The Placer herald., 1874-04-18
HOUSE AND EA II NJ.


how the moon effects not only the growth o
vegetation, but everything Of life on the
face of the earth and we know that grea
many people believe such to be true. 1t has
been SO reasonably explained from scien-
tific standpoint that we almost thought there
was something in it oursef. But the fol-
lowing from the S. F. Chronicle knocks all
such theories into a cocked-hat.
''Tbe changes of the moon, so much
harped upon by SO many, as affecting. the
growth of vegetation and changes of wea-
ther, are in fact all 'moonshine, simply oc.
casioned by the fact of our relative position
as regards that part Of the moon shone up
on by the sun, and visible or invisible to us.
The attraction of gravitation, the on ly effect
really felt by our planet, causing the durnal
air and water tides, is always the same, be
it in the new or full of the moon, and for
the very plain reason that the moon is al
ways of the same size, shone upon at all
times alike by the sun, except during the
short intervals of ecipses.
In any portion of the Atlantic States, it
is not unusual at times to have the moon
totally obscured by cloudy weather during
its entire increase and full; and yet who ev-
er observed the least possible effect or
change in growth or color of plants from the
absence of its lighs?
If farmers would give more attention to
the proper season of sowing, to securing
better seed, putting their lands in better
condition for the reception of it, and more
tl,n g
crops, they might whistle at the moon, so
far as its power to effect them for good or
evil is concerned We would like to have
some one tell us, what effect the changes of
the moon, the new, the full or the old, have
upon the unclouded sky of six months
California summer.
MULcH1NG FRUIT TREES. .-Muching is
simply the covering of the ground-gener-
ally around fruit trees-with such substan-
ces as leaves, straw, spent tan bark or even
sand, with the view of protecting the soil
from the more direct rays of the sun and
drying winds, enabling it to retain more
moisture during the summer than it other
wise would.
We have found that heavy mulching of
the soil has tendency to cause the roots of
the tree to rise towards the surface, filling
the soil made moist by the mulch with mass
es of fibrous rootets, and for the time the
mulchng is continued adding greatly to the
vigor of growth and sometimes to the pro-
ductiveness of the tree For this reason
the plan is recommended very generally by
writers on tree culture.
While we are willing to admit its efficacy
for time, we are also certain that great
harm has, in many instances, resulted from
the practice, where continuous muchng
was neglected; for what is to become of
these surface roots when mulching is discon-
tinued, as is always the case when the trees
get older? They will most certainly suffer,
dry up and decay, greatly to the injury of
the health and vitality of the tree.
Mulching undoubtedly will have the eff
feet TO produce surface roots; but unless it
can be continued from year to year the ben
efts to be derived from it are quite prob
lematical, while any method by which the
roots of trees can be made to penetrate the
soil beneath the effects of superficial excit-
ants and influences is the one to be relied up
on to promote the steady growth as well as
health and consequent longevity of the tree
Where rapidty Of growth is greatly de-
sired, and the ground is naturally dry upon
and near the surface, it is better to resort to
underground irrigation, conveying the water
TO the roots below rather than above them.
This serves to give the roots the downward
direction so necessary to the sustaining of
the tree in an upright position against gales
of wind. TO such trees, well anchored
with deeply descending roots, the surface
mulchng, the effect of ordinary blowing to
the usual depth, will cause suflciency of
roots 10 tend toward the surface to give to
the trae all the nutriment required for its
healthy growth and general productiveness.
REAL AND APPARENT WAsTE.-All is not
waste that seems such. The time spent in
the pastmes of childhood and youth is fund
ed In health and strength, and whole ex-
chequer of delighted memories, on which
the man Or woman can draw at will. The
time spent in school and for cultivation, is a
splendid investment for all after years The
time taken out of business for needful rest
and recreation is not wasted, but saved
The danger is not that we shall rust out,
but that we shall welr out and break down
before cur time. The men who live on the
jump, in a perpetual rush and whirl, as
though an instant were an eternity and their
fate depended on its use, are more wasteful
of time than those who move to a slower
measure and in more lesurely ways. The
man who bolts his dinner as though he had
a set Of millst ones in his stomach to grind
the food he does not stop to chew, may save
five minutes in day; but he may lose
hours of sleep and months in debility, and
carry shattered constitution TO a prema-
ture grave. A distinguished physician has
said It would be a wise economy for every
business man to spend one year in ten in
travel, or comparative leisure.
RESTORATION OF On PAINTINGS. The
inseed oil used by most artists contains so
per cent. of linoleine, while the poppy oil