The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-16
effort of nature to expel it causes an unnatural
SUCCESS IN PLANTING TREES.


remain. No planter should value himself on
his skill until he can take up and set out a
Thousand or even ten thousand young trees,
without a single lost one, for if all have good
and equal chance, none will die"
Our experience has been that trees are care
lessly handled in lifting from the nursery, and
We hesitate not TO S ate it as our opinion that
most failures in planting trees is because of
careless lifting by uurserymen.
Ii is fashionable TO ascribe failures in tree
growing to tee planter, but when he receives
trees barbarously mutilated at the roots. he is
not to blame if they fail to grow. True, he
should not plant trees in that condition, but he
has purchased and paid for the plants and feels
anxious that they should have a chance: be-
sides. he did not purchase aud pay freight on
them merely TO throw them away when re-
ceived. and yet we have seen that done time
and again by men who knew what they were
about in handling young trees. Indeed, it is
only those of the most experience that will dis
card trees at planting; noyices are not expected
to know how much mutilation trees will sur
vive.
Bad lifting in the nursery, careless pack
ing, and casualties of transportation, have more
to do with failures in tree growing, than bad
planting or bad treatment afterwards.
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
The next strawberry crop depends upon the
principal points of culture are, first Cut off
all the runners as soon as they appear, and
keep the ground loose and clean around the
plants. If runners are required for the ex-
tension of plantations, a certain number of
plants should be set apart for the purpose of
providing them. Certain il is that the poorest
crops will be obtained from plants which have
been allowed 10 become smothered among a
mass of young plants. Cultivation must not
be prolonged beyond the month of August so
that it is essential that the ground at that
time should be perfectly clean from weeds,
smoothly leveled about the plants and then
left absolutely undisturbed further than to
remove such runners as may appear. At this
time the plants will be forming Towering buds,
and any disturbance among the roots will re-
act upon the buds and impair their strength.
In short, strawberries should not be cultivated
from the middle of September until the crop
has been gathered the following spring The
old habit of digging aud blowing between the
rows of strawberries during fall and early
spring has been abandoned by all modern in
telligent growers of this fruit
COWS AND CLOVER.
An Illinois farmer gives the following advice:
If you are obliged to use your clover pasture
do not use it while the clover is wet, and be-
fore putting the cattle on the clover give them
some dry food so that they viii not attack the
=
take them out every fifteen minutes, because
if that is done the animals will, during that
time, eat with such haste and greed as will pre-
vent thorough mastication and mixing of the
Food with saliva; and as they will manage to
get down quite quantity. of clover, bloating
is almost sure TO follow. So that TO get the
animals used to the clover they must be left in
it all day; but it is important they should be
allowed to eat an hour or so of good hay in the
morning before they are put in the clover
field.
ENsILAGE.
The filling and management of silos is con-
stantly developing economic points which are
being systematized and practiced. We see it
stated by one who has been very successful
with ensilage, that the proper weight for silo
IS 40 pounds per square foot. Barrels of fine
loan or road-Gust make very good weight for
the silo, and the dirt can be utilized as an alb
sorbent in the stables, as the packages are re-
moved in taking out the fodder. This is better
than handling several tons of stone, that must
be gotten out of the way again in the spring.
WHEN TO CUT TIMBER.
writer, who claims experience, states that
timber cut between June and September keeps
sound longer than if cut in winter The old
rule used 10 be TO cut in August, bat any time
viii do while the foliage is greatest. The rea-
son for this probably is that the leaves on the
tree help to dry it more rapidly than il would
if the leaves were removed. The hot weather
of summer months is also more favorable for
seasoning timber than fall OF winter. In very
early spring, while the wood is full of sap, is
the worst time TO cut timber for keeping.
TOMATO FLOUR.
1t is stated that the Italians dry and then
pulverize the pulp of the tomato The plant
is grown to large extent, and generally be-
tween the rows of vines il vineyards, to econo-
mize land. The ripe fruit is macerated in
water, and, when reduced to a thin pulp is
strained to take out the seeds. 1t is then dried
ground and put up for market. The -four is
used for favorery cookery dishes of various
kinds, and it is said that il well takes the
place Of the fresh article; indeed, for some pur-
poses it is much preferred.
TEACHING HORSES.
To prevent horse from being scared, If dis
posed TO it, when first put into harness without
binders, take him behind the carriage and of
the sides, and let him touch these with his
nose and smell them well. If curtains inclose
the carriage, loosen and shake them in the face
of the horse; then stand him fronting the car
rage, between the shafts, and, if buggy, raise
and lower the top TO accustom him 10 this. If
these brighten him little, repeat till he gets
completely over ii, and then attach him to the
vehicle
PACKING EGGS.
The American Poultry Record says that there
are times when eggs are low, and when II is
well TO pack them for future use as follows:
To enc pint of salt and one pint of fresh lime
add four gallons of boiling water When cold
put it in stone jars. Then, with dish, let
down your fresh eggs into it, tipping the dish
after il fills with the liquid. so they will roll
out without cracking the she'll Put the eggs
in whenever you have them fresh. Keep them
covered in cool place, and they viii keep
fresh for year.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers.
Can the opium poppy be cultivated In this State
and II so, would II likely prove profitable Ell
wood, n. j.
Ans. The plant viii grow we'll enough, but
there would be no profit Ia its culture; the cost
of gathering the juice is too great, even if the
lowest-priced labor is employed.
i have an orange tree In large box; the tree e
about six feet IN height with many branches: il has
howeied some but has not borne any fruit am
told that Il will never bear fruit unless it Is grated