The National tribune., 1882-04-08

| kinds of agents who come in between the
producer and consumer The true remedy
is to deal directly with the nurseryman'
who has reputation to maintain, and whose
representations can therefore be relied upon
Corn FOR FoDDER.-As supplementary
food for livestock during winter, corn fod-
der Is oftentimes of great value, but the
sowing is very commonly delayed until late
in GUNNER, and in consequence 1t is allowed
to stand so late that the curing is but i'm
perfectly performed, owing to the moist and
cloudy weather, OF it may be caught by frost
and rendered worthless before it has reached
sufficient maturity. All this can be avoided
by sowing early, and thus it can be cut and
cured rapidly in good harvesting weather,
and at once secured for winter use.
1t is best to sow in drills in good land, and
cultivate thoroughly, so as to maintain a
continued healthy growth; the object is to
| grow large succulent foliage, not small wiry
stalks which are woody and innutritious. A
crop of corn fodder is also Of great import
ance when pastures begin to dry up and fail
to afford food for grazing stock, as a supply
of green food can be cut and fed to the ami
mails until the pasture has recuperated.
The greatest defect in the average farmer
is that of keeping too scanty supply of
livestock. The keynote of high farming is
feeding stock and making manure.
GROWING TREES FOR TIMBER.-There is
vast amount of writing, just at this time,
about the evils resulting, and to result, upon
what is termed "the wholesale destruction
Of our forests" and the consequent necessity
for the immediate planting of trees to re-
place those which are being removed. The
Government has published official docu-
ments showing what has been done in other
countries when the timber supply failed,
but so far as can be learned there is total
absence of practical ADVICE or suggestions as
to the proper methods of raising timber trees
on a scale commensurate with the subject as
presented in this country.
These remarks have been suggested by a
letter which has been received from a reader
Of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and from which
we insert the following extract: "I also
would like to plant belt of trees to shelter
house and outbuildings, and do not know
what best to plant. Evergreen trees l fear
will not thrive in so bleak place. The
Catalpa tree is highly praised; so is the Usage
orange; both of these do well hereabouts
but they are crooked growing trees. think
the yellow locust will do well; they are not
so much troubled by insects as formerly,
and grow rapidly. Can you offer any sug-
gestions or advise me how best to proceed ?"
In answer to the above it may be stated
that the best method of starting grove of
trees as contemplated by our correspondent
is to prepare the ground as if for corn plant
ing, and plant the trees in rows like corn,
allowing the plants to stand four feet apart
each way; they should be cultivated for
three or four years or until they get good
start. This thick planting is the proper
plan to establish a forest, after which the
duties Of the forester consists in cultivating,
pruning, and thinning the trees as may be
required. The object gained by thick plant
ing is that the trees protect each other, and
having but lttlespaee in which to spread they !
are drawn up straight, and thus form good !
stems. Should any of the plants assume a |
crooked, irregular growth after year or two,
they should be sawed off near to the root, and |
a straight, upward growth then will be de- |
veloped.
Any pruning required will have for its
object, the encouragement of distinct lead !
ing shoot to the tree. If side shoots appear to |
be interfering with the central growth, they |
viii require to be cut back or entirely re-
moved. After few years, thinning will be |
necessary; this includes the entire removal !
Of one-half of the trees; these will be large
enough for fire wood, or perhaps fencing
purposes. Each year will add to the value
of the trees to be removed, and ultimately
the trimmings will become profitable
As to the kind of trees best adapted, much
depends upon the ultimate object sought to
be obtained. If merely grove for imme-
diste shelter, then the more rapid growing
trees should predominant, such as the silver
maple, Carolina poplar, ash-leaved maple,
yellow locust, white ash, catalpa, Usage
orange, and wild cherry. But mixed with
these, such trees as the sugar maple, black
walnut, chestnut, oaks, &C., may be intro
duced, and so arranged that the grove may
present only one OF more kind of
trees, as may be selected. Trees managed
in this way, on ordinary good soil, will as
tonish those who suppose that half century
is required before forest tree can reach
like useful dimensions.
When grove of deciduous trees has be-
come well established, the harder kinds of
evergreen trees, such as frs and pines, may
be set on the sheltered Sides All evergreen
trees succeed best under shelter when they
are young, or until they are large enough to
shelter each other.
THE LEETIL - The common lentil is a
legume of the greatest antiquity, being in
esteem in the days of the patriarchs, and
one Of the earliest cultivated food plants.
1t Is still extensively cultivated throughout
the East Indies, Egypt, Persia, and Syria,
for the sake of its small seeds, which are
cooked in various ways-boiled into soup.
or parched and made into flour, in which
latter state it is often sold as a nutrition.
article Of diet under various
names, such as ravalenta, ervalenta, &c.
Eaten entire, the seeds are considered to be
rather indigestible, but when deprived of
y, cir sl,ins thew are recommended nc n rom,