The National tribune., 1881-12-31

freezing and thawing of one winter to pulverize
it sufficiently for grain crops; but that it would
ultimately and permanently benefit the land,
there need not be shadow of doubt. But sub
soiing is always beneficial, and for farming lands
Except in preparing ground for special crops it
is better than trenching. Lands will sensbly
improve where the subsoil follows behind the
plow
REFUSE OF COCOA-NUT FIBER.-AmOng other
evidences of this being the utlitarian age is that
of discovering uses for what was formerly refuse
waste from manufactures of various kinds. One
of the minor fragments in this line is the horti-
cultural use of the refuse obtained in the prepara-
tion of the fiber contained in the husks of the
cocoa-nut for the manufacture of mating, brushes
&c. This refuse consists of short scraps of fiber
and of the tissue which grows with it in the husk
of the cocoa-nut 1t is light in texture, and
when mixed in the soil is well adapted to the
roofing of plants. From what we learn it is
much sought after in Britain, where nurserymen
and others use it quite extensively in the COM
posts for all soft-wooded plants. In this case it
takes the place of leaf-mould and acts as
lightener of the compost, as good retainer of
moisture, and gradually pabulum for the
growing of plants. 1t is also used as mulching
material for fower-beds and for surrounding
plants in pots when they would otherwise be
exposed to the SUM- One of it's most useful ap-
plications is that of spreading thin layer of the
finest portions of the refuse on bed of soil in
tentended for the temporary growth of such
plants as tomatoes, cabbages, plants, and
many delicate seedlings of greenhouse culture.
The bed is prepared by spreading a thin layer
of the material over the soil of such thickness
that when compressed with a covering of about
half an inch of fine soil it will form layer of
say one-fourth of an inch in thickness. The
young seeding plants are transplanted so that
the roots Immediately permeate the fbry mat
ter, so that when ready for removal each plant
has an adhering tuft which is of the utmost value
for its future growth The same object is at
tanned by using finely divided moss, method
much practiced by our florists and gardeners
Bones AS MANURE.-Prof. Voelcker says:
Bones are the first manure which farmer
ally buys, and which farming communities
demand. Wherever agriculture is improved
throughout the world the first lack of the farmer
is phosphates. The easiest source of supply is
bones, and not until that lack has been supplied
in the soil does he begin to search for ammoni-
acal manures.h
PEANUT CRoP.-Peanut growing is one of the
most profitable industries of Virginia The re-
turns never fall below fifty dollars an acre even
in seasons of drought like the present one and
sometimes rise as high as $500 per acre. A light
sandy soil is best. The nut must have plenty of
rain in August in order to reach perfection.
There are three grades in market, the strictly
prime the prime and the medium, the latter of
which is sold to the retail buyer. The best are
sent abroad or used by makers of the finest
grades of candy The peanut candy sold at forty
cents pound is made from the low grade, the
wholesale of which is two cents per quart.
SUGAR FROM WATERMELONs.-I has been
stated, but upon what data we are not advised,
that sugar can be made quite as proftably from
watermelons as it is from beets. The sirup is |
very delicious fine as the best sirup procured |
from the sugar-maple and Just as easily made.
1t requires but little more Juice of melon than of
maple to make pound of sugar. 1t is also adj |
vanced that the raising of an acre of watermel- |
ons is easier and costs less than raising of
beets and the product of the former will make as
much or more sugar than the product Of the lat |
ter. Only comparative experiments decide |
the factor of profit, and it may be worthy of trial |
BRITISH IMPORTATION OF POTATOES AND |
ONIoNs-From a return lately published by the
British Board of Trade we find that during the
year 1879 the potatoes imported by that country |
amounted to 8 357 179 cwt., having a money value |
of little more than 100000 During the !
same year 2,169,4S0 bushels of onions were inn
ported at cost of $2,OOOOOO Commenting on |
these figures the Gardeners Chronicle remarks as
follows:
Hooking at these facts in their entirety, it WILL
we think, become apparent that we cannot, with
our past and ever-increasing requirements, and |
our uncertain climate, ever hope to dispense with
foreign aid But although this is so, that cir
cumstance of itself would not prevent our mar
ket growers from realizing good profits for them
selves Ii other conditions were favorable. They |
cannot well have been worse than during the
last few years, that there is good reason to be-
lieve they must now improve To this end rents
must fall they are falling, transit rates must |
be lowered TO balance foreign import, the agency
of mddlemen must be reformed if it cannot be |
done away with, open markets must be increased |
the producer and consumer brought into more |
immediate contact to the advantage of both, and |