The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-08-10
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

WHAT WILL Par BFs-?-Ths i a natural
question for a farmer TO ask. but an answer
i not always readily gwen. 4 man with two
or three years experience on a farm, can
determine pretty nearly what crop il best
suited to each section Of il. so far as quantity
or yield is concerned. but 1t is not 20 easy TO
decide what particular product viii pay best
in anv particular year Sometimes the pota-
. cror i short, and The price oi That product
reaches very hugh figure. The nexrsesson
each farmer doubles his quantity Of potato
ground, and the result il a redundant market
and low prices. Then follows diminished
production and 40 on, year in and year out
This is one Of the annoyanees Of trade, and
pertains to all calisrgs 20 certain extent
That farmer viii probably succeed best who
parsaes generally uniform system-diEersi>
" his erops regularly 50 that be may have
something 10 sell Of each class Of products.
whatever She ruling price may be.
Iyrasa sass 1ax SIZE o. rgrir-Fhat
dozen aae specimens 6 any kind OF fruit are
better serta nayiaE than double the number
Of haIf-gruwu and poorly rpened ones, is too
obvious TO require Argument. Thinning the
fruit is one of the most ready and effective
means 10 secure its fatl Development, but
there are other aids which viii be mentioned
presently. Thinning IS often omitted through
negligence. but more frequently from timIdity.
Indeed il does require some courage 10 re-
move half Of the young fraIt from tree. IN
I'll one has experienced its utility. Not only
do the remaining frrits acquire greater
size. bat degree OF perfection never found
il an over abundant crop. Oue q the prin>
clnal growers of the Isabella grape. whose
success is generally credited TO his favorable
location. attributes very little to this circum
stance but thinks that his most certain crop
of we'll ripened fruit IS due more to his severe
thinniag-5aking away three fourths Of the
beFrles-than to anything else.
TIE largest pear growers of our aequaint-
snce thIa severely The amount TO be re-
moved II thinning will depend nron the va
rietv ara vigor o. the tree. With trees in
full bearing. from one-third TO half Of the
fruit MAJ be removed 70 advantage. The
earlier il is done after the fruit commences
to grow the better, except with stone fruits,
which are allowed to remain until the stone
is formed. Where very large specimens Of
fruit is desired. growers resort TO other expe-
dents, or tricks, some of which, such as
ringing the bark, we cannot commend
while others such as shading the fruit during
the period Of growth. until the time OF npen-
ing. are harmless. Supporting the trait SO a
to relieve the strain upon the stem, and sup
porting It's right SIDE or blossom end up, are
both said TO aid in aagmenting the size.
Some hortieulrarists in Europe go so far ri
to march leafs saoet upon the fruit spur
and thas bring = the fruit greater supply
than it would otherwise get, and solution
OF sulphur Of iron. tcopperas, 70 grains Il
the plat az vateI j. applied by the French
gardeners. The fruit - weited two or thres
times with this during It's growth, and Il j.
said to Increase is size and improve its beau
" preventing f-fngoas spots. But these ar,
reGnements that few Of our readers will car,
to praetics Thinning, added to good cultur,
will give all that need be desired.
= W. p.
PINS IsfASp. MINI. 1886.
Plcxrxs Woar.-The amount of this labo
that can be done in day, depends upon To
condition Of the VOL. The wool of shee'
kent in clean pastures, and to be manage
BY a factory furnished With picker, require
only q nominal picking. Sticks, burs or harl
stances only need be removed. But ill>kep
sheep and old machinery, throw Labor upol
the picker alike tedious and painful, - tn
wool rnnst be pulled 90 open that every part
Gle Of foreign substance can be removed
CAxpfsa.-Ihe WOOL most be sent 70 a
factory in strong sheets ALLOW. one pound G
grease 70 twelve pounds Of wool If you
rolls are 70 be nixed, pun up the coiors In u
same sheet. IN the propertsen you wish ther
used. For solid cloths it Is best to color b
wool. as skein Of yarn can hardly ever
so uniformly colored as not TO show a7Eeees
shades in the web. Mixed rolls should b
passed through the cards twice to insure
uniform color. GsM @A y
DEAD SRoF AT lacks IN SHERP.-There N
been a great deal said in the papers abou
dead shcsssaf bat think a saof to kin d
sheep ticks is worth as much to the man vh
keeps sheep IS any one: and here + propos
to give it.
/ have the authority Of an old farmer f
saving. that sulphur wlrsd riih sah, is : ca
tain remedy. Said he IA few years aen
had one hundred sheep and ,theI were vel
tick. Some TING n she month Of March
gave shen snapharvi<A sAeir mn three
four times. ard q shearing time, AaEe y
not tick to be found Two posnds to q
hundred sheep, givea q four didsrsat tna