The National tribune., 1883-01-04
RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.

plants. and all those not entirely hardy, against
. winter Of great severity, attention should be
directed towards atiOrdIuE them some proJec-
tion. The best method of protection TO plants
which can be so treated Is to lay them PROSTATE
and cover them with soil. Tender roses can
easily be 2egced down on the surface and COW
cred Heavy coverings are not necessary; the
object is TO guard against exposure TO ury1nE,
freezing winds. and a covering one inch in depth
will be sufficient. This covering may CONSIST
of rotted manure sand, sc. Ia this manner
grapes may be protected, and rpcned shoots OF
figs may be safely put through the winter If
the soil covering IS supplemented 10y layer OF
leaves or strawy litter. Even the hardest
plants viii respond 10 this timely attention by
an increased vigOr Of growth next summer.
Lawns are sometimes dtsGguTCd by being coated
with rough manure at this season. One OF the
best methods Of maintaining lawns IS TO top
dress them now with a sprInkling OF ordinary
good soil, mixed with q portion Of lime,
saw one part lime TO ten of soil; let tins be
evenly scattered over the grass, and II VIII
sink down and nourlsh the root Hhers. Ihe
shrubberv borders should not be neglected; a
manure dressing VIII cause the plants to flower
ell the better when the blooming season ar
Iives; but ii Is not good practice to DIG or fork
deeply near the roots Of the plants; IT Is better
TO leave the manure on the surface, II this case,
than to covert it.
CRIMSON CLOVER. (TIFfoIium BlcU71otar'l.)
The carnation OF crimson clover is an annual
plant from Italy. it has long been grown in
gardens for the beauty Of It's flowers. winch are
In spikes Of q bright scarlet color; there Is also
3 white Towering variety which is quite oTna-
mental
This species Of clover has been recommended
* yielding an abundant crop Of excellent cat
tle-food in a short tiUne. In the south of
France and in other parts of Europe, 1t Is SoWn
broadcast on grain sCUbble Immediately after
the crops are harvested, the soil receiving no
preparation except that Of lOOscnlng or sJlrTInS
the surface with a harrow Just enough to cover
the seed. From this sowing a heavy crop is
obtained early In the following summer, which
IS removed in time for plowing up the land
turning In the clover slUbble ard rO0ts-and
sowing 1t with tUrnips, planting It with pota-
foes or with some other late fall crop. ms
circumstance Of its rapid growth in compaTa-
lively cool weather, suggests its importance as
q FORAGE plant in some Of the Southern and IN
the warmer parts of the Middle States, WheTe
It might grow nearly all the winter.
Soyyn on grain stubbles, on cornfelds after The
Temoval of the stalks or on cotton lands after
the last working the cotton plants, OF probably
after the picking is finished, a valuable addi-
tion to the supply of winter food for stock
might be secured, and an important addition
SO fertility be gained by plOwing down the
remainder OF tlC Clover crop Nllt-i ltti ilslL
the land for spring cropping; and if left undls-
turbed by cattle during the spring months, a
crop of haymight be harvested III April or May,
according to the climate and latitude Of the
locality.
THE ROOTS OF THE TOBACCO PLANT.
DIR. sturtevant says that the tobacco plant is
shallow rOoter. The roots not only grow
close to the surface, where is the greatest
warmth. but when hoed and the nearest roots
10 the plant probably destroyed, the roots come
Z TO the surface again between the rows. Guilt
walton, by furnishing a friable soil, seems TO
increase largely the number of these surface
roots, and they do not seem to have the power
of entering land which is unbroken. The deep
est root traced went down about twenty inches.
There seems to be two systems of roots to this
plant, one large and tapering quickly TO point,
the others more in number, penetrating a dis
fance Of two and half feet from the plant and
but very slender, maintaining an equal thick
ness throughout. Some of these roots were
seen TO grow upward shortly after leaving the
stem until they came nearly to the surface
of the ground
APPLES FOR KENTUCKY.
4 member of the Kentucky Horticultural
Society, after an experience and observation of
q quarter Of a century, recommends the follow
ing list of apples for that State: For sumner
TIE EaEIN llaENt>Is ATDitlGu foN ttLs fst'A 40
trachan, Early Strawberry, Early Margaret,
and Maiden's Blush For autumn-the Rambo,
Fall Queen. and Fall Pippin. For early win
ter-the Rome Beauty, Ben Davis, and North
ern Spy. For late winter keepers-the RambO,
Janet, Timber Twig Penick, ShoCkley, and
Smiths Cider The latter name be suggests TO
change to the Smith Apple, as its present name
indicates that it is only fit for cider or vinegar
instead of its being a valuable, good keeping
table apple, which 1t Is
PICKLIyG SEED WHEAT.
4 writer in an English agricultural paper
remarks that, after trying many recipes for
smut, such as sleeping the seed in a strong So
luton Of brine, and afterwards mixing it with
ouick-limC, soaking in urine, DC, all Of which
would occasionally fail. he believes that an in
fallible remedy against smut IS simply to dis
solve half pound Of blue vitriol in hot water
and cool 1t 10 the temperature Of new milk
then pour il over three bushels Of wheat spread
or q barn floor. turn 1t about three times, being
very particular to have every grain wet. An
ordinary water pail holds sufficient for eight
bushels lie has used this preventive for
twelve years with unvaTying success upon land
much subject to the plague in former years, and
with ten varieties OF wheat
CATALOGUE RECEIVED.
Vic.s Floral Gu,9e for 1883. Rochester New
York. AL Of the publications OF the late James
Wick were unique Examples Of excellence in
every respcct-in valuable matter Of intOrma-
ton upon the subjects treated in liIe-like and
highly-fnished Illustrations. and ueaJness Of
Typography. The Guide for 1883 issued by his
sOns VINO promise worthilv to tiil his place is not
iuIeri9rt0 any which has heretofore been issued
from the establishment 1t is DrOfuSe In illus
traUiCus and minute in descriptive details. and
every person interested in plants and flowers
should procure d copy Of this work.
INFLUENCE OF LIME or THE GEEmINATIoE
or SEEDS.
According TO Or. Liebenberg it appears that
the seeds Of many plants require the presence
o. lime iu the soil during the terminating
process. or the seedlings die for want Of it, He
has likewise shown that many other plants DO
not fail 20 -eTmlaatc freely and we'll without
the presence Of lime IN the soil. lie also points
out that plants which fail 10 grow through the
absence Of lime in the soil do not fail in con-
sequence Of the injurious effects Of any other
matters NAT may be sent, but because lime
is essential 10 their healthy growth.
FOOT Rot IN SHEEP.
Vermont sheep raiser Says that the best
method OF G0ct0riuE sheep for TINS malady is To
wet every foot OF every sheep In the flock,
sound or lame, thoroughly with kerosene or
coal oil, and put what sulphur yoU can take in
the thumb and finger batWeen the hOOis Of
each foot. Keep them i'm dry place Tor twelve
hours. Repeat this operation in about two
weeks, and yOu VIII have no more trouble.
IMPORTING EGGs.
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