The National tribune., 1882-12-14
RURAL TOPICS
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.

Most people who grow garden peas have seen
their seed injured by an insect which shows its
attacks by making a hole in the pea. OF late
years a somewhat similar insect has been ram
pant in bean fields, and instead of only one in
sect appearing in a seed, as is usual in the pea
the bean has many insects in one seed. How
best TO get rid of this insect is an important
question; if it could be possible 10 destroy
every bean which contains insects, they might
in time be entirely eradicated; at all events no
one should SOW beans which contain insects,
not only on account of the chance escape
of the insect, but also because the plants
produced from them Will be unhealthy. The
best disposition TO make of wormy beans is to
feed them to animals The Indians consider
pea worms and meal worms valuable as food and
on this account it is said that they prefer food
in which worms appear in profuslon.
CLOVER. (Trijolium prate'Se.)
The common red or broad-leaved clover is
native of Europe, but completely naturalized
in this country 1t is usually a biennial plant
at all events the varieties cultivated seldom
live beyond the second year. There are nu-
1nerous varieties, and they are sometimes
described and separated into biennial and
perennial clovers, although no great specific
importance is attached TO the accuracy of these
distinctions. The biennial kinds are distin-
guished by their roots being thicker, more
iieshy and caTrot-lke in form than those of
the perennial varieties, which have roots of
more wiry or fibrous character. The stems
Ind leaves of the biennial sorts are nearly or
comparatively smooth, and their growth heavy
and luxuriant; the leaves of the perennial
kinds are narrow, and, together with the
stems, more downy or hairy. The seeds also
vary to some degree, those of the biennial kinds
being of purplish color and of larger size than
those of the perennial varieties, which have
seeds of yellowish color. There are many
other slight differences in the numerous va
rieties of the red clover; some have darker
colored stalks and flowers; there are also
varieties with nearly white flowers; others
have a coarse habit of growth, with wiry,
woody stems and narrow, pointed leaves; other
varieties, again, have smooth, round stems and
round leaves, all being very soft and succulent.
In general it may be expected that clover
seeds of a purplish color Will produce the best
and most esteemed clovers for the feeding Of
live stock, as well as furnishing the largest
quantity of leshy roots for the Improvement of
soils. On the other hand, the yellowish clover
Jeeds will produce a more permanent, but
probably less profitable agricultural plant
The red clover is one of the most valuable
forage plants, and its influence towards profit
able farming cannot well be overestimated
Its value as a nutritious food for most kinds
of live stock is probably no more than equal to
its Importance as an ameliorator and fertilizer
of the soil. The decay of the thick feshy roots
furnishes a notable supply of organic matter to
soils, which is available as food for subsequent
crops, consequently it is justly considered as
one Of the most important plants in rotative
systems of farming in soils and climates adapted
to its growth. When intended for hay, clover
should be cut as soon as the earlier blossoms
begin to change to a brown color; the stems
are then succulent, and contain more nutri-
tious matter than if allowed to become firm and
fbry. To cure clover hay properly requires
Judgment and care. If it is left spread out for
any length of time in the sum- its succulent
leaves become brown and brittle when dry.
and great waste results from their breaking
into fragments when turned over, and in the
handling necessary in harvesting the crop.
REPORT ON SORGHUM.
The committee Of the National Academy Of
Sciences appointed to report upon the results
Of investigations recently made in the labora-
tory of the Department of Agriculture have
lately submitted their report, and conclude
that the Department is justified in promulgat-
ing the following results:
lst. Cane should be worked up as soon as cut
a. III /
the crop.
Sd. That the exclusion of all immature cane
is of the greatest importance in the manufac-
tuTe of sugar.
4th. Sugar has been made from sorghum and
corn stalks.
5th. Ripe seed will indicate the proper time
for working up the crop.
9th. Rain and drouth do not affect the
quality of the juice.
9TH. Mature sorghum is not injured by frost.
Sth. Loss of sucrose in sorghum syrup is no
greater than that in syrup from sugar cane
9th. That the presence Of gum in the syrup
of cane and maize is the great obstacle in the
way Of sugar manufacture.
Those who have been waiting with feverish
anxiety for some months for this report will
have their hopes Of success in sugar-making
strongly fortified; but those who have watched
the progress Of the sorghum culture, and have
been familiar with its history, will observe
that these conclusions are merely a repetition
of the report of the Department in 1862 on
this subject.
CATALOGUE RECEIVED.
Descriptive Catalogue Of Ornamental Trees.
Shrubs, Hardy Perennial Plants &C. for
sale by Ellwanger d Barry, Mount Hope
Esrseries, Rochester, y. Y.
Eurcrymcn's and sCedmons catalogues are
nowadays much more than mere lists Of arti-
clos f5r sale; they are standard works Of ih-
formation, as well as works Of art in printing
and illustration. The descriptive matter in