The National tribune., 1882-09-23
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers.

Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers.
"I found the following sentence in one OF
my agricultural papers: True, we can en-
graft one species of plant upon another and
produce a hybrid was not aware that
hybrids were produced in this way; /
thought they were produced from seeds, and
if / am wrong l would be glad to know t."-
E., Cincinnati, o. Ans: Grating is means
of extending or propagating plant; it does
not originate new forms, and, therefore,
cannot produce hybrids as suggested in the
sentence quoted.
In answer to "a temperance woman" we
would remark that the common recipe for
making wines fIom currants, black kberries,
and grapes, Of adding three quarts of water
to one quart Of pressed juice, and adding
TO this mixture three pounds of the best
white sugar and then setting the whole to
ferment, will make a pleasant, but not a
temperance drink. We suppose that it
would contain at least from twenty to
twenty-five per cent. of alcohol.
A Washington subscriber wishes to
know if the popular idea that a seed
ling lemon tree will not fruit until it is
grated is correct Ans.: We find that very
many people entertain this idea. We pre-
sumo that it has originated from the fact
that Seeding lemon trees take many years
growth before fruiting. AS matter of
course they will fruit when old enough, but
grating oftentimes hastens this period.
"Is the Japan plum the same thing as the
Japan persimmOn ?"-N., Orange CO., Fla
Ans.: The plants are distinct. The plant
known in the southern States as Japan plum
is PhOtiniG JGpOnied, a plant closely allied to
the hawthorn family. The Japan persim-
mon is much like our native persimmon, the
fruit being larger, and in some mot all of
its many varieties, sweeter and less astrin-
gent than our native kinds
Novice" wishes to know whether
he would be justified in seeding his
farm largely to Lucerne for the purpose of
making it into hay for marketing. Ans. !:
We doubt whether the plant can he looked
upon as specially adapted for hay, and it is
still more doubtful whether it would find
purchasers in city markets.
/. o. c., of New Brunswick, n J., is in
formed that the Eucalyptus glObalus, the
so-called Australian anti-fever tree, will not
stand the climate in any portion of that
State. A few degrees of frost destroys it.
PHYSICAL ACTION OF MANUREs.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The mechanical or physical action of barn
yard manure upon the soil to which it is
applied, affords an important subject of
study. 1t is one of those beautiful effects
produced by the simplest agent, but which,
until fully understood seems mex plicable.
Thus we find that manure under certain
circumstances, gives to sandy soils increased
stability and consistency. On the other
hand, we find it rendering tenacious, clayey
soils more mellow and friable. But these
two opposite results are not produced by
manures in the same condition, or in the
same state of decay. The farmer who de-
sires to render sandy soil more firm, would
scarcely select as the agent fresh strawy
manure, for the simple reason that the
rigidity of the straw would produce results
the very opposite of those he sought Well
rotted manure should be applied to sandy
soils for this purpose. The soil in this case
needs COMPRISING, and rotted manure is
4 very efficient agent for this purpose. On
stiff, tenacious soils the strawy manure is
what is wanted; it renders them more
friable, admits the free passage of rain and
atmosphere, and in a variety of ways pro-
notes fertility and easier management
These thoughts are not new, though they
possess high Importance .and ought to be
understood by every farmer.-G. j., Della
ware CO., Pa.
at is not necessary for man TO be poor to
be honest" Certainly not. But it seems sort
n, halfway necessary for n man To he moor if hc