The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-12
FARM AND FIRESIDE.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.


plants to manufacture, rs it were, so many diff
ferent articles from the same general character
Of soil, each plant finding in it the material 1t
requires. Take any miscellaneous collection of
plants and pot them in soil taken from the
same heap, and one viii produce quinine, an
other theme, and others oxalic acid, perfumes
of the most varied kinds, virulent polsOns,
sweet. acid, bitter. or Estrincent fruits, oils
bland and acid, and SO on, until we might emu
merate every vegetable production.
Chemistry endeavors to supplement facilities
for the increase of special productions, and
while much has been done in this direction,
much still remains to be done, and chemists
are sanguine as to their ability 10 point out the
methods for the increase of special principles in
crops to q greater degree than has yet been &C
complished.
Formerly great pains were taken in preparing
soil for potting plants In old gardening works
we read about the compost heap. This was
merely the receptacle for all vegetable refuse,
such as cabbage stalks, carrot tops, pea straw,
lerves, weeds, and such-lille refuse, which
would ultimately become rotted after many
wears and frequent turHings over. This was
favorite ingredient as a mixture in soils toF
greenhouse plants. and formed a really good
source of plant food.
Then each species Of plant was supposed to
require certain proportions of this compost,
mixed with measured quantities of rotted
manure from the barn-yard, rotted leaves from
the woods, sand, clay, &c, all of which was
merely empirical. and not based upon any rule
except individual fancy.
Modern florists content themselves with a
soil produced by rottcl sols. The best is that
which is taken from an old pasture field or
any spot where the common blue grass has
formed tough, fbry sod. These sods are
placed in heap to rot, so as to destroy all
vegetative power in the roots of the grasses and
plants of which it is composed. When in its
best condition it is full Of fibry matter, which
constitutes its chief value. The organic matter
gradually decomposes and furnishes food for
the plants potted in ii, and what is equally inn
portant, the fibry nature of the material in
sures good drainage, and allows the air free
access to all parts Of the soil. All kinds of
plants seem to grow well in rotted sods, al
though something depends upon the soil from
whence they are taken: if from heavy or clay
soil mixture of sand, manure rotted TO a
mould. or leaves wei! decayed, viii assist in
maintaining suitable porositv even after the
fibry roots have disappeared; charcoal dust is
also of great value as a corrective in heavy
soils.
HARDY WHITE GRAPES
Inc INTRODUCTION o. Il IiIsI cli'S9 "hlle hd'INe
grape mas IonS oeth ue9'ueIaluHu' ro' 'he
past twenty-five years grape HSts nave con-
tanned WHITE varieties hut oi lndlIerent Valne
ABOUT that Tune we ma" lne oassloy 'ISe he
pecca, the Cuyahosa' ana 'le AlaNataWh!' none
OF winch nave maintained themselves as stand
ara KINDS. Inc Martina was next introduced
gooa' Marcy Varie ~ DIT fdlher loN! haVored
Ior most tastes. 4heA me Lazy was Drought
into nouce as a grape that everybody Shoold
possess; thlS Is q very sweet klia ana mas
gwen genera! Ss,i7.',c'ioh' 'put II Is d small
eunched variety atIouSh qulte productive.
NOW we nave hummer "hich, III poh'oiogical
parlance, are very promising. among these
are the Niagara moi yer on the market lot gen
eral purchasers pHI Is helhg tested by us own
ers Ia different States IN order to establish It's
value IL variety OF situations and climates;
Tie general impression IS mat II possesses great
merits.
III" .'' ','iie''e9' I-Ie ieulISo' i1'uS " "'n-
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