The National tribune., 1882-06-10
should Immediately follow the application,

are required for future extension set apart
a portion of the plantation for the purpose
of allowing the runners to grow, but where
the largest crops are aimed at no runners
should be allowed on the plants. AZ
ter the fruit has been picked the plants
should be thoroughly cultivated; sharp
cultivatOr should be run repeatedly between
the rows, in order to loosen the soil, which
Will have become consolidated during the
operation of picking the fruit. From now
until September is the only period when the
ground should be deeply stirred near the
roots of Strawberries.
With raspberries it is good plan to cut
out the old canes after they have produced
their crop; this allows more facilities for the
growth of the young shoots and canes which
will produce the next crop. These young
shoots should be topped when they reach
| height of three feet, which will cause them
TO throw out side or lateral shoots, and Obvi-
ate the necessity Of stalking to support the
plants. In fields the topping of young shoots
can be done rapidly with a scythe.
What is known as the summer pruning Of
| grapes is frequently overdOne. Ii is good
axiom to keep in mind that the greater the
amount of healthy foliage which can be re-
| tanned, the greater will be the quantity Of
| fruit which can be matured. Nearly all our
best varieties of hardy grapes are liable to
have portion of their leaves destroyed by
mildew, so that vines which are severely
summer pruned suffer most. Summer prun-
ing should be confined to merely pinching
off the extreme points Of shoots, which
| checks growth without weakening vitality.
In this way the points of the fruiting shoots
may be pinched off at about four buds or
leaves beyond the bunch of fruit. and remove
all but two punches even on stout shoots:
| on the less robust growths one bunch will
be sufficient. 1t is q notorious fact that
excessive crops ruin many grape vines.
Young grape plants which were set out
the past spring should not be pruned during
this summer. The growth should be en-
| cOuraged in every practicable way, and
every leaf retained, if possible; the main
object is TO secure a good system Of roots,
and the increase of these is determined by
the amount of healthy foliage upon the
plant.
In the flower garden, where the plants are
massed in beds, it may be necessary to spread
out such plants as verbenas and petunias so
as to cover the surface more completely.
Beds Of coleus can be assisted by pinching
out the tops of forward shoots, which will
cause the plants to widen and form dense
mass, which is one of the chief features in
modern flower gardening.
With Towering plants the blooming pc
riod will be heightened and the individual
beauty Of flowers will be increased by
promptly removing all the faded flowers and
stems. More especially in regard to tea roses
will this care result in inducing a fresh
growth Of wood and fresh crop Of flowers
In all well-arranged and well-conducted
pleasure grounds the lawn is the great fea-
ture of attraction during summer. 1t was
formerly a source of regret that fine lawns
were incompatible with our severe summer
suns and dry climate But we have no
cause for regret in this matter if care is
taken in making the lawn in the first place,
and then keep it in proper condition with
the lawn mower The introduction of cheap
lawn mowers has had more to do with fine
lawns and a renewed interest in lawn gar
dening than any other cause, or rather, than
all other causes combined; but we have seen
many disappointments in lawn mowers by
putting them in grass three or four inches
long; they are not made for long grass, and
are entirely useless in it. In the season of
rapid growths the mower should be used
weekly at the furthest.
The potato beetle is still on the rampage,
and if the potato crop is to be saved defen-
sive measures must be promptly commenced
and persistently pursued. Paris green and
London purple are considered to be the most
effectual remedies. These materials may be
used in the powdery state, or stirred in water,
with which the plants are sprinkled. We
have found the latter method of easiest
application, although the pOisons are equally
effective when applied in the dry state. We
have found teaspoonfuI of Paris green placed
in two gallons of water quite sufficient to
kill the beetles and their Larvae. The poison
does not dissolve in the water but the vessel
containing it and the water must be con-
stantly agitated during application. In a
former number we mentioned that tar water
had been found effectual in destroying the
beetle A gallon of gas tar is placed in a
barrel of water, the whole well stirred, after
which the tar is allowed to settle, and then
the water is applied to the plants.
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. In their
ambitious efforts to explain everything,
chemists, so-called, very frequently make
questionable statements which Will not bear
investigation. We take, for an example, the
following speculations by one of these emi-
nent advisers:
while all plants are capable Of drawing
a certain amount of nitrogen from the air,
they differ greatly in this respect. One class,
characterized by broad leaves and abundant
foliage, are capable Of drawing almost the
whole of their nitrogen from the air, and
having surplus in their remains for the
wants of succeeding crops, while another
class which have narrow leaves and a small
amount of foliage are incapable Of obtaining
a sufficient supply Of nitrogen from the air
for their full development. Red clover may
be taken as the type of nitrogen producers,
and wheat as the type of nitrogen consum-