The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-03-25

started from 81. Louis to New Orleans
week before last; go, 900 buihels Of
corn loaded on barges tOwed by a power
full steam tug.
Mule market very lively in Kentucky
prices advanced $40 on good mules,
which are scarce. The mule and horse
trade in the South is said to be better
than since 1873.
Making Asparagus Beds.
Viek says that the quickest way to OBJ.
tam asparagus is TO purchase the plants,
because by doing so the beds are fit for
cutting a year or two sooner than would
be the case if they had been started from
seeds. II, however, you preferto begin
at the beginning, obtain the seed as
early in the spring as possible and SOW
in wide drills, say FIVE inches apart,
about as soon % peas are sowD. Keep
the soil mellow aud the weeds destroyed,
and in the autumn, if the soil ia very
good, you will have one -year-old plants
plenty large enough to set out. Bat one
year old plants are generally rather
small, and many prefer to let them re,
main in the seed bed until the second
year. An ounce OF seed is sufficient for
about twenty-five feet Of drill. In max.
ing a bed for the plants select q good
mellow soil, and make it deep and rich
A bed Of the kind once made will keep
in good condition for half a century or
more, 30 the work should be well done.
The beds should be sufficiently narrow
to allow OF their being cut to the centre
without being trod upon. Set the plants
not less than twelve inches apart in the
clear, spreading the roots out no urally,
and not crowding them into too small a
space, and deep enough that the top or
crown OF the plant will be about three
inches below ground. In removing the
weeds take care not to iDiure the young
shoots, it being always best to do the
work by pulling out the weeds by hand.
Salt is an excellent manure for aspara-
gus, and may be used with such freedom
as to keep the weeds pretty we'll sub.
dued without further trouble. II strong,
two-year Old plants are set, a few shoots
may be cut the year after. The part
used is the young shoots, which com.
mence to appear in early spring, and
should be cut when fire or six inches in
height. and when the head is close and
firm. Take them from q little below
the surface, with a slopiDg cut. 1t is not
best to continue the cutting until late in
the season, unless the shoots should lie
unusually strong. At the close of the
season the tops should be allowed TO
grow and bear seed. When the seeds
are ripe cut the stalks close to the
ground, and cover the bed with a few
inches Of manure, raking off the coarscr
portion Of the manure the following
spring when the asparagus will be again
ready for another springs work.
How the Chinese Blake Dwarf Trees.
We have all known from childhood
how the Chinese cramp their women's
feet, and so manage to make them keep
ers at home; but how they cohtrive to
grow miniature pines and oaks in flower
pots for half a century has always been
much of a secret. They aim first and
last at the seat of vigorous growth, en-.
deavoring to weaken it as much as may
be consistent with the preservation of
life. Take a young plant-say a seed
ling or cutting of a cedar-when only
two or three inches high, cut off its tap.
root as soon as it has other rootlets
enough to live upon, and replant it in a
shallow earthen pot or pan. The end
OF the tap root is generally made to rest
on O stone within it. Alluvial clay is
then put into the pot, much of it in bits
the size Of beans. and just enough in
kind and quantity to furnish a scanty
n%ourishment to the plant. Water enough
is given to keep it in growth, but not
enough to excite a vigorous habit. So,
likewise, in the application OF light and
heat. AS the Chinese pride themselves
on the shape Of their miniature trees,
they use strings, wires and pegs and
various other mechanical contrivances
promote symmetry Of habit or to
ashton their pots into odd fancy figures.
by the use of very shallow pots,
the growth Of the tap.root is out OF the
question; by the use of poor soil and lit
tie OF it, and little water, any strong
is prevented. Then, too, the
top and side roots, being within easy
reach of the gardener, are shortened by
his pruning knife or scared with his hot
So the little tree, finding itself
headed on every side, gives up the idea
strong growth, asking only for life,
and Just life enough to look well. Ao-
,ordingly each new set of leaves becomes
and more stunted, the buds and
.ootlets are diminished in proportion,
md at length a balance established be-
.ween every part Of the tree, making it
dwarf in all respects. In some kinds
" trees this end is reached in three or
our years; in others ten or fifteen years
re necessary. Such is fancy horticul-
ure among the Cslestials. = tChnoIo.