The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-08-12

FRUIT was tolerated, to some extent,
Dy our Puritan fathers, but only with
the !, express understanding that Il
should take care of itself. Hoed crops
and sowed crops had rights which
everybody respected. They were cared
tor at stated times and seasons; but if
fruit trees received attention it was at
the last end of convenient time. Con-
venient times are scarce, and so fruit
trees were left pretty much to their
own resources.
Fashions change, and now we hear q
good deal about the culture of Or
chards. Let us see what good culture
means. First, it means enough to feed
upon aud not too much. Some trees
are starved and some are surfeited. A
soil Just right for wheat is about right
for fruit. Corn is q gross feeder and
Will bear more manure than apples or
pears, and so, also, will grass. If the
land is too rich the trees run to wood;
tender, porous wood. too, insuring
blight, in the case of pears, and little
or no fruit. Generally orchards are
starved. In that condition they will
blooih abundahtly; and bear, as far as
they are able. Of small, 1avorless fruitj
but the effort weakens the vitality,
dead limbs appear, the whole tree gets
ready to die. and, unless it has better
care, it does die. Fertilizers at the
roots, fotking and mulching, thinning
OF the top SO that the nOurishment
shall be equal to the demand, and, in
many cases, thinning of the fruit, will
give new vigor and long life to the
tree.-Golden Rule.
THE disease known az "big head -
and ''big jaw" is an enlargement of
the bones If the head or the lower jaw.
Both are the same disease, but appear
ing in different places. The character
of the disease is softening of the
bones, which become porous or spongy,
lose their sUlidity and strength, and
become fractured, or the sinews and
muscles lose their hold upon them. It
is common for the whole bony struc-
ture of the skeleton to be involved, for
the disease is constitutional. It is PEI
culiarly one special to the Mississippi
Valley, where the rich alluvial soils
impart some quality to the heritage, or
which causes it to be defective in some
qualities, so as to affect the nutrition of
animals disastrously. There Is no cure
in advanced cases, but when the bones
of the upper jaw and face or the lower
jaw are found to be charging, treat
ment by tonics should be begun at
once. Phosphoric acid in sixty drop
doses may be given to full grown
horse, and ten drops to a yearling, in
the drinking water. An equivalent of
phosphate Of iron may be given. Ex-
elusive corn-feeding is a frequent cause.
Oats should be the chief food.
ONION Sour WITHOUT MEAT>-Drop
in saucepan bit Of butter half the
size of hens egg. When hot add two
or three large onions; slice them; stir
and cook them until they are red; then
add half teacupful of flour. Stir this
also until red and do not let it scorch.
Next pour in pint of boiling water
and season to taste with pepper and
salt. Mix well and let boil minute;
then pour it into soup kettle and place
at the back of the range or stove until
ready to serve. Add then one and q
half pints of boiling milk and two or
three well-mashed potatoes. Add to
the potatoes little Of the soup at first,
then little more until they are smooth
and thin enough to put into the kettle.
Stir all well together; test to see if the
soup is properly seasoned; if not add
whatever of salt, pepper or butter may
be needed. Let it simmer o few min
utes. Pour over toasted bread cut in
small pieces and placed in the bottom
of the tureen.