West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-26
AGRICULTURE.

The CULTIVATION OF RAsPBERRIEs -
Thore is nothing easier To grow than
the raspberry, and of all our small
fruits 1t Is the most wholesome and to
be preferred. The blackberry may be
as wholesome when it is i'm perfection :;
but the strawberry, while il Is "A deli
cious fruit and chosen by many to all
others, Is positively injurious to a con-
siderable proportion of persons. 1t
contains an acidity of very peculiar
and powerful nature. 1t affects the
blood and produces eruptions; the peo-
pie subject to govt are prohibited from
touching the fruit, Raspberries, on
the other hand, are not merely innox-
ious but they are extremely wholesome
and can be eaten i'm any desired guam
tity. Raspberry canes can De set out
now at any time. They should be
planted three feet apart in the row,
and the rows three feet and "a half To
four feet apart. Cut down the canes
to within six inches of the ground and
set firmly. We prefer rather moist
spot for them, and II in the shade por-
ton of the day, SO much the better.
They can be planted under fruit trees
where scarcely anything else will grow,
aud the berry will be larger and finer.
They like cool, moist soil, kept SO by
liberal mulching with leaves, light
manure, or any other trash, and III
foot in depth it Is all advantage. The
canes which have been laid down over
winter should be taken up and firmly
staked. In tying up the canes care
should be taken not TO tie too closely,
but To leave room To expand and the
new wood TO sprout freely. When
extra canes are wanted, which some
times sprout in the space between the
rows, mulchiHg should be delayed
until these have grown a foot or So
otherwise it will retard, If not entirely
prevent the sprouting. Every family
ought TO have few good rows of rasp-
berries. The variety requiring the
least attention is the "Philadelp hia."
1t is fair berry and very productive.
But those who desire choice fruit OF
the largest size, grow the "Hornet."
This Is equally prolific, never failing
to give us crop; but the canes must
be protected through winter.
a SUCCESSION OF GARDEN Pas
The seedsmen have on their lists near
ly thirty different sorts of garden peas,
independent OF the various field sorts.
All these are good and bear we'll on
strong, rich soils, from the Tom Thumb
OF growth OF y To II inches of vine.
up TO the tall sugar sorts of 9 feet.
But in sandy or light graveliy soil of
poor quality, many OF the Garden
peas do not grow or bear near so well.
l have tried for years past quite var
lety OF them on light soil and find
that the Philadelphia Extra Early.
with its growth of vine of about ,
feet, and the Champion of England of
feet, are the most reliable and pro-
ductive. No pea ripens earlier than
the former, and If planted at the same
time, the latter comes in three to four
weeks later. But one may have con
slant production of either of these bv
planting them every two weeks. As
soon rs the frost is out of the ground
begin planting. OF the PHILADELPHIA,
make only three paintings of "A fort
night each apart. By the time the last
OF this sort has ceased to bear, the ear
lest planting of the Champion of Eng
land Is fit 10 pick, and successive plant
ings of this may continue all Summer.
Both of these sorts are among the ten
derest, sweetest and most luscious of
peas. The fruit OF the Philadelphia is
not so large as some kinds, for example,
McLean's Little Gem, ETC., but it is
much more reliable on my light soil,
and therefore prefer il to them. The
fruit of The Champion of England is
much larger; equal in size, in fact, to
any other. 1t Is magnificent pea, and
of all the larger sorts it is my favorite.
PREPARING NESTS FOR SITTING HFNs.
The best way TO construct nests for
sitting hens Is place damp earth at the
bottom packed to a concave shape. A
square box is too angular; but earth
may be readily moulded TO correspond
with the shape of the hens body.
Damp earth at the bottom of a box
serves another and more important pur-
pose also. It's proper that eggs should
be in some way exposed to moderate
dampness during incubation, as other
wise too much of the water i'm their
composition eyaporates. a nest con-
tanning nothing but dry litter is not
suitable, for all gallinaceOus birds that
nest upon the ground expose their eggs
In state of nature To considerable
dampness. Cover the earth with straw
bruised until pliable and broken short.
for long straw sometimes becomes en-
tangled with the hens feet, and thus
eggs are broken. Straw cut with a
machine we do not like, as the sharD
ends are liable to prick the hen and the
chickens. Hay should not be used, as
the seed 1t contains bait mice, and i'm
some instances causes the hen TO scratch
TO procure IL to eat. The earth used as
a foundation should be rid of angle
worms, etc, for the same reason. The
nest should be made enough concaye so
that the eggs will keep close together
but the sides must not be so steep as to
cause the eggs to roll upon each other
and lie two deep.