The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-17
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.


handling it, when, il it is brcathed or
permitted to penetrate sores or wounds
Iluon tho skin, some trouble may cnsue.
So far, although the poison Inns 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 ut 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 ut the excessive
rate OF nine hundred pounds per acre
that it has been found to interfere ia the
slightest deg.ce with any vegetation.
As bntfour pounds per acre is necessary
for an extreme case Of urgency when
the beetles are very numerous, tho up.
prchcnsion OF danger to the crop is to-
tally uuwnrranted. Years after it las
been largelyused without any i'll effect,
and in spite Of its pAlpable ahsurlity,
tho statement was made by Washing
ton professor that the potatoes might
absorb the poison and be INIT for con-
sumption. Tho question has been now
finally set Mt rest by the most positive
proofs through experiment by most
careful aud really scientific men that the
absorption OF the poison by the crop SO
MS 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 tremendously, until human eff
forts seem unavailing. Through perse-
verauce success would be certain, and
freedom from futurc 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 he incalcnlable, and the
farmer would I've relieved OF m immense
burden. 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. Teller,
who first suggested the cultivation on
large scale. has started many into the
! field. A short account Of his method
appears in the RcUuG HOrticole. The
7 general plan is analogous 10 tcat adopted
in other summer vegetables, only that
the nxipg or planting is done in the
auttiMhsSp ny to get the potatoes very
early in spring, by taking precautions to
protect them from the cold during the
winter. The whole operation, as recon-
mended, may be described in q few
words. Pick ont 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 sprontiug may
be delayed MS long as possible; plant
them ont about August Tor thereabouts,
according to circumstances) i'll well pre-
pared sol, taking care not to damage the
buds. The rsual attention in tho case
of ordinary potato growing is required;
keep the earth clean and loose, so that
the stalks may develop we'll, and make
MS much tuber as possible before winter
sets in. When the earliest cold is OK.
pected, scatter thin light covering of
straw over the stalks, increasing it in
proportion rs needed, so as to shield
the tubers from the cold. These will
then go on making bulk. By this
method, it is said, potatoes mHy be
gathered from January md February
Tor even earlier) up to March, April, or
even May-precisely the time when old
potatoes have lost their goodness, md
the new ones are still scarce, unripe and
dear.
Planting Trees In the Fail.
The question as to whether spring or
fall is the better season for planting has
been much discussed, and tue conclusion
reached has generally been that, in
western New York and similar climates,
one is about as good MS the other. My
experience with hardy fruit and de-
ciluOus ornamental trees is in favor Of
fall. 1t is true that we have M occa-
sionaI severe winter, when fall planted
trees suffer, but these are OF rare occur
rlnce. Last fall, quito late, after tho
hurry OF the season was all over, plant.
ell several hundred dwarf pear trees.
After planting, the earth was drawn up
around the blse, say six or more inches
above the level Of the ground, to give
protection to the roots aud stiffen the
tree against the force Of the wind. May
22 had the earth around the trees re-
moved to the ground level, and find
vigorous new roots, three to five inches
in length, spreading in all directions
from the ounce stock. ThetOps are also
pushing rapidly, and in the whole plant.
ing OF three hundred trees there is not n
failure. 1t is easy to see what IN advan.
tage these have over those planted this
spring, even under the most favorable
circumstances for the latter. In spring
planting it often happens that long
period Of cold weather and drying winds
follows the planting, and the trees get
seriously dried before the growing sea.
son opens, or dry and warm period
comes before the roots have acquired
vigor enough to sustain the tree; under
such adverse influence they either die or
linger along feebly all summer. We
must take some.risk in planting ut any
season. but, on the whole, think the
chances are in favor Of the fall for hardy
deciduous trees.--P. Barry, in Rural
Home.