Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-22
FARMER AND GARDENER.
Advised by the Germantown Telegrap
Ground.Nut Growing Again.


Raising ground-nuts in this state is
again recommended by those who know
nothing about growing them. 1t has often
been tried, and every experiment we ever
heard Of was the samoan utter failure
We have tried it ourselves, giving 1t per-
sonal attention, and produced larger and
finer looking nuts than We ever saw i'll the
PHILADELPHIA market. But when they were
opened there was nothing there !! South
ern Jersey soil might be adapted to grow
ing them {; but the ground or peanut is
SOutern fruit, and those who attempt to
grow them will have their labor for their
pains.
Raising ground-nuts in Pennsylvania,
and in this latitude, is on par with rails
ing upland cranberries and whortleberries
in gardens. and figs upon the farm. Com
mon sense, without going to the expense of
experimenting, ought to teach everyone OF
its impracticability.
Tobacco-Growing.
This is the mania, just now, in a num-
Der of counties in this state, and as it pro-
duces good profits--more, it is claimed,
than many of the regular farm crops
some people who have written against the
use of the "dirty thing" are quietly grow
ing it for others to use. Some years ago
person in Bucks county, who denounced it
roundIy, as he did many other matters that
did not square with his eccentric ideas,
was the first to apply to us for couple OF
papers of the '' Havana " seed, and which
was said to produce large and very profit
able crops, for his own planting. One
question in regard to tobacco growing may
be taken for granted, to wit that, like all
other products, whether of the shop or
farm, there will sooner or later be a supply
equal to the demand, and a little more,
when any excess of profits over other re-
suits of labor will become equalized. Just
now, though tobacco-grOwing may yield
more profit than most other crops of the
farm, notwithstanding that it is a great ex
hauster of the soil, it will not divert so
much OF the attention Of the thoughtful
farmer as to interfere with his regular
routine crops, which he can produce with
out having his conscience twittcd with his
work, as some may with tobacco.
Look to the Roads.
Road graders are getting very much in
use in the West, where factories for their
exclusive construction are in operation. If
they are good machines they do the work
well and rapidly and at SO much less cost
than the old slow-going method as quickly
to run it out of practice when once tried.
Good roads are great blessing to man and
beast. The traveller in passing along over
fine road at once sets down the popula-
ton rs far ahead in their civilization and
social science to those of other sections
where the roads are either neglected or re-
garded rs of secondary Importance in the
routine duties of every day life. We have
noticed several instances where there has
been much effort and contention to have a
new road opened, and good deal of money
nI hn ms
through the county court. which, when
opened, is allowed to remain, i'll view of
the petty cost of it, only half graded, the
cutters only half made, with stumps and
rocks lying almost in the centre of the bed
admitting of barely room enough for a
single vehicle to pass. The cutters, toe
instead of being made straight and ser
viccable, are made to run round these OBJ
structions, which causes them to dam up
with weeds, dirt, &c., SO as to throw the
water upon the road bed, washing it into
holes, which prove dangerous to horses
and wagons.
Transplanting.
In transplanting trees the care should be-
gin in lifting them in the nursery. In the
hurry of the scasOn-for the transplant
ing season is short-sometimes the pro-
per care cannot be given in taking them up
Hence, it is the best plan, where it is al
lowed for the purchaser to dig up his own
trees. They should then be protected
against the sun in hauling them home, and
should be 'heeled-in that is the roots
to be covered with earth until the holes
are dug and ready to receive the trees. and
then set as the holes are prepared for thcm
The holes should be dug wide enough to re-
ceive all the roots spread out, except per-
haps a few OF the larger ones,
and deep enough-and few inches
to spare, which should be loosencd
well-so that the tree may stand
a little deeper than it stood in the nursery
Where the tree has grown rapidly in the
nursery and the branches are long, we re-
commend pruning, whatever may be said
by some to the contrary. The soil with
which the holes are filled up should be
rich, whether it be the soil taken out or
brought from elsewhere. Let the ground
around the tree he pretty firmly pressed,
and left rather bowIed, and then mulch
with rich stable-manure. which should be
repeated once or twice through the season
if the weather should be rather dry 1t is
not advisable to water much. if any,
around the tree when planted but where
the soil is rather dry it should be mois-
tened before it is returned to the hole.
Land-Owning in Europe.
Reading some of the editorials in agri-
cultural periodicals about farming and
farmers in Europe, we see that the idea
is held up that it is next to impossible for a
poor man ever to become able to own land.
On the contrary, they say that, even what
he earns by his daily labor is wrested
from him by his rapacious landlord. Now
it is very true that land is dearer in
most countries of Europe than it is here
even in the Middle states yet it is also
true that no nation in the world are there
more landowners for the population than
in France. Germany, Austria, Italy,
Holland and Belgium come next. In
Ireland it is more difficult than elsewhere
to Swn land; but it is principally for
the reason that the Irish are less thrifty
and ambitious, and have been so
long SO as to allow what land they did pos
sess to slip out of their hands into the
hands of others who were able to purchase
it. Whisky drinking has had most to do
with this. The Irish, it is true, are an in
dustrious people, and barring this weak
ness would do well enough if the land and
tenant laws were all that they ought to
be. 1t is probable, however, now that the
Liberals are in power again, that some
thing will be done of a solid, practical ma
ture in their behalf. 1t is difficult to guard
against famine. A few years ago here
in our own country-Kansas, Nebraska,
&c.-the farmers suffered terribly from
the attacks of the potato beetle, grasshop-
pers, &C., and required help to be sent to