The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-07-13
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Use of Paris Green.

the Use oil Bnrls 1Feeus
The danger resulting from the use Of
the paris green for destroying potato
bugs exists only FROM carelessness in
handling it, when, if it is breathed or
permitted to penetrate sores or wounds
upon the skin, some trouble may ensue.
So far, although the poison has been
used for several years, and thousands OF
tons have passed through farmers
hands, there has been no single case of
the accidental poisoning of any person
by it reported. Neither are the pota-
toes at all affected injuriously by the
poison. 1t is insoluble and cannot en-
ter into the substance of the plant, and
it is not until it is used at the excessive
rate of nine hundred pounds per acre
that it has been found to interfere Ia the
slightest degree with any vegetation.
AS butfour pounds per acre is necessary
for an extreme case of urgenSS when
the beetles are very numerous, the ap-
prehension of danger to the crop is to-
tally unwarranted. Years after it has
been largely used without any ill effect,
and in spite of its palpable absurdity,
the statement was made by Washing
ton professor that the potatoes might
absorb the poison and be unfit for con-
sumption. The question has been now
finally set at rest by the most positive
proofs through experiment by most
careful and really scientific men that the
absorption of the poison by the crop so
as to do any injury to it is impossible.
All fears upon this score are groundless.
We would urge upon every reader the
duty of using every effort to destroy that
pest, the potato bug, and not only this,
but every insect pest that troubles the
farmers. BY neglect their numbers are
increased enormously, until human eff
forts seem unavailing. Through perse-
verance success would be certain, and
freedom fro.n future ravages assured.
Our natural allies, which, although
harmless, are made the victims of an
unsparing warfare, the crows, skunks,
and nearly every bird that flies, should
be spared and encouraged to assist us in
this work. The amount saved that is
now lost would be incalculable, and the
farmer would he relieved of an immense
burden.-NeU York Times.
Winter Cultivation of Potatoes.
The subject of winter cultivation of
potatoes is exciting much interest in the
agricultural circles of Europe, and the
successful experiments OF NJ. Telliez,
who first suggested the cultivation on q
large scale, has started many into the
field. short account of his method
appears in the Revue HOrticoIe. The
general plan is analogous to tat adopted
in other summer vegetables, only that
the sowing or planting is done in the
autumn, so as to get the potatoes very
early in spring, by taking precautions to
protect them from the cold during the
winter. The whole operation, rs recon-
mended, may be described in few
words. Pick out healthy potatoes OF
medium size of the sort required soon
after they have been dug up; keep them
in comparatively cold and well venti-
lated place, so that their sprooting may
be delayed as long as possible; plant
them out about August (or thereabouts,
according to circumstances) in well pre-
pared sol taking care not to damage the
buds. The usual attention in the case
of ordinary potato growing is required
keep the earth clean and loose, so that
the stalks may develop WELL and make
as much tuber as possible before winter
sets in. When the earliest cold is ex-
pected, scatter thin light covering of
straw over the stalks, increasing it in
proportion as needed, so as to shield
the tubers from the cold. These will
then go on making bulk. BY this
method, it is said, potatoes may be
gathered from January and February
Cor even earlier) up to March, April, ol
even May-precisely the time when old
potatoes have lost their goodness, and
the new ones are still scarce, unripe and
dear.
Planting Trees in the Fall.
The question as to whether spring OF
fall is the better season for planting has
been much discussed, and the conclusion
reached has generally been that, il
western New York and similar climates
one is about as good as the other. My
experience with hardy fruit and de
ciduous ornamental trees is in favor o.
fall. 1t is true that we have an occa
sional severe winter, when fall planted
trees suffer, but these are of rare occur
runce. Last fall, quite late, after the
hurry of the season was all over, plant
ell several hundred dwarf pear trees
After planting, the earth was drawn W
around the base, say six or more inche.
above the level of the ground, to give
protection to the roots and stiffen The
tree against the force of the wind. May
% had the earth around the trees re
moved to the ground level, and fine
vigorous new roots, three to five inches
in length, spreading in all directions
from the ounce stock. The tops are also
pushing rapidly, and in the whole plant
ing of three hundred trees there is not 6
failure. 1t is easy to see what an advan
tage these have over those planted thil
spring, even under the most favorable
circumstances for the latter. In spring
planting it often happens that long
period of cold weather and drying wind!
follows the planting, and the trees ge
seriously dried before the growing sea
son opens, or a dry and warm periot
comes before the roots have acquired
vigo enough to sustain the tree; unde
such adverse influence they either die o.
linger along feebly all summer. W.
must take some risk in planting at an,
season. but, on the whole, think th,
chances are in favor of the fall for hard,
deciduous trees.--P. Barry, in Rura
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