The National tribune., 1882-09-28
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers.


Readers.
A western Farmer" asks for an opinion as
to the value of pricllly comfrey as fodder for
stock Having heard a good deal about it, he
wishes to know if it is worthy of culture for the
above purpose. Ans.: This is one of those plants
that seem to have a faculty of turning up in
agricultural papers now and again as having
much merit but which fail to establish them
selves permanently. 1t was first brought into
notice as an agricultural plant about sixty
years ago. and was guaranteed to produce thirty
tons Of green fodder in one year. The leaves
are large coarse, and their stems are prickly;
it is altogether unworthy of notice as com
pared to the many valuable grasses and clovers
! now so plentifully and easily produced
cold Farmer" asks if it is a good plan to
! keep mp an apple orchard by placing young
! trees in the holes from which the decayed
tree has been removed. In reply we would
most emphatically advise against this replant-
! ing old, worn-out orchards. Plant young
orchard in new ground that is, new as far as
growing apples is concerned. We believe that
apple trees would be much longer lived, and
be more uniformly fruitful, if they were
planted in single, or at most, double rows, at
wide distances apart instead of being set in
compact blocks, as has been customary.
G. w Ennis, Florida, writes concerning the
camphor tree as to its adaptability to his State.
In answer we would say that the camphOr
tree of Japan will grow in any part of the
State of Florida, and in other States further
north. As to the camphOr production OF
which he asks for information, we have no
knowledge of its cost. The drug is prepared
from the wood by boiling the chopped branches
in water when after sometime, the camphOr
becomes deposited, and is ultimately purified
by subimation.
al have in my yard several trees of the
common white maple which have been losi ne
their leaves; they first turn yellow, then droI
of. On closer observation, see that the bark
of the branches, as well as parts of the main
stem. are covered with scale insects. Is there
any way Of curing them?" J. O., Pittsburgh
Pa. AHs: Prune the tree back, so as to re-
move the smaller branches and twigs, ther
cover the entire tree with a coating of com
mon lime wash.
In reply to Julia s., in regard to nectarines
we would state that her informant was per
/ 1CCtIy correct III dSStTGluB Illh1 Iuio iluiO 10
variety of the peach. Instances have beer
recorded of nectarinCs having been found OF
trees also bearing peaches further instance
are given where fruits have been produced will
one side pubesccnt like the peach, and th
other side smooth like the nectarine. Th
French call the nectarine smooth-skinne'
peach.
"In what respect does California clover diffe
from the common red clOver?" In answer +
this question from Nebraska subscriber, W
would say that California cloveris a local nam
given to the lledicagO SatiCd, "a European plant
which has been cultivated for centuries as
foreage plant. 1t is also known as lucerne
E alfalfa, and Chill clover.
, "J. H." asks for the origin of the nam
"sweet chestnut" as applied to the commo
) chestnut tree Aas.: We presume that it is o
+ account Of the fruit being sweet, as compared t
that of the horse-chestnut, which is astringen
, and bitter.