The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-09-09
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

and length of roots In light, poor soil,
roots of June grass are found four feet
below the surface. People are apt to
underestimate the length, amount and
importance of the roots of the finer
grasses, wheat, oats, etc. A young
wheat plant when pulled up only shows
a smallP of ito roots. They often go
down four or six feet. or more. The
roots of twO-year-Old peach tree in light
soil were found seven feet four inches
long. In dry, light soil, one parsnip
three feet and a half long has been found.
Of course smaller roots went down still
farther. The noted buffalo grass on the
dry Western prairies Is described in the
agricultural reports at Washington as
having very short roots; but it has been
| found that the roots 60 down as far as
seven feet. The roots grow best where
| the best food is to be found. They grow
in greater or less quantity in every direc-
ton. If q root meets with good food,
| it fourishes and sends out numerous
| branches. Roots do not search" for
food, as vegetable psychologists now I'M
derstand it. Many of the smaller roots
of trees die every autumn when the
leave dies, and others grow in spring.
BEAT 1T FOR PROFIT.-Davidson Il
Calkins, of Sibley, Iowa, Land Agents
for the Sioux City and st. Paul Rail-
road, sold land in Lyon county to Jesse
Hopkins for six dollars per acre. He,
last spring, besides other crops, sowed
six acres of barley, from which he
thrashed 376 bushels, worth at Sibley
| 80 cents per bushel. This gives $300.80
| from six acres, or over $50 per acre for
one crop from So land. Who would not
be Granger and live in Lyon county?
CHOKED CATTLE.-During the past
winter, says correspondent, we have
fed our cows and young cattle many
bushels of apples, and during the time
have had several cases of choking in the
herd. One cow, in particular, required
close watching as she quite frequently
got an apple lodged in her throat while
eating. Instead of attempting to punch
the apple down at such times, our first
move was always to turn her loose and
make her move about the yard few
minutes. This alone was generally suffi-
cient to cause the apple to move either
up or dOwnNhut, if not, tablespoonful
of soft soap was dissolved in quart of
warm water, and with some person to
hold her head, little of the suds was
poured down her throat, followed by
gentle hand rubbing on the outside Of
the neck near the seat of the trouble.
Sometimes two or three doses would be
required, but generally one was sufii-
cient. We recommend soapsuds as fully
equal to sweet oil or other more expen-
sive preparations, while it is always easy
to procure at short notice. If one is
feeding roots, apples or potatoes to stock,
he should keep little watch of the an
finals while eating and attend to any
case of choking Immediately; for if let
alone but for short time, the parts be-
come inhamed and the removal of the
even if death does not take place before
the case is discovered. sffF
NEW Tors ON OLD PEAR TREES
That the pear is lOng-lived tree, the
famous Endicott and Stuyvesant pear
trees, going back two hundred years and
more, attest. Yet we frequently find
trees that look old at fifty years and less,
with dead limbs, messy trunks and fruit
less boughs. These old trees are often
seedlings or poor varieties, that have
offered no particular inducement to their
owners to care for them. A crop of
astringent or sour pears is not much
missed when it falls. These old trees
sometimes occupy lawns or fields near
the house, and will repay abundantly
the little care that is needed to give them
q new start, and to graft them with
standard varieties. The secret of success
with these old trees is to stir the soil all
around them rs far as the roots extend,
to manure literally, to cut out all the
dead wood, and about the second season,
when the tree has got good start, to
commence grating. We take three sea-
sons to put on new top, beginning with
the highest limbs and working down.
In renewing the vigor of the tree, almost
any kind of manure or compost is avail
able. Wood ashes is one of the best fer
tilizers. Old bones, well buried, will pay
large interest on their cost. The con-
tents of the privy vault and the cesspool,
composted, are exceedingly valuable in
these old trees; in stirring the soil, care
should be taken not to break the roots
with the pillow. We attach about equal
importance to the stirring of the soil and
to the fertilizing, in the process of reno
walton.
Buy SMALL TREES. The average
American is in a great hurry to realize
on his investments. IF he orders a few
garden seeds in January, he is anxious
to have them sent Immediately; and if
he forwards six cents for copy of some
paper which contains a story of which
| he has read or heard, he does not forget
to request the publisher to send it "by
return mail" Patience which takes the
form of quiet waiting, is virtue OF
which he seems to be wholly ignorant.
He can not wait the progress of events,
but must constantly hurry and fret in
order to make nature move a little faster
than her wonted pace.
This tendency crops out very plainly
when he purchases trees. He finds them
described in the catalogue as "second
class" medium" first class" and
"extra." The difference i'm these classes
il principally, if not wholly, in the size
and height of the trees. The larger the
tree the higher the price-but the farmer
"don't care anything about that" He
wants "good trees or none" and gives
his orders for those of extra size and
which are four or five years old. In
doing this he thinks he is acting wisely,
but the nurseryman knows, and the
farmer will find before long that, with
equal care, the small trees will grow
faster and, If fruit tree, come into
bearing condition sooner than the large
one.
In half a dozen years the tree that was
small when planted will be larger and
finer than the other. The reason for
this is obvious. The larger the tree, the
larger the roots which it has, and the
larger the roots the less fibers there will
be upon Them A tree that has plenty
of fbrous roots will grow readily if
proper care is used in transplanting but
no kmount of skill can coax a tree to live
and flourish which is destitute of these
little fibers. The roots of large trees are
all more or less mutilated in the process
of taking up, while the small trees sus-