The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-03
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


side of sixty days from the time of planting:
Let the conditions of the soil and manure
be the best you can command, and aside
from the frequent wedding and hoeing
stirring the ground thoroughly, thin the
stalks to three or four, three is best if
you would have the largest ears and most of
them. Pluck out numerically every sucker
and non-bearing stalk-tbat process alone
will hasten your corn a week or ten DAYS. as
| have come to believe from experiment. I
have added this year a top-dressine at the
hill, when the corn was well up-a COMPOST
of one part plaster, two parts ashes, and two
parts fine manure, which l think has been a
great advantage
Those who wish early corn should not only
have for seed what is called san early kind"
but they should obtain it from as far North
as possible. Seed corn raised in Canada
and taken South will come to perfection one.
two or three weeks earlier than that ripened
on the spot. The reason is that the seed
raised in the North has adapted itself to a
short season. This is true, in a measure. of
all seeds.
ORIGIN OF THE APPLE.-There is evil
dence that the apple was employed as food
in certain parts of Europe at very ancient
period, perhaps even before the period of
written history. The carbonized seeds and
fragments of apples and other fruits are
found in the mud of certain lakes in Swift.
erland, where the pile-buiders or lake
dwellers had their habitation. 1t might be-
supposed that these vestiges were wild or
crab apples, the native produce Of the coun-
try, and such is probably the fact. But, ac.
cording to Prof. Karl Koch, there are no
species of apples truly indigenous in Eu-
rope, those which are found growing with
out cultivation being only escapes from cult
walton, or the result of accidental sowinps of
common apple seeds. If this statement is
correct. the question arises, whence came
the apples and fruits of the pile-builders?
The same question might be propounded
with respect to the wheat which is found in
the debris of their dwellings, and the an
swer to the one question would probably be
an answer for tie other. 1t is not improba-
bic that the distribution of grains and fruits
among the nations OF the earth has a much
greater antiquity than has commonly been
admitted. In attempting to determine the
original specific character of our common an.
pie we have to deal with difficult question.
The apple of the present day is the product
of centuries of cultivation and horticultural
skill, and the transformations and modifca-
lions effected thereby are such that we need
not be surprised if we are now unable to
recognize the original or parent stock. lin.
naeus named the common apple of cultiva-
ton Pyrus Malus, taking as the type the
common seeding apple, which be appears
to have considered good species, and the
same view has been generally entertained
by succeeding botanists.-Engzish Garden
er's. Magazine.
EARLY MELoNs.-Gardener generally
lind it difficult to get as early melons as they
would like, for the reason that they will not
bear transplanting. 7 have tried a way by
which they can be started early and trans
planted when wanted. Save all the paste
board collar boxes, and fill them with the
best soil. Any kind OF boxes will do; they
can be made of wood with bottoms tackled
on. After warming the soil. plant the seed.
about five to the box. They can now be
sunk in the hot bed; or if you have not one.
Iney can be kept in the house by the stove.
When the young plants are large enough
they can be transplanted. After making
the ground mellow, make a hole the size of
the box; then slip out the bottom, and the
earth, with the plants, will slip through
without being disturbed. This plan will do
Tor other plants besides melons, as cucum-
bers, etc., the tender egg plant, and some
varieties OF flowers. By starting plants ear.
~ in this way, several weeks can be gained.
Practical Farmer.
DIR. j. r. Nichols, in bis famous "Barn
Lecture" says: ''One bushel or 100 pounds
OF Corn cob meal made from our best North
ern corn is as valuable for stock feeding as
one bushel or 100 pounds of whole corn meal
from the ordinary Southern and Western
grain, as found in the markets. The vari-
ETY. OF cob meal experimental with was that
which came from what is known as the
Boardman corn, eight-rowed, with small
GOD. The proportion of corn and cob, when
seasoned. was ten to two; twelve
pounds OF ears. giving two pounds of cob.
It is important in manufacturing corn cob
neal that it should be ground very fine,
n order that it may be digested thorough
y"
The Rurdt Home saws: :sAs the market
or good fruit is extending every year, and
oreign customers are seeking supplies, the
business of growing fruit cannot fail to be |
and permanent. No other bust
less pays better for the most skillful atten-
ion and management, indeed, without
hese, it is vain to expect crop that
7lll sell in the market at remuneratlve
rices. Good fruit sells itself and the grow
is soon sought for by purchasers.
RINGWoRMs.-O Oil of paper made by
urning sheet Of ordinary writing paper
pom plate will cure ringworm, which is
sused by contagion or some inpurity in the
lood; the oil will be seen after the paper is
nrned in the form of a yellow spot; this
oplied with the finger twice day will in
Try short time cure the worst of ring
orms. ~ Rub together common gun
'wder and streng vinegar, and apply sever
times each day. think this will not fail.
n excellent remedy, and one that will no I
il the skin, is alcohol. 81 A good cure for .
lgworm and tetrerworm is an application
soap and sulphur, well mixed in equal
rts. (4) Mix brass filings and lard to- z
Their, and when it has assumed a greenish )
pearance, apply once day. u
10 CLEAN BLACK CASHMERE.-N II the Z
'hmere only requires cleaning, not wash
:, first give it a thorough busting and {.
ushing; then sponge it all over with if
ak solution of borax water-teaspoonful f
powdered boraN to a quart of hot water.
crease spots are TO be removed, add more
ak and use brush with very little soap; in
Sc off with clean hot water. If necessary gi