The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-01-01
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

son for liberal and judicious feeding
and not "shOrt commons" which Is
but another term for half starvation.
BEARING ALTERNATE YEARs.-From
the discussions of the Massachusetts
Horticultural Society, and from infor-
nation through other sources, the fact
is becoming established that the bearing
year of old apple trees can not be per
J manenily changed by removing or
shearing off the blossoms in the bearing
year. They are found to return to their
old habit in a short time. But when the
work is performed on young bearing
trees, and repeated, if necessary, the
change has become permanent. 1t viii
be observed that the labor is FAR less on
the young and smaller trees. In con-
nection with this treatment, top-dressing
with manure and good cultivation, as
may be necessary to maintain a good
healthy growth, viii be quite sure to re-
suit in the best success.
SEED CORN.-Rarely do farmers ques-
ton the quality Of the seed hey use,
though oftentimes it would be profita-
ble to discard the seed at hand and pur-
chase anew, even at n nigh price. In
/ DIR. Sturtevant's experience, as given IN
/ Land and Home, he has had crops # 50
bushels and 40 bushels of shelled corn
l per acre from the same field: one half
/ planted with seed from one source and
the other half with seed from an, t. eu
! source. He asserts emphatically that
/ the most important, and the most diff
cul 10 attain, of all the conditions nee
| essary 10 secure a yield of 100 bushels
I of corn 10 the acre, is this one of gOod
/ seed. In order TO obtain il we must use
seed which has come from prolific
]
| prOlitcacy from both sides OF course,
| every one knows that the tassel bears
1 the male element, the pollen; while the
silk Is the female organ, which Is to re-
ceIve the pollen and transmit it TO the
/ Ovary. As the conditions are such that
4 the plant seldom self-fertilizes, the i'm
pOrttuce of securing pollen from pro-
/ life plants Is recognized as being in ac-
[ cOrdance with correct theory and sound
practice. In order to secure these prac-
! teal conditions, the good seed must be
/ bred. Just before commencement of
/ the bloOm-before the silk is ready TO
/ receive poilen-we should pass through
/ the field and cut away every infertile
stalk, or every one which does not bear
/ distinct signs of large caring capacitv
/ Thus, the pollen wlich falls a few days
/ later, viii be only from desirable plants
/ from plants bearing earS-as all others
/ have been removed from the field.
ABOUT Wishing TO as
| certain Just how much waste is occa-
stoned by boiling potatoes with their
| coats off, an Englishman selected two
/ pounds of fine tubers, of the same kind,
/ peeled one pound, merely washed the
! other, and cooked separately. When
/ done both lots were dried and again
weighed-the skins of the unpeeled
pound being first removed as is the
practice in such cases before sending to
| table. The result, and reflections sug-
ge~ted, he reports in the GardeuerS'
/ Chronicle: The tuberS boiled in their
/ coats lad lost 81 o., and those after
/ peeiing just II or, giving in favor of
/ the former half an ounce. On the other
/ hand the coated tuhers had gained
/ hot unpleasant taste that was far from
/ palatable, and they looked yellow and
/ close in appearance. The peeled tuberS,
/ on the other hand, had a nice, pleasing,
| mealy aspect, and were the driest and
most palatable eating, and were, in my
/ Judgment, by far preferable, nOtwIth
standing the half-ounce loss. The sort
was Magnum Bonum, and the tubers
/ had been but Il few DAYS lifted from the
ground. | regard the talk about waste
as trivial, whilst cleanliness, appear
ance, and flavor are a long way more
/ than compensatory. The coats of pOta-
/ toes come into contact with manures of
all kinds and many pungent compounds,
1 aud in the case of imported tubers are
| much exposed to the air and TO nui-
sances, therefore reasons in favor of
| peeling before boiling or even steaming
| greatly prepOnderate.
POULTRY FARMING.-No other busi
. fsH n pTrlf
suits seems 50 attractive as poultry farm
ing. Even those who fail in the busi-
ness and retire from IL aver that they
are certain they could succeed in a new
trial their mistakes having taught them
how to succeed in future. Ills may be
true, but it is noteworthy that they do
not try again. Still, we have almost
daily inquiries, especially from young
men, as TO the possibility of making
| living from poultry; to all of which we
are forced to give unsatisfactory replies.
The profit in poultry lies in keeping
small ilocks. From such it IS easy TO
make an income of 81 from each hen
annually, even after buying food. But
no account must be taken of the waste
and damage done to crops, nor Of the
value of the free foraging done by the
fowls; and these amount to a considera-
ble sum if figured up closely. Then ac-
cidents are TO be taken account of. For
instance, the writer once kept a flock OF
30 light Brahma hens, which did well
for three years and paid eXcellentlv;
but the unfortunate Introduction Of d
cOckerel from distant yard brought a
prevalent disease, of which every bird
died. leaving one brood of motherless
chicks the sole survivors. This may be
taken as an example Of the uncertainties
of the business, which are increased in
proportion as the flock is larger. A
flock may be kept as an adjunct to a
more important business and to take up
spare time, and, in that case, barring
accident, may be made profitable. But
/ il may be taken as certainty that not
more than one person in ahundred who
/ have tried il has ever succeeded in keep
! inc a fiock Of several hundred fowls in
profitable condition. If one thinks he
| is born TO succeed, let him uy; he may
| possibly become a shining example TO
show others the way to success.-EJ-
| change.
A MAN living in one Of the outlying
wards of this city, and apparently in
/ good circumstances, says tie Boston
/ Herald, has been for some years past in
/ the habit Of paying simply Ooll tax
/ This year he was somewhat a-COuished
/ at receiving tax bill To the amount OF
! 100. Upon visiting the Assessors to
! ascertain what IT meant they commenced
! interrOgating him in relation 20 the own
ership of certain mortgages, stocks, etc,
/ and, when pushed to the wall, he con-
fessed that they belonged TO him, and
that the tax bill was all right. In reply
to his persistent inquiries as TO who had