The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-09-13
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.

Methods Abroad. The Commissioner
of Agriculture has received a letter
from DR.. McMurtrie, the Departments
representative ut the Paris Exposition,
in which he says he went To England,
and visited the farm of Mr.. Mold, at
Bethersden, made an examination of the
crops, and gave an order for a quantity
of wheat and hop sets for the use of the
department. He says Mr.. Mold's wheat
crops are very fine, and were the only
good crops that he saw that were not
lodged His soil is a clay of great capa-
city ~ regards plant food, but Its me-
chanical condition Is a great difficulty
to culture. He farms well, however,
and in this latter point, the Doctor
thinks, resides to a large extent the
source of the superiority of his crops
over those of his neighbOrs, who employ
wonderfully primitive methods. He
uses steam fer many purposes blowing,
threshing pumping, etc. The wheat
Yields about seven quarters red and six
quarters white per acre. In Lincoln
shire it gives eight quarters. DIR Nc
Murtrie says: In bringing his wheat
to the present standard Mr.. Mold seems
to have given great deal of attention
to crOss-fertiliZatiOn and selection"
He also says that the hops purchased
for the department yield twice as much
as other varieties, and they are quoted
/ in the English markets at prices rang
I ing from seventy-fve to one hundred
( per cent higher than Others
Referring to visit paid to NJ. Ro-
I hart, who lately delivered an address on
| phylloxera before a conference at the
/ TrocadeIo, the Professor writes: " He
| seems to have given great deal of at
tentiOn to the subject. He says there
is no doubt about the efficacy of bisul-
! phide of carbon for the.destructiono of the
insect. The difficulty has been in the
practical application of it to the root of
/ the vines affected. The usual method
/ of employing the sulpho-carbonates was
| too costly, and the product very varia.
/ BILE in composition. His method Is to
/ INCORPORATE the bisulphide with gelatine;
! he concentrates il to the same specific
/ gravity of the bisulphide, mixes the
/ two by rapid and prolonged stirring and
! allows il TO set. When hard il is cut
into small cakes and allowed to dry.
/ The blocks holds the bisulphide so tn or
Oughly that they cannot be intiamed by
a match if applied TO the outer surface.
If the block is broken 1t is easily In
famed and burns. These gelatine cakes,
when moistened, give off the bisulphide
in vapor. Three cakes are placed about
the root of each vine, at the depth of
eighteen inches to two feet. They alb
sorb moisture from the soil, slowly liber-
ating the bisulphide to act upon the in
sects." The doctor suggests that a few
of these cakes be purchased for trial on
the badly infected vineyards of the
United States, especially in California.
He concludes his letter as follows: The
wool came to hand in due time, and was
examined by the jury. 1t had the effect
to change the decision they had determ-
med upon for the United States woods.
think we shall secure some gold
medals. There is no doubt about our
specimens being as fine as any exhibited.
| may find it necessary TO 60 to Lyons
to obtain the information desired about
silk culture"