The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-30


table in early winter and spring" The
following is the result of the experiments
of George B. Ru sci, of Loudoun Co., Va:
Yield in pounds
l row, without manure, 96}
1 row, ashes in bottom of hill, 80
l row. ashes on top of hill after covering. 1125
I row. plaster in bottom of hill 1904
l row, plaster on top of hill after covering 1904
! row, Peruvian guano in bottom of hill, 1922
L row, Peruvian guano on top of hill after
covering, 1851
l row, dissolved bone in bottom of hill. I39
l row, dissolved bone" on top of hill after
covering, 118
| row. hen manure in bottom of hlll 1l5
l row, hen manure on top of hill after COW
erlng, 90
l row. Powells Fertilizer in bottom of hill, III
l row, Powels Fertilizer on top of hill
after covering, SO
The rows were all of equal length The
quantity of manure used on each row was one
half gallon. The bone cost $40 per ton. guano
POO per ton, Powells Fertilizer SIG per ton
PowelPs Fertilizer was composed of 800
pounds dissolved bone, so pounds magnesia. 80
pounds ammonia, so pounds potash. Cost, $l2;
mixing, 81: total $l3.
The months of July and August were very
dry. Scarcely any rain.
The experiments with art5chokes, Red
Brazilian, were very satisfactory-the
yield being from 600 to 1000 bushels per
acre. One correspondent from California
says they promise most wonderful results
In feed, and thinks with good manage
ment 1000 bushels per acre could be
raised. (The writer of this raised from
q White French variety at the rate OF
800 bushels per acre, and one of his
hired men, from the common artichoke,
raised one peck to hill, which would be
$500 to $500 bushels per acre.) One
correspondent from Illinois says-horses,
COWS, pigs, and sheep eat them with rel
lsh. The Commissioner of Agriculture
concludes:
1.-The culture of artichokes for stock
feeding Is attracting much attention.
They flourish in a wide range of soils and
climates, and may be expected to come
into general use for stock feeding, par
tlcularly in sections where corn does not
flourish. An important element of their
value for swine is in their availability,
where the ground does not remain frozen,
during the entire winter and spring, with
out any cost for harvesting"
We are feeding them at this time, and
have been during March, fresh and sound
as dug from the ground. As regards
the experiments with grasses and forage
plants there is nothing worthy of much
note. Some correspondents speak we'll
of Pearl Millet;" one says it seems to
be somewhat coarse and woody, which
may be due to its unusually slow growth
and maturing" This is the prevailing
objection to it; its stalk very early be-
comes so finty and hard that stock cannot
eat 1T. If cut very early they will, but
then 1T Is scarcely grown, and has not
arrived at maturity. But when dried
and cured it is too hard to be eaten.
seeming to partake of the nature of reed
or sugar cane.
Next comes up the subject of "Vege-
table Fibres' which is very interesting
We have already spoken at some length,
on one OF the most important of these next
to cotton, viz, jute. A large number of ma
tive fibre plants are enumerated and de-
scribed. Among them the Ambition avi-
cenn@, American jute, and the Hibiscus
mo5cheutos, Swamp rose malow speci
mems OF each of which 1 have in the
State Cabinet. The former sometimes
called Indian Mallow," and "Wild Cot
ton, grows luxuriantly in every direc-
ton, and is very hardy, being generally
considered a pest. A writer in this re-
port, Professor Waterhouse, of st. Louis.
advises the cultivation of this American
lutte on the ground of its great hardness.
the superiority to hemp in whiteness.
strength, and durability as it is asserted
and the uncertainty Of the naturalization
OF India jute in this country. The dis
coovery by Mr.. A. Angel, of New Jersey
OF machinery for separating the fibre of
these fbrous plants, will save the farmer
much labor, and make the product much
stronger, more durable, and thus much
more valuable. Their cultivation is as
cheap as almost any other crop, and the
American jute will, without any doubt
De certain crop, as it grows with vigor
on on our lands in every direction. Prof.
Materhouse says lutte is too bulky for
Instant transportation. The freight would
consume the profits. Factories for the