The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-12
FARMERS COLUMN.
Too Many Yarieties-Cattle Yards
Farm Leases.
APeculiar Fence-Breaking Prairie
Scottish Cultivation.
The lightning Rod Peddler Gets a Stroke
Early Lambs-Farm and Work
shop Notes.
Too Many Varieties.

Too Many Varieties.
The desire to produce large number of
| varieties causes many persons to fail in rails
ing a supply of fruit for their families, and
prevents them from having any to sell. If
they set out an orchard they first look over
the catalogue of a nurseryman and select
about as many varieties of apples, pears,
cherries and plums as it con-
tains. inexperienced persons sometimes set
out an orchard that contains as many varie-
ties as it does trees Such an orchard is
never profitable, for the reason that it is not
productive. Only small proportion of the
trees ever produce any fruit and of these
many are shy bearers. Commercial orch
ardists plant but few varieties, and the long
er they continue in the business the more
thsy are inclined TO reduce the number of
varieties they cultivate. Experience and
observation show the kind of trees that are
? profitable. Few persons can afford to sup
port horticultural museum. They
Gant an orchard that viii pro-
duce fruit Nurserymen keep a large
number of fruit trees on their lists
chiefly for show. They are glad to sell va
al orchardists as there is little demand for
them. If their opinion is asked, however,
they will, if they are Conscientious recon-
mend the planting of but few varieties The
owner of the largest orchard in this State
recommends but three varieties for general
cultivation. He finds that no kinds of trees
are profitable that not in the highest de-
gree hardy and productive. The most ex-
tensiye pear raiser in the country now linl-
its the varieties to six, though he COM
menced with sixty. In most localities two
varieties of cherries and two of plumS are as
many as will prove to be profitable.
What is true of the orchard is also true OF
the vineyard and the plantation of small
fruit. A few good varieties are preferable
10 large number of doubtful character.
In this latitude only few varieties Of grapes
are hardy enough to live without winter
protection, or productive enough to be
~ profitable. Two varieties of currants, goose
bersies. raspberries and blackber:ies are
enough to afford a change. and as many as
will be found highly profitable. One may
raise several kinds of strawberries for home
consumption, but only few varie
ties will be found profitable to raise
for market. Only epicures will
pay what it costs to raise the choicest
varieties OF grapes and berries. Only an
amateur who has a plenty of time and
money can afford TO experiment with a large
number of varieties of doubtful character
The. more varieties person undertakes to
cultivate the more time, trouble, and eX-
pense will be required 10 take care of them.
Experience gained in cultivating one kind
will be of little service IN the management
of another. Each has different habits and
modes OF growth. One requires much
pruning, another little, and third none
at all. The like is true in regard to pro
lection and the application of fertilizers. A
person who raises but few varieties can be
come an expert in the management but con
cfn NJ Srr rdx-a rod to-
q great many varieties. Persons who are en-
raged in general farming can not raise wha
are classed as "fancy fruits without neglect
ing their field-crops, which they can mo-
afford to do. They should content them
selves with few varieties and these should
be the most hardy and productive. The list.
furnished by State and local horticultural
societies should serve as guides TO persons o.
little or no experience. Persons who have
had experience in other localities would
also do well to consult them.
A large variety of corn, small grains sspo
tatOes and garden vegetables is generally
undesirable and improbable. 1t is bette
to raise one kind of feld-corn than several
If different kind planted on the same
farm they will mix and the crop will moi
bring as high price could be obtained
for corn of any one variety. Indeed it il
better to have all the corn planted in ont
neighborhood of the same variety, as it viii
be likely to be stored in the same elevator
and shipped in the same cars. Fences be
tween farms will not prevent the pollen o
corn from passing from one farm to another
If corn is to be saved for seed it i:
essential that it be Fure. Every
farmer needs raise both early anC
late potatoes, but one variety of each will
generally be found more profitable thar
several. Potatoes will not mix in the hill
as many persons believe they will but they
will get mixed in the bin and require labo
10 sort them for planting or the market. 4
mixed lot of potatoes will sell no better thar
h similar lot of corn. One variety of wheat
oats, rye, barley, and buckwheat is easie
managed than several, and generally give
better satisfaction. 1t is very difficult b
raise several varieties of melons, pumpkins
squash, and 'cucumbers on the same farm
without having them mix so that the see,
will produce fruit of a mongrel character
One early and one late variety of cucumbe
and squash can be raised with advantag
without much danger of mixing as the tim
of poisoning is different The like is tru
OF late and early variety OF cabbage.
Improved CATTLE Yards.
A barn-yard in this country is sort c
Out-of-door prison designed to keep stoc
from wandering about and getting int
mischief. 1t is composed of fence on tn
outside and a collection of mud, water an
manure. The ground is generally so sol
and wet that cattle horses and sheep ca
not lie down without being made very VI
comfortable as we'll as dirty. In Great Bri
ain improved stock-yards have recently bee
fitted up that give good satisfaction. A larg
portion of them is covered bya roof that Pre-
tects the ground beneath from rain. A
lumber is high, this roof is generally mad
of sheet metal covered with paint 1t
held in place by iron columns or supports {
masonry. The ground beneath the roof
raised and covered with cement or ciav