The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-12

Nearly NIFTY years ago Ih0mhh An
drew Knight, President Of the London
horticultural Society, wrote very OK.
hhustiye essay upon the NbOYe.nampd
subject, proving conclusiyelN to many
that whole potatoes were far preferable
TO pieces Of tubers for planting. Mr..
Knight, at that time and for many sue.
ceeding years, was considered in Great
Britain the highest authority in the
world on horticultural subjects, conse.
quently his opinions carried great
weight among tho people, His idea was
that tuber, as whole, was but one
seed, like kernel Of corn. But We now
consider potato tuber more like an
ear Of corn, containing many seeds,
cach of which is capable Of producing
aplant equal in strength and value 70
tho whole combined. OF course there
are hundreds Of farmers who will and
do cling to this old theory Of Mr..
Knights, despite all tho science or
practice to the contrary. We should
think, however, that the enormous Weld
secured from the various new sorts
within the past few years, and frequent.
ly referred to in the agricultural Jour.
nails, oil Of which have been produced
from cut seed, woull begin to awaken
the sticklers for whole seed and set
them TO making experiments in this d..
rection. No one will suppose for q
moment that the yields reported in the
case Of the Bliss prizes for the Early
Vermont and Compton Surprise could
have been secured by planting whole
tubers. Those farmers who believe
that whole tubers are best for seed
should look at these fgures-5lll, COZ,
43I, and 45G pounds, raised by different
men in different localities, each having
but one pound for seed. We think
these facts and figures are worth O
dozen theories, aud well worth remem.
boring at planting time.-Rural New
Yorker.
Sugar from the Son Maple.
A correspondent OF the Canada
Farmer thus rofutes the traditional
notion that sugar can not be made from
the sap Of the soft maple;
In looking over q little book by Z
Canadian Ruthoress, Mrs. Trail, The
other day, came across n statement
that the sap Of the soft naples did mol
yield sugar. When this lady wrote
these words she only expressed belief
shared in by nearly tho whole Of the
rural population Of Canada, and l flnt
that her view is held by all with whom
Ihave conyersed on the subject somt
even go so far rs 10 maintain that good
sugar cannot be extracted under any
circumstances from the sap OF the soft
maple. Until very lately held thai
opinion also but last spring friend
OF mine who lives on new bush farm
where naples OF that kind are very
plentiful, tapped over 200 OF them he
did not tap single hard maple, for the
simple reason that there were none 10
tap within easy distance OF his camp.
The reward OF his labor was $50 lbs, Of
really the finest sugar-and have seen
q good deal-tllat / ever saw. The only
feature connected with the manufacture
OF 1t that ho noted was, that it required
a little more sap to yield n certain uuan.
tity than OF the sap OF the hard maple.
He intends to tap 100 additional soft
naples next spring, and is confident OF
good yield and Grst.class sample.
Household Hints.
The following suggestions aro Of
course intended for tho masculine
heads OF families; but the many un.
fortunate women who find that on
their shoulders rests three. fourths OF
the cares Of the household, can, in case
Of need, easily put them into use, MS
timo rather than strength is required
Never allow door TO creak for want Of
oil, or to shut so hnrd as to require
slamming to make it latch. For this
purpose pass around once week ut
some regular time, say Saturday even.
ing or Monday morning, with drop Of
oil on feather, or on the tip OF the
finger, and give every rubbing part,
latch, hinge, etc., touch. Scissors,
which are inclined TO work hard, can
also DO greatly improved in this way.
Ventilation would be more easily nc.
complished and moro certainly per-
formed, and rooms kept with purer aud
healthier air, il windows were made to
slide easily. II not hung by pulleys
and weights, let carpenter add good,
freely.working catches. Cellars should
be kept constantly clean-as much so
us your parlor. II is the easiest thing
in the world, II you attend 10 it daily |;
and only becomes n heavy task when
you allow months Accommodations to
remain undisturbed. II is hardly
necessary to add that ieyers have been
contracted by breathing the miasma in
an ill-kept cellar.
A Trap for Moths.
A writer in n French horticultural
journal relates the following suggestive
experience "Aitor sunset I place in
the centre OF my orchard m old barrel,
the inside Of which, have previously
vol tarred. At the bottom Of the bar
rel place a lighted lamp. Insects of
many kinds, attracted by tho light,
make for the lamp, and while circling
around it strike against the sides OF
the barrel, where, meeting with the tar,
their wings and legs become so clogged
that they fall helpless to the bottom.
In tho morning / examine the barrel,
and frequently take ont ten or twelve
gallons OF cockchafers, which l at once
destroy. A few pence worth OF tar en-
ploycd in this way will, without fur.
thor trouble, be the means Of destroy.
ing innumerablo numbers Of these in
scots, whose larvD are among the most
destructive pests the gardeneror farmer
hAs TO contend with.