The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-24
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

they consign goods. In many cases,
doubtless the middle-men run up such
q bill of commissions and charges, as to
effeotually eat up any profit but it is
often the fault of the grower in forward
ing unsorted and badly packed fruit
Numerous letters have recently been
forwarded to farmers in the peach-grow-
ing districts, advising them to be more
particular in picking and shipping fruit.
A consignment of one hundred boxes of
peaches was recently sold in New York
for dollar box, ON which the charges
amounted to ninety-one cents, thus
leaving the grower only nine cents
box, which by no means paid him for
his trouble, or the interest on his invest
ment. One half of these peaches are
said to have been good ones, which, if
packed by themselves, wanld have read
lily brought SO box. One fourth of the
lot was soft and crushed, and the re-
mainder were hard and unripe. As the
freight on a box of peaches or vegetables
is the same whether the contents be
good or bad, it is important that only
good fruit should be sent, if any profit
is expected from the transaction. 1t is
the quality, not quantity, of fruit, which
brings good prices, and growers should
bear this in mind when sending off
their goods. What is true of peaches
holds good of other fruits and vegeta-
bles. A poor article badly packed will
hardly bring enough to pay for its for
warding and selling.
CULTIvATING ORcHARDs.-In con-
1oA 1onrr M Nth NJ naviI
Aver, one of the substantial farmers of
Vassalboro', he gave us some account of
the method in which he manages his
apple trees, and the success of the plan
may be gathered from the fact that
among the products of his orchard last
year were five hundred barrels of Bald
wins, all of so good quality as to bring
twenty-five cents more per barrel than
those of the same kind in market from
other producers. The ground in which
his young trees are set is cultivated to
hoed crops-g generally corn and beans
or beans alone-and we'll manured. The
latter do better in the shade than corn
or potatoes-hence he not unfrequently
devotes all the land in which are young
trees to this crop. The surface of his
old orchard is kept open by ploughing
and narrowing, and no grass is allowed
to grow therein. This is done even
where no other crop than the trees &C.
cupies the land. He uses muck as a top
dressing, and regards it better than
strong manure or even compost. The
somewhat famous Smiley orchard at
Getchelrs Corner is top dressed with
muck, after it has lain in heap one sea-
son.-Mdine Farmer.
TURNING Down GREEN CRoPs.-It
has got into the paper, that ploughing
down green crops produces acid in the
soil, from the decomposition, which is
hurtful to crops that it is better to
turn under when the crop is matured,
that the decomposition will then be
slower, and no hurt will result. This is
doubtless true with some soils-those
deficient in alkaline matter. But as
most soils contain lime and potash and
other kindred material, this acid is not
only harmless but beneficial, as it unites
with the alkalies making plant food,
which otherwise might lie, as it already
has for ages, useless to vegetation. It is
for this reason that the turning under of
green crops is highly recommended, not
because its chemical action is known,
but because experience has demonstra-
ted its advantage. The great majority
of cases have demonstrated that it is
good thing to turn down the full bios
soming, succulent crop. The alkalies
are most always present in some form to
take up and unite with the acid. In
soils where the acids remain free, would
it not be well to sprinkle the clover with
lime before ploughing, or previously ap-
ply it to the soil? In such case, lime
would be benefit in any event, as the
soil requires 1T Utica Herald.
WATERING NEWLY SET TREEs.-A
great mistake is sometimes made by
drenching the roots of newly-set trees,
when they do not start to grow as soon
as the owner desires. The ground be-
comes sodden, and The roots water-soak-
ed, to their serious injury. Trees never
want much water till the leaves open.
When covered with foliage tree pumps
water out Of the soil and dissipates it in
the Dir at least twenty times faster than
bare branches. Some young trees, and
especially pear trees, often remain fresh
and alive for several weeks, without
opening leaves; and in such case, or
when the stem is slightly shrivelled,
nothing is better than to tie little long
straw around it, and wet this daily. The
moisture is absorbed precisely where it
is wanted, at the bark and young trees
that appeared hopeless in condition have
been thus restored to vigorous growth
in few weeks. Asa general rule never
water the roots of young trees, but de-
pend on maintaining the moisture of
the soil by clean mellow surface, and
if necessary at midsummer by mulching.
Watering gives it an intermitting sup
ply, hardens or crusts the surface, and
commonly does much more harm than
good.-COuntry Gentleman.
HENS IN PLACE OF DoGs.-There is
hardly family that does not throw
away enough table scraps to keep at
least half dozen hens; and many that
keep a nuisance in the shape of dog,
that does no good, but costs more than a
dozen good hens, complain that they
cannot afford to keep hens. One dog in
a neighborhood is generally greater
trouble to the neighbors than flock of
hens would be, for if hens are we'll fed at
home they will rarely go away. But
who ever saw dog that was not pest
running across the newly-made gar
den, and sticking his nose into every
thing? Kill off the ours and give the
food to the hens, and you will find plea
sure as well as profit in so doing. We
wish there was tax OF one hundred
dnllars ON auaru dnn Kant in tho nnnnt trx