Connecticut western news., 1881-02-23
FARM AND GARDEN.

GRAFT1Na.-An old grafter says :- CT notice a paragraph to the effect that fruit tree scions, to be preserved prop erly, should have the ends dipped in wax. Now, an experience of thirty years in grafting has taught me that the only thing necessary is to pack them away in nearly dry sawdust or sphag- mum moss, and place in cool cellar. Put plenty of packing material about them and over the top, when the air tight box,' etc., will be found unneces- sary. Toward spring, should they show signs of starting into growth, it will retard vegetation by placing the box in the icehouse."
 THE S11o.-Mr. H. c. Austin, Hallo- well, Me-, says, in the Home Farm, that he has been giving animals one feed of ensilage day for two months past, and they are "doing better than any other stock he ever fed in his life. !" ApP1Es.-Mr. Alfred Smith, of Mon mouth, Me-, whose long experience gives force to his opinion, says that water-logging ssof apples rarely occurs with late winter sorts, but chiefly among earlier varieties, like the Porter, etc. !, and in dry, warm autumns. He adduces the useful fact that early gathering is a preventive. As this also favors long keeping-if the fruit is cautiously trans ferred to cool quarters-there is here a 1 ;,,l 4o the fruit upon the tree long after it has attained its full growth.
 CURRANT CUTTINGS fall is the best time to make and plant cuttings of entrants and other shrubs. The callus is formed at the end of the cuttings, and the roots start during the winter. The next best time is early in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground. The cuttings may be made this month, and if the ground is still frozen they may be kept in cellar until the ground is ready.
 ONIONS. Onions require rich soil an6 clean culture. A newly reclaimed swamp is the best soil, and the longer it is kept in onions the better they succeed The seed is sown in drills nine to twelve inches apart, and thinned out to three or four inches in the rows. High ma nuring is required, and, with thorough ly rotted stable manure, superphos phate of lime is the best artificial help COVER FOR IcE.-There is no better covering for ice in an ice-house thar half decayed leaves. If nothing elst can be procured, coarse swamp grass or straw cut into chaff may be used as substitute. It would be safe to use two or three feet and lay boards or rail- upon it to keep it packed down to ex clude the air.
 ENEMIES OF THE ORCHARD. farme who thinks 8 great deal of his orchard writes :-"ln the spring when I ge ready to prune my orchards take pal and fill it with fresh COW droppings then tear up @ lot of old rags for band ages, and then tear up an old calic apron or gown into strings, just strong enough to hold the bandages on. Thel wl6h 8 sh1ngle make shovel. Witt all these and with my knife, shears an, saw, I begin. I examine every Ire thoroughly. If I find any defectiv place of any kind take my knife an cut off all the dead bark and scrape tn cavity clean; then with my shovel plaster the cavity over so that no al can get in <; then I put around my band age and tie it just tight enough to kee: ) the bandage from falling off. I the
 leave it on until the next year, when , take it off, and generally find the cavit entirely grown over with new bark When I find where the borers are 0 have been at work, treat it in the sam way, and never fail to exterminate them I and the following spring find 8 ne7 7 bark covering the entire cavity.