The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-05-09
THE TRIBUNE.
FARM AND GARDEN.

FARM AND
ER ! Compared with II value and the num-
her of uses it is applied, the currant is q
neglected fruit. 1.-THE first correct re-
cord we have of the currant as fruit
under cultivation was about A. D. 1000
hut once introduced it increased rapidly
in favor, and growing so rapidly from
cuttings or shoots, it was found In the
parden of every stranger
Every. owner of lot plants few cur
rant bushes, and as a rule every owner
of a lot neglects their cultivation. Usu-
ally theysare given a position as close to
the side of fence as possible, and II
they grow and produce fruit, IN abund-
ance, all very well if they do not fruit
abundantly. the owner remarks that cur
rents don't seem to do In my garden.
No other fruit bearing plant in the
whole list, fruits SO well or endures so
many wears under complete neglect as
the currant and we believe no other
fruit has in itself valuable qualities for so
many uses as the currant. 1t thrives In
anv soil-shade or sunshine, and if plant
ed in varied exposures may be had IN
eating over two months. As dessert
fruit It is cooling and grateful to the
I. stomach, ornamental and attractive on
the table, valuable for its medicinal qua
lities-being used, to allay thirst in feb
rile complaints, to lessen an increased Sc
erosion Of bile, to correct putrid and
scorbutie state of the fluids, to strength
en- the stomach and excite appetite. 1t Is
used for tarts and pies when green and
! can be kept fresh for years IN bottles.
I Ripe, it is not only used as desert. but IS
made into .jellies and wines, and can be
distillcinto brandy.
As a crop for market planted four by
four feet, the currant yields from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred bushels
to the acre; and If sold in market, usual
ly brings about two dollars bushel.
Made into wine and the product sold at
two dollars gallon, it has returned over
$500 to the OHIO farmer.
TERMINATION AND VEGErATIoN.-M
Carey Lea has recently made several ex-
periments to determine how far the ger
mination of seeds and the growth of
plants are il fiuenced by the action of We
~ dilute. solutions of acids, salts, and
neutral bodies. In the first experiment
J he tied over the top of II glasses, each
holding I24 ounces of water, pieces OF
very thin muslin which were allowed to
dip Into the liquid. Twenty perfect grains
of wheat were placed on each piece of
muslin. Into the glasses respectively
were put one drop of sulphuric acid, two
drops nitric acid, three drops hydrochlo-
ric acid, five grains bicarbonate of potash
FIVE grains dry carbonate of soda, five
grains sulphate of soda, twelve grains
cholrate of potash, ten drops of weak
ammonia solution. 4 pair of zinc and
copper plates In plain water, and connect
ed above it by wire, similar pair IN
water containing three drops OF hydro
chloric acid, one glass containing only
plain water for comparison. At the end
of As hours, termination was evident IN
each case; at the end Of the third, fourth
fifth, and sixth day. vegetation was most
advanced in the three glasses containing
respectively plain water, blcarbonate OF
potash, and suiphite OF soda On the
sixth day, the least advanced was seen in
the glasses containing the three acids;
the hydrochlorine acid glass being behind
all
In the bicarbonate of potash solution
the same number of grains terminated
as in plain water, but in the solution of
sulphite of+oda the number of germlnat
ing grains was one-tourth less, although
the plants attained the same height as IN
the piain NtbSf- nc GBAC-uuSd tudt III
carbonate of potash was least injurious
of all the substances tried; next was the
sulphite of soda; and next the carbonate
OF soda. The presence of an electric
pair did not check termination, but re-
duced vegetation one-third. In his next
experiments he included certain organic
substances, cane sugar so grains, gum 80
grains, glycerine fluid erachm, and Of
one vegetable acid (citric) grains; also
permanganate of potash ? grains, nitrate
Of ammonia 20 grains \ large proper
ton of sulphite of soda was used, 20
grains, and only one fourth the quantity
of sulphuric acid. At the end Of IL
rather cold days, from the 10th to the
23d of December, it was found that in
the citric acid and permanganate of pot
ash solution no roots were formed. altho
the plants had grown an inch high. At
the end Of Il month the roots IN the SUI
gar cane solution were only an inch III
length, while those in the gum and gly-
cerlne solutions mad reached the very bot
tom of the vessels. Vegetation was as
active in the last three named solutions
as in pure water, and some OF the plants
IN the gum solution were fully one-half
higher than in the other three liquids.
The plants in the solutions OF sulphlte OF
soda and nitrate of ammonia were very
slightly In advance of those III plain wa
ter.-N T. Tribune.