Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-07-22
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

FARM AND FIRESIDE.
MULcnING BEARING FRUIT TREES. Mr.,
P. T. Quinn writes There is no doubt
now by our most intelligent horticulturists
about the practical advantages to be gained
by mulching the surface of the orchard and
fruit garden This should be more general
ly practiced in fruit producing districts, for
it is the least expensive and most efectual
method of protecting the fruit trees against
the bad results often following the frequent
and sudden changes of temperature during
the Summer and Fall months, when the
suface of the ground is left exposed to the
direct rays of the sun. Again, VIXEN the
mulch is put two or three inches in thickness,
the surface soil is constantly moist and loose.
even en- no rain falls for term of sever
al weeks, and the trees or fruit receive no
check for want of moisture and food under
such circumstances. My method is to Gull
tivate the spaces between the rows Of trees
in the orchard, using small one horse pillow
and cultivator, running not more than two
inches deep, during the early part of the
season. From the LIST to the 18th of July
I have put on heavy coatiIg of salt hay,
covering the surface as far as the branches
extend After this there is no more trouble
with weeds and grass. There may a few
scattered ones start up, but they are easily
destroyed Every fruit grower knows that
two or three weeks before the time for
gathering the main crop of fruit, fine spec-
mems are constantly falling off or blown off
by strong winds When the ground is mulch:
ed the majority of such specimens are not
bruised Or injured for sale. This saving
alone consider pays M, for the trouble of
mulching the orchard.
INsEcrs.-At meeting of the New York
Farmers Club, communication was re-
ceived from William Cullen Bryant on the
of insects. He attributes the
principal causes of the failure of fruit crops
to their depredations, and thought that the
increase Of insects were brought about by
reason of the destruction of birds which
feed upon them The farmer must take his
choice between birds and insects Birds
multiply with comparative slowness, and if
they pray upon the crops, they can be
seen and scared away. Insects multiply by
myriads, and evade the attacks of man to
destroy them. Birds take small part of
the fruit Or ripened grain insects destroy
both by wholesale. He thought that there
was nothing else to do but to take the birds
into partnership, allowing them part o.
the annual products, on condition of their
protecting the remainde. Mr.. NJ. G..
Sherman Of Norwalk, Ohio, wrote, stating
that the liquid sheep manure put around
melon and cucumber vines will protect them
against the ravages of the striped bug.
To SECURE TENDER MUTroN.-A CORES
pondent says: "Conversing recently with o
prominent sheep breeder of New York, who
nad travelled extensively in England and on
he Continent, we enquired his opinion as
TO the cause of the superiority of the Eng
fish and continental mutton over what is
usually found in the American market He
had been struck with this himself, and made
it point Of especial attention in visiting
large hocks, to inquire as to the most APP
proved modes of feeding and management
IF sheep. The answer to our question was
Ill comprised in single sentence -they
eed turnips-and with their aid three or
our year old wether Can age which in this
country would require near twelve houls'
stew to make it eatable, eats as tender as a
chicken Now we want to impress tits fact
upon sheep breeders, that if they want to
collect crowd around their stalls, and get
eputatien for tender and juicy mutton, they
must raise ruta bagas and turnips-a prac-
nh, al, how oh frna hai
gully of in this section, at least, as raising
lax or hemp"
Jumps On HORSES SHOULDERS cor
espondent of the Cincinnati Gazette writes
1.-The following is a sure cure for Jumps
hat come on horses shoulders. Take the
ommon coal OIL and battle the lump we'll
vice day, using warm iron to drive the
ii in. Continue this process two weeks,
nd by that time the hair will be out Of the
way and the lump will be very soft. Then
pply the following mixture One half pint
t turpentine. one half pint of alcohol, and
wo ounces of the gum of camphor dissolve
he camphor well, and then apply. In this
vay 1 have removed lump as big as
urkcy's egg from one of my horses Shout
ers. If the last part of the remedy fails,
~ the coal oil again. When you see that
he lump is reccding, work lightly this will
ause the lump to burst and disappear"
Sailing Mich Cows VIM. Egger of
Iowville, Lewis County, N. Y, a Swiss
airyman of experience. gives the method
racticed in Switzerland by the best stock
eepers, for saltiug stock. He says that
ows should be sailed every morning. and
they are fed in the stable, the salt should
re given before foddering. Sailing in this
way improves their appetite they drink
With more regularity, are kept in better
ealth, and give more milk than when salt
ed in the usual way. as practiced by dairy
nen in America. He thinks it is very in
urious to salt mich COWS only once Or twice
week, as they will lick two much salt at
me time, and drink too much water for the
lay. To have stock do we'll. they must be
cd with regularity 9 very day alike, and
lever given too much of anything at one
ime.
TOMATO PLANrs.-Much may be gained
n the yield of the tomato by judicious
treatment of the plant after the fruit is
ormed. We tried plan last season which
proved eminently successful. We made
rame-w work of laths, mailing them across
each other perhaps two inches apart, and
,lanting them between the rows the in
,lination facing the southwest. The plants
with their load of fruit rested on these
frames, and the frui. ripcned remarkably
early and well. We trimmed off all un-
necessary shoots and branches, and the en-
rance Of the suns rays to- the fruit Was
lnobstructed. Training and trimming the
vines is always to be recommended .-lMs-
,acAusetts Ploughnaan