will so acclimatize the plant
that it may be grown in much higher lati-
tudes than at present. The prospect now
Isl that the amount of cotton planted at the
South this year, will be far below the usual
quantity, so that northern grown cotton
will probably find ready market. New
or pretty rich soil, is best for the cotton
plant. It is considered somewhat exhaust
ing to the soil-unless kept up by manur-
ing.
This crop occupies the ground lut short
time. It follows corn or the small grains
in q rotation, and may be followed by tur
nips the same season. Any soil finely work
ed in good heart, free from weeds, not so
rich as to produce rank, uneven growth,
and not liable to suff fer drouth, will answer
~
sowed to the acre, according to the quality
of the land; never more than two bushels
when raised for seed. Sow early in the
spring. harrow and roll. When hand
breadth high. it is well to go through and
pull all the tall growing weeds. About the
last of July the bottom of the stalks turn
yellow and lose their leaves, the seed cap
sules also become plump and full. If the
crop is raised for the seed let stand until
fully ripe, but gather before there is danger
of Smelling; if for the fiber, pull when the
ripest seeds have assumed light brown
color. Flax is pulled by the roots. bound
in small sheaves, and stocked until dry
enough to stack. Or, the seed may be
stripped off in the ripping combs at once
and the straw stacked. When raised on
small scale, it is usually spread out in CAV
els as pulled and left to undergo the rotting
process. Twelve to sixteen bushels of seed,
and tun and half of straw, is a common
yield. When the cleansed fiber and the oil
are alone sold. this otherwise exhausting
crop does not exhaust the farm at all,
WASH FOR FRUIT TREEs-Solomon Rob
inson, Worcester Co.. Mass, uses the fol-
lowing wash on his fruit trees with good
effect. Put pailful of water in a tub, and
stir in 8 quarts fresh COW manure, quart
soft soap. quarts sifted wood ashes, and
add urine enough to make the mixture of
the conscience of whitewash. Apply this
to the trunks and limbs of the trees early
in June, with an old broom. The manure
and ashes form coating which each rain
gradually removes, leaving clean, glossy
bark, and also carrying fertility into the
soil.
RHUBARB IN W1NTEE.-On February L th
we received from j. q. Thompson of Rich
mond Co., Staten Island, stalks of rhubarb
l8 inches long, of beautiful pink color.
which cooked crisp and tender. They were
grown in dark but warm cellar, by merely
placing the roots in boxes of earth in the
fall, setting them in the cellar, and watering
occasionally. With q very little trouble
some OF the surplus roots of the garden, or
crowns taken from large plants, will furnish
a considerable supply during Winter.
LIMA BEANS, EARLY.-To secure an ear
ly crop of this delicious but late maturing
bean. cut numerous bits of sod Il or in
ches square, set them above good bed of
manure in hot-bed, and plant bean, eye
down, in each; cover with soil to the depth
VA Ou lnCus AIdHSEAoAt All 14dJ
ing the sods without breaking them, aud
put two or three to pole in a warm shelter
ed spot. Pinch off the top of the vine when
about 5 feet high to still further promote
early maturity.
RHUBARB Coop FOR DRYING.-H. G.
Smith, Vermillion Co., ILL.,, writes: "Among
all the good things justly said in the Agri-
cult9rist, in favor of Rhubarb or Pie Plant.
have not seen it stated that when dried it
is as good substitute as dried apples for
green rhubsrb-in fact. I like the dried thu
barb better than the green for pies. To
dry, cut it in inch-long pieces, and spread
it IN the sun, the same as apples"
CRoPs IN YOUNG ORoHARDs.-"A New
Subscriber" asks what crop to plant on
ground where young orc hard has just
been set out -. Roots of some kind are
best-carrots. Iutabagas, mangel wurzels.
They may not be planted nearer the trees
than about six feet, but the ground around
the trees should be kept titled just as if it
were ali planted, but not so deep as to dis
turb the roots of the trees.
BUDDING SHooTs KEPT IN WASH. A.
French. Eaton Co., Mich. says that shoots
for budding have been kept three weeks
corked up in vial with few drops of wa
ter. and when inserted nearly all lived.
Crafts could doubtless be preserved long
time in the same manner, by keeping them
in a moderately cool place.
Root Culture.
The culture of roots for farm stock can
not be too highly recommended. In Eng
land aud France roots are extensively cUl-
tivated, and constitute the basis of good