The National tribune., 1882-07-22

losses from thrips, and it may probably be
found that few tobacco leaves sprinkIed
around the stems of the plants will be all
that is necessary.
EXPERIMENTS WITH PoTAToEs.-Dr DR..
Sturtevant, the Director of the New York
Agricultural Station, in a recent address.
indicated the nature of some of the expert
ments he has in progress by the following
in relation to the potato:
Take potato, peel it heavily, and plant
the peeled potato in dry soil. The shoots
will grow. This shows that the potato shoots
penetrate further within the potato than we
have generally believed. Now plant potato
! peellngs. We observe that the plant is
feeble in early growth, and late in formation
OF tubers. Now plant large fiat pieces of
potato. We observe a good early growth,
and a moderate formation of tubers. Now
plant single eyes cut deeply. We observe
that these form vigorous plants, and early
and prolific tuber formation. Plant now
potato shoots laid in the row; we observe
very early formation of potato, and prolific
acy, with moderate leaf growth. What do
these facts indicate? This: that the depth
of the cutting of the eye has more influence
on the crop than the size of the seed. In
like manner, as we investigate the potato
crop, we see marked indications that single
eyes, cut deeply, are superior for seed in
every respect to pieces of potato or whole
potatoes That the deeper the cut the bet
ter and earlier the crop, and that hence large
potatoes, If preferable for seed, probably de-
rive their advantage from the eyes being
deeper than are the eyes from small pota-
toes, Tor long sprouts give US earlier potato
formation than short sprouts, and the eyes
have certain analogical resemblance to the
shoots which they originate"
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL-Prof Johnston
Classics soils, according to their clayey or
sandy proportions, thus:
First. Pure clay, from which no sand can
be washed
Second. Strong clay or brick clay, which
contains from five to twenty per. cent. Of
sand.
Third. Clay loan, which contains from
twenty to forty per cent. of sand
Fourth. Loan, which has from forty
to seventy per cent. of sand.
Fifth. Sandy Ioam, which has from sew
enty to ninety per cent. of sand
Sixth. Light sand, which has less than
ten per cent. of clay.
Sandy soils, then, are those which consist
mainly of grains of sand. or silica or flint.
and Is called silici0us soil Nature never
bestowed upon man a soil of greater capa-
bllity of being made lastingly fertile than
-he sandy, light soil of New England.
Gravelly soils need no description, though
here are rich gravels and poor gravels I
depending upon the rocks of which they
ire composed, and the substances which are
mixed among them. Clay soils consist ,
argely Of alumina; that is having such an
bundance Of clay that il is called the " CLAW s
le;al.' Clay itself Is a compound Of silica q
sand, acid, alumina, and water. 1t also 4
ontains potash, soda, and lime 1t forms a
ompact, fatty earth, SOFT 20 the touch. sticky t
q moist state and very hard when dry. a
Chaiky soils have been formed from rocks t
D which limo was abundant. a
Peaty soils need no description, although 8
hey differ very widely. 7
Alluvial soils are formed by deposits Of
ard, loan, and gravel brought down by q
vers. They are often very rich. being il
imposed of a multitude of thin layers of Fl
nd, IN which all sorts Of fsrtiiizing mate il
al Is mixed. Loamy soils contain a large q
ortion Of decayed matter, humus or muck. i
) IT IS called. Woody fibre in state of Il
=cay acquires a dark color, and ultimately Al
comes mould. Loan contains a variety il
ingredients, as clay, sand, lime, in addi- y,
on TO humus. 1t is loose, triable de- pI
ription of soil, easy to cultivate and as to q
xture IS the most desirable description of q
nd for purposes Of tilIage. w
al
ORIENTAL P0PPY.-This is one OF the m
ost snowy of hardy plants for the flower
'rder 1t flowers very profusely in early
mmer, and the flowers are Of great size he
I'd have an intense, bright crimson IA
aIlet color. A small patch will throw nm or
any flowers, producing a striking effect OF
7ing to their size and conspicuous color wi
is entirely hardy and requires no care fri
-er once having been set out Wa
M