Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-07-24
agricultural.

THE BEST TSTRAwBERRIEs.-From what we had
heard, we expected in some quarters to find some
newer strawberries brought prominently forward
this year. There has been considerable dullness
in the 'new variety" market the past few years,
and it is about the usual time for some novelty
to appear. There have been some comparative
novelties in cultivation, and it was rather ex-
pected that some of these would have shone
brightly, 5ut so far as we can learn the best of
the season has been again old kinds, some of
which has been before the public for many years.
Albany Seedling-a variety which nothing but
its heavy productiveness pushed into popular
faver-does not seem to have borne as abundant
ly as usual. while its old competitor, Triomphe
de Gand, has we'll held its ground. Some of the
other old-fashioned kinds, which we're being
gradually let fall, have done so much better US
ual, that even the comparatively newer ones we
referred to have had no show, and on the whole
we conclude that for another year more at least,
there is no new one to be very strongly urged
Gern,Gntorp Telegraph.
GROUND BONE AS A MANCRE.-Our farmers
are greatly interested in determining which of
the market, are most valuable for -fertilizing
purposes. 1t is only by experiments faithfully
tried, that satisfactory results can be reached.
Mr.. William Chalfant, of Unionyille, this coun-
ty, dropped into our Office on Friday morning
last, and during a conversation upon the crops,
we incidentally learned from him that some 12
years ago he applied 1000 pounds of ground
bone, to the acre, upon one-half of field of ten
acres. Upon the other half he applied ordinary
stable manure. For the first two years he saw
no pereeptible improvement in the crop where
the bone was applied, but after the lapse of that
period of time, the difference was quite percept-
bic. For the last six years 1t has constantly i'm
proved. The field is in with grass this year,
and on that portion where the bone was applied
| the yield of hay is far superior to the other,
| averaging something over three tons to the acre.
Here is something that is of great value to the
farmer. If the application of ground bone is as
permanent in its results as the experience of Mr.
Chalfant wodld seem TO indicate, although it
commands $50 a ton, it is nevertheless by far
the cheapest manure that can be used.-Wsst
| Chester Republican.
I IMPROVING SEED WHEAT.-A writer in the Ryt-
raj NsT Yorker, who has been remarkably sue
cessful in the cultivation of wheat as a farm
crop, says: It has been my practice for the last
eighteen years TO run my wheat for seed over a
very coarse seed screen, so as to SOW none but
the very largest kernels. By so doing / have
improved my wheat so that have sold nearly
all my wheat at home for seed. But 1871 hit
upon a new plan. 1 had piece of Treadwell
wheat that was injured by insects in the previous
fall and killed by freezing in the winter so that
there were spots not worth cutting. After har-
vest l observed a scattering heads of unusual
size. 1t occurred to me that there was wheat
that had withstood the ravages of the insects
and the rigor of the winter. gathered enough
to sow one rod square, from which realized
twenty pounds Of wheat, of unusually large,
even berry, which was at the ratio of over fifty
bushes per acre; last harvest l had twenty
bushels which weighed sixty-six pounds per
bushel. 1t is my opinion that we realize the
best crops from the best and most perfect seed
in the vegetable as well as the animal kingdom.