Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-29
HOME, FARM AND GARDEN.

I
A writer in the Cincinnati Gozette says
that two years ago ne applied fresh hog
manure mixed with corn cobs, aud put
wheel-barrow full around each young
apple tree which had been set out about
IN the death Of several nice young trees,
the bark being burned or scalded just
above ground.
The Germantown Telegraph says that
the longer blackberry canes are unpruned,
the shorter will be the lateraIs, and the
smaller the fruit. To obtain the largest
SIZE berries, and the largest quantity, too,
cut back the leading canes to not exceed
| ing four feet in length, and shorten in,
( also the lateral branches In July, the
young wood, which by that time has
grown over the tops Of the old bearing
canes, should be clipped, especially the
! lateral branches. This will have very
good effect on the following years crop.
A correspondent of Hearth and Home
tells Of his success 10 cleaning walls that
had been badly smoke-stained. After
| trying various experiments, he used
strong solution Of common washing soda
purchased at the corner grocery store;
and although the smoke had struck
through the hard finish" he says he
soon had the Satisfaction of restoring the
walls 10 perfect whteness. The soda
wash can be successfully applied, he
adds, either before or after whitewash
ing.
The Boston Journal of Chemistry says:
ave are informed by DR.. E. Worcester,
of Waltham. that the currant worm, so
destructive to favorite fruit, may be fully
and almost Immediately destroyed by the
use OF carbonate Of lime. The doctor tried
! the powd, in many instances during the
past summer, and found that while IL was
FLY as effective as bellebore; it was less
disag reeable, less costly, and perfectly safe.
The method of using it is TO sprinkle it
over the vines as soon as the worm makes
its appearance, bringing it well in contact
with the leaves.
-Oat Meal Mush.-A very palatable
and wholesome, simple, yet nourishing
dish may be made by the following method.
Stir a cuptul Of oatmeal in sufficient
quantity of cold water, as if TO make Cruel;
when well soaked pour this in to boiling
water, and boil-slowly for about half an
hour, constantly stirring. Thorough
cooking improves it very much. This is
simple, not very heating or stimulating,
vet sufficiently nutritious for ordinary pur.
poses. This will make a good lunch, or
last meal of the day, and may be used by
the sick when any solid food is admissi-
! bic.
The Gardeners Monthly says: "The
pruning of fruit trees when required
should be proceeded with at favorable OPP
portunities. We write ahen required, for
in our climate more injury is done by tie
knife than by the neglect to use 1t. Goose
| berries, for instance, are usually ruined by
pruning. In Europe, 1t is customary to
| thin out the center to let in the sun and
| air." Here it is the sun and air that ruin
| them by inviting mildew, and so the more
shoots the better. Our country tanners
are the best gooseberry growers, where
weeds run riot, and grass and gooseberries
effect close com Partnership.
A writer in the Scientific Ameyican
says that to succeed in growing plants in
| dwellings, it is necessary to keep the all
around the plants of a moderate tempera-
ture, say from fifty to sixty degrees, and
as moist as possible, by having the plants
stand on damp moss, or other material that
1 will all the time be giving off moisture
among the leaves. Plants with large leaves
like the Camelia, India rubber plant, Cen
tury, etc, may be greatly benefited by oc'
casionally sponeing the leaves with water,
by which means the dust that accumulates
on them IL removed Small leaved plants
may be syringed with good effect
| ID. A. Compton, Of Hawley. Penn,
SAYS that tomatoes on heavy soil may be
| obtained from four to five weeks earlier
than usual, by setting the plants on the
tops of sharp hills The hills should be
about fifteen inches high, and three feet
| in diameter at the base. Water the plants
| only when first set, and dust the plants
and the whole hills frequently with plas.
! ter. The tomato coming from hot coun-
try will endure drouth that would prove
| fatal TO less hardy plants. What it needs
most is heat, and this is secured by plant
ing on steep hills IN which the suns rays
strike less obliquely than on fiat surfaces.
Stirring the Soil.-During the warm,
dry days, remember that the air circulating
over every acre of corn will contain in six
feet of height at least sixty gallons Of wa
ter This quantity may be made available
MANY times over during single night by
simply keeping the soil stirred and mellow.
Corn must have moisture as well as heat
With the soil in the right condition it will
get it while you sleep and however dry
the weather, will absorb sufficient moisture
| TO prevent its curling. AS the soil rapidly
cools, it drinks in the warm air and takes
up the greater part Of the water contained
therein. Don't forget to stir the soil if
YOU want corn.-HsxrM and Home.
"A correspondent Of the Horticulturist
says that ne raised barrel of cucumbers
for pickles from three hills. He laid brush
around the hills and as soon as the vines
crept over II he pinched off the ends Of the
4 shoots. This caused the vines to thicken
closely around the roots and to throw out
abundant foliage and profusion of bloom.
He watched the plants closely, and any
that he reserved for the table he picked as
soon as they became of proper size. All
the rest were gathered every day for
pickles, the ends of the shoots being pinch
ed off as often as necessary The plants
continued to bear until touched by frost.
The Peach Borer.-The insect Hge-
ri1 er,tiora, commonly known as the peach.
tree borer, is often destructive ON young
trees, or until an orchard becomes, say,
six or eight years old and in good bearing
/ 4 y