The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-10-09
FARM AND GARDEN.


FARM AND GARDEN.
Really more pleasure
accrues from starting a new plant of
worth than from any other branch of
horticulture. Among the plants most
easily experimental with are the gera-
NUNS, gladioli, phloxes, roses; in
deed, any of the perennials or biennials
afford an opportunity for improvements.
Seedlings of geraniums sown in hot
bed can be brought to blossom the first
year. Select seed from a bed in which
have been grown several cOlOrs, and
you are sure of something interesting,
if it bSnot worthy of propagation. The
gladioli require little more patience,
needing about three years from seed to
come to maturity. The same is true of
the hyacinth and the tulip. Most bull
bous roots take three to five years of
care. Any one having small garden,
should set apart one bed for expert
ments. Here may be planted extra
large seeds of fruit, or whatever draws
the attention as peculiar. A few grapes
may be grown, while peach stones may
be planted instead of being thrown
away. Seedlings of Crawford's Early,
and some other varieties, almost invari-
ably produce good fruit; often better
than the parent, and are often harder.
1t rarely pays to expect apple seed
lings to equal the best varieties now un-
der culture. Better graft at once. There
are fruits as well as flowers capable
of great improvement. This we may be
certain of from observing the recent re-
markable development of the wild
grapes, the pear, the potato, the rose,
the dahlia, the geranium, and the straw
berry. Among those deserving of ex-
periments are the persimmOn, the
! ounce, the blackberry, among fruits,
and the improvement may be looked for
in any direction among the flowers.
Accurate hybridizing is not so difficult,
and is a very attractive style of expert
ment. 1t consists in simply removing
the pollen from one flower or cluster of
flowers, and busting on the pollen col
lected from some other desirable varie-
ty. The bunch or flower must then be
protected from the contact of the in
| sects. The seed produced by this clus-
ter or single flower will probably pro-
duce plants in which the two crossed va
rieties will combine their qualities. But
| hybridiZatiOn is so largely engaged in
through the agency of the wind and bees
that if several varieties of grapes or
geraniums or roses grow together, we
have only to SOW their seed to secure re-
suits similar to more artificial hybridiza-
ton. A pleasant supplement to the
work suggested, is to name our choicest
seedlings after our choicest friends
T.. p. POlCeU, Ia Rural Ne1U Yorker.
RAISING POULTRY The losses in the
poultry business are far greater than the
profits, and still the profits will average
| at least fifty per cent. per annum over
: the outlay. Paradoxical, you say?
Granted but did you know that a par
adOX is Arrays tYue? | will make the
assertion that hen always knows what
is best for her, while her owner never
does, except in some great emergencies
"a storm for instance. Disease, almost
entirely unknown to birds in the wild
state, is the canBer which causes all the
loss referred to above. Disease is the
cOncomitant of civilization in man, and
follows every attempt to bring poultry
to our level Hen-houses breed more
vermin than artificial dust-baths will re-
.. move; they gradually render poultry
delicate in constitution, and thus more
and more unable to repel any disease
which change of diet, weather, or forced
halsits may invite. Stock thus deterio.
rates, eggs fail to be fertiliZed, chicks
are tender, mothers abandon them toe
, soon, and the artificial state which fancy
food produces, interrupts the laws which
| govern health and success. Civilized
man must, to a certain extent, have his
poultry cared for in rational manner
and, as forcing is supposed to be the
foundation of profit, and, as much profit
is desirable, much forcing is resorted to
More stock is lost, more weak and worth.
less stock is produced, and more loss
sustained by over-anxiety and petting
than many imagine. A strict account
of the number of eggs set, the number
E which hatch, the total arriving at ma
turity, and finally the actual number o.
really profitable fowls sold or carried
; over winter-which includes good, steady
layers, good mothers, and vigorous
fathers-wOuld give such an insight int
the waste in the poultry department a.
would create wonder Z" that hens paid q
! ALL There is nothing in business pur
suits like facts. Every one is full o
fancies, theories, notions, cranks anC
cruditieS, but hard facts are never
! thought of. All the diseases of pOultr,
l are directly the fault of the owner. The
are the consequences of too much or too
4 little care being bestowed on them
I The successful poultry breeder
b. are. in every case, those who
/
t walk n chalk mark, only interior
9 when some sudden emergency arise
, which the chicken is not equal to. Foo
: and water adj libitum, in variety, shelte
4 in various places and of several kinds
room to wander at will, perfect freedom
: from annoying animals, both wild ant
! dOmestic-in fact, absolute wildnesS
/ with only n few of the modern i'm
c provements''-a yearly change of NAL
y stock, and a share of common sense
l. not quito so much of the uncommon
q, sort-wil do much toward maxim:
Y poultry pay better than any othe
n branch of farming. Elevate the STAN
u ina, select so as to suit the climate ant
e soil, ward off all loss through foolishl-
e devised safeguards, then give the olI
a hen her full enjoyment of instinct, ant
L the yearly account will show a profit O
from 100 to 200 per cent. l have pur
d sued this plan for many years, have ha,
l. no gapes, roup, pip, cholera, or othe
Is diseases, and don't know them, abso
m lutely. My remarks are founded ol
n facts, hard facts. My old hens and
: together have just enough common
Il sense between us to succeed perfectly
20 Ia. (loJftafy,,J f1eg3flSlllnH t--