The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-06-20
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
uyCrbeariig OF Crane Vines,

without reference to the permanent good
of the vine or the tree. They overlook
the fact that the vine or the tree is ca
pable Of doing about so much and no
more, and aim for the highest imme-
dlate profit rather than to prospective
one. 1t is true that the amount which
strong and healthy grapevine is capa-
bic OF bearing depends little upon the
character Of the season, but we cannot
always tell what the season is to be.
1t is wisest therefore to thin the fruit
somewhat early III the season, III order
that It may not draw too heavily upon
the vitality of the plant
This 1natter is SO important and so
apt to be neglected, that we are glad
to quote the judIciCus remarks of DR..
Fisher in his Address before the State
Beard Of Agriculture at Fitchburg in
december last, as given III the last re-
port OF the Secretary Of the Board
He said grapes from a vine that is
overloaded are only purple, not when
they are ripe, but when they have got
as ripe as they can get they have little
or no bloom, ana they are acid they
will MAKE mans stomach ache If he
eats many of them but if the vine is
not overloaded, the berries are large.
the grapes are black, the bloom is a
very deep blue, and the quality is such
as will make people deny that vougle w
the grapes out Of doors they Will say
that it cannot be done, that you cannot
get SO much sugar and so much high
quality into grape out of doors. A
grapevine can do certain amount it
is like eevry thing else, and Just like
every body else. If an ordinary man
attempts to spread himsel out very
wide, he will necessarily become very
thin
If the public would make no dis
elimination IN the quality, of course
YOU would grow the larger quantity,
but the public know better, especially
in the matter of Injuries. 1t is largely
the beautiful things that people are in
duced to buy. 1t clusters of grapes are
large, If they are handsome, people viii
buy them If they are sweet, they will
go for them again, and are willing to
pay the difference IN cost. Grapes
have been sold in the market this wear.
tons and tons OF them, that were not fit
to eat but the public bought them as
being the best they could find.
Another thing: great many people
do not wait until grapes get ripe before
picking. Some of them never would
get ripe if they did wait, but they do
not wait to let them get their best
quality; as quick as they get half col
ored they are sent to market, and peo-
pile eat what comes to market. asking
40 questions They may say they are
not very good, but they buy themnever-
theless.
| do not begin to market nv grapes
until after the first of October. Per
haps you may say it won't do for me to
do that, because my grapes wouldfreeze
up before that time. 1t is not SO with
me. Ordinary frosts do not hurt the
grape at all. 1t Is not hurt a particle
until YOU make ice in it, and after the
grape has got ripe. it viii not freeze,
Ice Will not make in it. until the tenn
perature is as low as twenty-nine de
grees. | dislike to have frost come
upon vineyard. because ii will retard
the ripening 10y It's action on the leaves.
ont If grapes are nearly ripe, | care
nothing for the frost, SO far as the
grapes themselves arc concerned. -
Massachusetts Pioughman.
Agricultural Value OF Anthracite Ashes.
In The Bulletin of the Bussey Insti-
tuition of Harvard University, lately
ISSUED, are accounts of several series of
Investigations undertaken by Prof
StOrer and his assistants, which are
not only interesting and valuable in
themselves, but also very encouraging
IN the prospect they give for the cult
Walton of agricultural science in this
country. Among these are several ex-
periments . On the Agricultural Value
of the Ashes of Anthracite. In these
experiments pots were charged with
ashes of Pennsylvania anthracite coal
and planted With oats. barley, buck
wheat, beans, mWZe, &c. In some
cases they were watered with rain water
alone in others with solutions of nitric
acid or phosphoric acid. combined with
lime, magnesla, potash ammonia, or of
several of these together. The ashes
used were free from wood ashes, thus
differing from those commonly pro
duced III stores and furnaces.
Raised IN the ashes with rain water
alone. says Prof Storer. none of the
plants really prospered. The beans
and peas grew to a considerable height
but 1t was plain that the matter Of
which the new parts were formed came
chiefly from the older parts. The nitro
gen, at all events. needed for heforna-
ton of new leaves and stems was APP
parently the same that had taken part
IN the formation of the first shoots from
the seeds. When. however. nitrate of
lime was substituted for the rain-water
with which the plants had been water
ed, the plants. before stuuted and
dying, became thrifty, and in time ex-
hiblded luXIriant growth. The yield
Of dry substance when the plants were
watered with nitrate of lime was in sew
eral eases over fifteen times as much as
when pure water was used. 1t Is
plain that the ashes used must have
contained appreciable quantities of
phosphorIc acid and potash rs well as
the lime, magnesia, sulphuric acid and
IRON. which arenecessary for the growth
OF plants for OH the addition of nitro
genIzed salts 10 the ashes. abundant
crops Of huckwheat and barley could
he produced The addition of
potash aud phosphoric acid dd little or