The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-30
FARM, GARDEy AND HOUSEHOLD.


The Best Management of Grapevines.
Toprune tree or shrub severely when
in full growth is known to be hurtful,
and only those who have fairly tested it
know its extent. There is not only
shock checking growth, but hurting the
tree for years, ii not permanently; and
where the excision of limbs is severe it
may kill the tree. Some will bear the
strain better than others. The willow
is one of these. A few years ago / re-
moved clump of rose willows, cutting
IL off even with the ground. 1t had been
growing some ten years thriftily, and
was cut in July. New shoots put out,
but tardily and spindling, and made q
growth of about eighteen inches, the
leaves gradually turning pale and be-
coming mildewed and prematurely drop
ping. Another clump near by, of the
same age, was cut in spring before the
buds pushed. The growth of this was
magnificent, dark, thrifty and healthy,
because there was no shock, no hurt.
and hence no occasion for mildew. l
had similar experience with black
currant hedge, which l cut back Sc
verely when in full growth, mildew fol-
lowing. This was three years ago. My
cutting back since then has been done
early, when the wood was yet in its
dormant state, and clean, healthy
plant is the result. These, and numer-
Gus other cases that might be mentioned,
are conclusive that mildew follows
severe injury.
The treatment we give the grapevine
is a parallel case. We cut back severely
our thrifty sorts in the fall or spring,
and pinch back in the summer. Now,
q single cutting when the vine is in a
dormant state may not hurt it percepti-
bly,, as in the case of the willow and
currant, and rs is the practice with the
hedges generally. But it is too much to
continue it yearly; add to it the
summer pruning, and put the re-
duced leaves to the task of perfecting
a heavy, unthinned crop Of fruit, and
leaves, or all, is the result. Our fruit
trees are cut and forced in their growth
until the cry of disease has become
general. Berries are taken from their
shaded situation, the strawberry out of
the grass, and the ackberry and rasp-
berry from the forest border and aban
doned new land, and exposed TO the
hot sun, and subjected to the strain of
cultivation. Is it wonder that de-
terioration follows such treatmentP
Nature will allow improvement where
it favors her law or habit, but she never
fails to punish rashness, because her ad-
vance is slow and gradual.
Let us conform to this. Our crop,
then, though more moderate, will also
be more uniform, with less of the mis-
haps we now complain Of. The grapes
need more room on the trelliS, smaller
number of clusters, and the consequent
reduction of the number of seeds, which
are such a severe draft upon the vital
forces. At the same time the volume of
fruit is little lessened, and the quality
is certainly improved. When l prac.
ticed manuring and hacking I got mil
dew; when l gave run on the trellis,
lessened the clusters and diverted the
growth, got health and fine improved
crop with the same vines and others,
and for many years. Now and them n
little mildew will show, when, in q
growing 8 ason, sudden check is given
to Transportation by humidity, heat.
forcing, aided by a strong soil, and
dampness restraining. The same thing
will happen to grain, but much less to
the true and shrub growth in their
natural state. 1t is when they are sub
jected to the strain and abuse of cultiva-
tlon that our trees and shrubs, our
grapevines and berries are attacked by
disease. No one will dispute that
excess of all kinds in fruit-growing
should be avoided in manuring, in
pruning, in the number of specimens,
and in the situation with respect to ex-
posure and the condition of moisture in
the soil.-F g., IN Country Gentleman.
Health Hints,
For A BURN.-If the skin is not
broken use raw linseed oil or varnish
Ii the skin be broken, wet with feather
and the white of an egg, and sift on
charcoal through thin muslin.
HEADACHE.-We have known some
extreme cases of headache cured in half
an hour by taking teaspoonful of finely
powdered charcoal in half a tumbler OF
water. 1t is an innocent yet powerful
alkali.
A VAPoR BATH.-A vapor bath may
easily be prepared at home. Place a
pail of hot water under cane bottomed
chair, or if you have not one, put a mar.
row piece Of Soard across the pail; on
this the patient should sit for half an
hour, covered by blanket reaching to
the floor, so as to keep in the steam.
A CURE FOR A CoUGu The New
7 ork Tribune says: The following re-
cipe is sent by valued friend who has
found it very efficient in her family in
curing coughs: Tincture of blood.root
two ounces; tincture of lobeiia, two
ounces; tincture of tolu, two ounces;
essense OF anise, three drains; essence
OF wintergreep, one dram; two quarts
OF molasses. Dose, one teaspoonful
every three hours, OF oftener as the case
may require.