The National tribune., 1883-09-20

month, and / doubt whether the fruit will
ripen; it is still very acid.
Noah.-This is a white grape. which makes
a good-sized bunch, but the berries seem to
drop easily; it is only second rate.
KEEPING GRAPES.
The Raral NelC Yorker thus describes some of
the methods adopted for keeping grapes:
"There are quite number of ways for pre-
serving grapes for winter use. Simply placed
in boxes, with alternate layers of paper, they
keep very well. A good plan is to pick the
grapes when perfectly dry, removing all inn
perfect berries: then place them in clean, dry
earthen jars in layers, with paper between
them. double sheet Of paper is placed over
the top layer and the lid put on. Strong un-
bleached muslin is pasted entirely over the lid
or cover, so as TO entirely exclude all air.
When the covering has dried and hardened,
the jars are buried on a dry knoll, deep enough
not to be touched by frost. Very good success
has attended bagging with paper sacks, then
packing with dry sawaust in tight box and
storing IN n dry, cool cellar. A temperature Of
forty degrees is best FOR keeping the grapes in,
the air being kept clear and dry"
We have kept grapes till February loose in
boxes in a cool, dry cellar. The Clinton, when
well ripened, is q good keeping grape.
SAVING SEED CORN.
There was much complaint last spring of
bad seed corn. and farmers had TO replant oft
ener than usual on that account; some aban-
doned the seed of their own saving and pur-
chased from others who had been more fortu-
nate in saving good sample. The reason
given for so general a defect, especially in the
Western States, was that OF insufficient curing
before storing and subjecting it TO severe frost
while charged with moisture To guard against
this again occurring, the corn should be quite
dry before it is stored for winter where it may
be frozen. 1t is better TO keep it in an airy
room, where but little if any frost can reach it.
1T has been recommended TO kiin-dry 1t, but
we think that this process might be fatal if
carried too far, and just how far it may be Of
value without risk of overdrying, has not been
stated. 1t is evident that too much drying
would be as bad as too little. At all events,
there need be no fear of drying seed corn over
much in the open air and in the sun.
ROAD MENDING.
The following, from the HilSbandmdn, is wor-
thy of special attention by all persons intrusted
with repairing roads: " With the press of farm
work over, as it win be soon, we may expect
matchmaking TO engage attention in a great
many districts. There is just one word of eau
tion applicable now but it is doubtful if it will
be needed. 1t is this: Don't pile the fresh
earth from the road-sdes on the beaten track;
don't draw mud from the bitches into the road
way. The best thing that can be done with
the roads at this time of year is to clean them
of stones fill in mud holes with stones or gravel,
and, for the rest. wait until spring, except as
the best material be used when work is at
tempted. Nothing is more absurd, when con-
sidered as an Improvement, than the usual
way of piling fresh earth upon the roadway
Just in season to receive the fall rains, and
make an unending stretch of mud until freez-
ing weather, and the toughest possible course
| during winter"
CURING CORN FODDER.
1t is recommended, where it is difficult to
cure fodder properly, owing TO late seasons or
from other causes. that it may be put up quite
green by mixing plenty of dry straw with it.
/ The slight heating will be checked by the
straw, and the fodder will be improved, rem
dered more digestible and more like ensilage
Oat straw is best, as. when properly cured and
cared for, it is but little inferior to hay We
must say that we have doubts about the value
of the above plan unless the corn fodder is
cured as well as it can be before it is mixed
with the straw. We have seen fodder thus
packed which, when opened out was very
musty and really unfit for stock of any kind.
There is but little doubt that some diseases of
animals are caused by the fungus which is
present in musty fodder.
KEEPING SWEET CORN.
An exchange says that " to keep sweet corn
in good condition it should be husked as soon
as gathered, and then placed in an ice chest
until wanted for cooking When left in the
! husk the juices of the grain are gradually abb
sorbed by the husk, which takes sweetness
from the grain. When corn is gathered, packed
! in barrels, aud thus taken to market, it fre-
quently heats while in bulk. Some day corn
will be husked gathered, and brought to
market In refrigerator wagons; then it will be
1 as fresh and sweet as if taken from the garden
/ an hour before cooking" We know a farmer
who always commands the highest prices for
/ his corn. He removes nearly all the husk and
! sets the ears upright in shallow tin trays, in
/ which he keeps an inch or so of water, and
! thus brings it to market.
PROTECTING INSECT DEsTRoYERs.
The French authorities have issued circu-
/ lar warning people against destroying toads,
! ladybugs, and certain BIRDS which are con-
sidered friends to farmers and gardeners and,
therefore, important to the prosperity of the
country. Much is now being said about the
/ destructive proclivities of the house sparrow
and other birds, and it would seem that a list,
prepared by competent authority, OF birds which
are friends Of cultyators, and also those which
are not, would be Of great benefit. This
list might be extended so as to embrace those
| insects which are useful, as well as toads and
other animals, fthere are any such. 1t is stated
that toads destroy potato beetles, but the toads
have no effect in preserving potato fields from
the rayages of the beetle.
WHEAT AS 4 GREEN MANURE.
We notice that some tobacco growers recon-
mend sowing winter wheat instead of rye, as
crop to be plowed under in the preparation of
the tobacco land. In some cases the rye when
turned under did not help the crop, because it
was too far advanced, and the stems had be-
/ come hard and strong, and in consequence
were slow to decay after being turned under,
while wheat remains longer in succulent state
and can be allowed to grow until comparatively
late when turned under, and it soon decays
and furnishes food for the tobacco plants
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers.
When is the best time TO transplant young trees
from flaa 1S9 4 To