The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-01
duritultural mn 0umastit.
TTbe following items are from that valua-
tlo manor the american Aqy'icUlturia j


rTbe following items are from that yalua-
bic paper, the american Agric~lfar'Sf j
FAIL OF FnR LEAvEs-wHY THEY PAIL
A. We we're walking through the grounds
OF a friend a few days ago, ne pointer W. ,
what heconsidered a singular phenomenon
og Two cberrv trees. standing near each
otbe- one had lost most Of It's leaves
yrbiIe those Of the other were apparently
az o,reen and 1Ourishng a ever. From me
remark that they had been equally exposed
n frost. IL IS evident that he, as wei a
others. thinks that the falling Of the leai Is
due 10 its being killed by frost. While II Is
true thai some kinds hold their iOiage un
iii frost kills them this is not the case Win
the majority Of our hardy trees. As gen
eral thing the leaf falls because 1t i ripei
II has fulfilled the objects Of It's existence
and in so doing Obeys natural law. III
many leaves this fall Is anticipated ana a
distinct line Of demarcatiOn between the
leaf and stem is formed. while the tissues
nj the surface Of the stem at the point OF
attachment are hardened, 50 that when the
unjOn is completely severed. the scar Is al
ready healed over. and there IS no danger
from evaporation from the many WOUNDS
Thus lcff The leaf fall in many seasons
10 each variety. Just as is tie period Of the
rineninr of The fruit. I'm the case Of the
two cherry trees referred 10 above they
were OF distinct sorts. and 10 Is not strange
that the leaves should perfect their NofA
and fall or IL different dcriOds.
MAKE TIE HOMESTEAD ATTRACTIVE
# need not cost much money % adOrn .
the place one lives in. Begin Dy digging
out the hriers and thistle OF the door yard
Plant q few trees. then add several Hover
inc shrubs Perhaps that viii answer Tor
one year. Next year, maks gravel walk
OF two. and set a few towering plants py
their sides. Your wife and daughter VIII
SOW some flower seeds II yOu VIII Only
nrenare "A neat border for them. Look al
these improvements some bright morning
next June. and we guarantee You viii be
Glad Won made them. And these labOrs, 50
rewardinr will lead on 10 others. The
fences and buildings viii be kept IN repair;
trees will be set ont along the roadside the
house will have wind0w-hlinds the rooms
will be papered and paintcd good iurni-
fure will De- provided. and books anu pa
pers will not Dee missing All these things
will bee regulated according ~ ones ability
And. as "a general rule whateyerOur means,
IL Is better 20 make Improvements by de-
grees, from year 10 year, than % DO them
an up at once. "by the job BE assured
this Is the way 20 find the most happiness
In home adjoining And, remember, the in
huence Of such Improvements does not end
with the individual family. They tell silent
Is. but with great effect, upon society
Every neighbor and every passer by feels
them, and many are Ted by such examples
to go themselves and do likewise.
ASK YOUR WIFE.
ooh, what do women know about BUSH
ness .r imDatieutiy asks Mr. Crusty. Not
so much as they ought. in many cases, and
this Is one reason for urging that they be
consulted In matters affecting their hus-
bands interest. To say nothing Of the aid
which wife's counsel and suggestions may
give. it IS unjust % keep her in ignorance
of business. Want OF alittit knowledge Ol
such matters renders many widow All ca
sy prey % sharpcrs. or az best greatly adds
to her cares and perpleXites.
a woman needs t0 know the state of her
husbands affairs in order % exercise prop
or economy IN the household, avoiding what
would be meauucss n bis income were am
pie or extravaganza when his resources
are diminished The credit OF thousands
Of merchants has been seriously impaired
by the high style Of living adopted 10y their
families. who are i0Olishly kept ignorant Of
the real condition Of their finances, On
the other hand. we have known men earn
ing more for money than for home COM
forts, who have studi0usy concealed their
gains. and the wife and daughters have
been forced I'm sell defence % a hundred
little receptions by which 10 obtain even
tie decencies of life.
Most of a mans thoughts must Dee upon
his business plans while he is achieving
success: ii his wife is not permitted 10
share his cOunsels. al least in a general way
she is necessarily shut out from much of
sympathy with him. and one OF the great
sources of happiness is thereby seriously
diminished. And let not the lords of crea-
ton despise the cOunsels which wOmans
naturally quick perceptions may suggest;
Well timed word from this source may al
times be- like the railroad switch % turn
the train from running quickly 90 ruin
SUBSTITUTE FOR GRATING WAY.
W. X. ID. finds that rosin melted with al
eOhol in sufficient proportions To form Il
thick paste, and then applied with brush
answers very we'll for all grating opera
tions
PATIENCE.
YOu may 20 around and watch the opening
buds from day TO day, but each takes its
own time, and y0u cannot urge il on faster
long VINE.
G. \. W. Warner. Mahomng Co., Ohio,
sends us the measurement OF volunteer
citrOn melon vlne which came up in his gar
den. The total length of the main vine
ana branches was 3sl feet. and it produced
little over Al pounds Of fruit Mr.. War
ner gives very complete and interesting
measurement Of all the different parts Of
the vine, for which We have not room.
PROTECTING STRAWBERRY BEDS.
NJ. ). F.. Ludlow, o.. LAYS cornstalks par
allel with the rows. and then spreads over
them q covering OF leaves. I'm the spring
the stalks are removed. and The leaves are
left rs a mulch. and to keep the fruit from
being soiled. I'm protecting with any ma
terial. the crowns of the plants should be
lightly covered. The main object is TO
keep the soil around the roots from sudden
thawing and freezing.
WHAT SIZED POTATOES ARE BEST To- PLANT
Mr. George Nav. an English experiment
ter. has made some careful trials OF the ei-
fects OF planting seed potatoes OF different
cAA~Ns Alt i'ltllAftA lll lNNs = lttL apart anu
one foot in the row. I'm one experiment
20 potatoes weighing ounces, and the
same number weighing 4 and OF. each
were tried. The yield was as follows:
The 20 OF o. each (2S ms yielded p lbs y o..
The - % o. each JOS yielded - lbs. o. OF.
The 20 OF o. each 10 lhs) yielded IS lbs. !
Extending these results 90 an acre. shows
after deducting the weight of the seed. that
there Is a gain Of 1909 pounds in using the
ounce in preference % , o.. sets. and in
using 5. o. sets the gain over the OF. was
6.9i2 pounds. Experiments with the above
different sorts show even "a larger gain than
this. from using large seed. Mr. Nav is Of
the opinion that The Use OF larger SeIs prOdu-
&c larger potatoes and believes that not ONLY
the QuOntiiy but the quality of the crop may
be improved by always planting the largest
and best. and that the polat0e-prOducing
power OF land may be Increased one-third
by using large seed.
KILLED THEM WITH KINDNESS.
\ gentleman in Orange County. writes
Us an amusing account of the manner in