Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-28
Fruit Along Roads.

It is singular that along dusty roadsides
there is generally an abundance Of fruit
and this abundance is usually in p1Opor-
tlon to the quantity of dust. Not only is
the fruit abundant, but the leaves are
generally remarkably healthy and we do
not remember an instance of a blighted or
a seriously diseased tree, when, they have
been covered with roadside dust. If there
are any doubters let them see for them
selves. This has bscn frequently noted in
regard to old pear trees in gardens along
rOadsidcs but as to the cherry it is very
striking, especially low headed pie
cherries, which are more easily covered
with dust than trees of larger size. The
trees do not seem to mind it in the least.
We do not pretend to account for this
curious fact, but rest with simply stating
it. 1t is supposed that the plant breathes
through its leaves-hOw it does this whe n
covered with dust it is not for us to say. 1t
may be that the minute insects which
crowd on fruit trees generally don't like
dust !; indeed, people do say that it is to
destroy insects that chickens SO love to
cover themselves with dust. Again. some
people have a notion that many fruit dis
eases come from minute fungi, which de-
velOp on tho leaves and branches, ard
soon cover the whole surface, destroying
tissues as they go. 1t may be that absC-
lutely dry dust falling on these minute
juicy little plants, may suck the moisture
out OF them and leave them high and dry.
We do not pretend to discuss any of these
propositions at the same time it is Curl
GUS to note that these dust covered fellow
should always do so well.
Liquid Manure, Again.
The subject of the value of liquid
manure in it's application to crops, whether
in field, garden Or lawn, has been dis
cussed SO often, and We had supposed was
SO effectually disposed Of, that we are
almost surprised to see that it is again on
the carpet, and has its advocates as be-
fore. without, however, showing any de
gree of clearness that as a manure, count
ing all the advantages and disadvantages,
it is worthy of any real consideration. We
will again refer to tho one time celebrated
London alderman, Mechi, who becoming a
millionaire from the results of trade went
to farming On a large scale, and meant
apparently to turn the farming world
upside down in new methods of farming
and money making by it. He was
among the first to apply liquid manure to
field crops, and for this purpose prepared
great deal of machinery aud employed a
great many men to do the work. His
crops, it is true, bore testimony of its
great fertilizing qualities, and these re-
turns Mr.. N. was not slow in laying before
the British agricultural public. His sta
tistics were quoted far and wide in the
United States, and he had 4 great many
followers here On paper at least but those
who adopted his methods of applying this
manure abandoned it as soon as they found
out its expensiveness. These practical
farmers, who strove to make living and
money besides by farming, soon failed to
see that in all Mr.. Mehi's statements b G
made no comparison as to tho relative K
pense of the two modes of application OF
the manure aud tho relative products
This was carefully omitted, until after a
few years the rumor spread that this
wealthy innOvatOr had actually abandoned
the application Of liquid manure, with all
its expensive machinery and small army OF
men to run it, and returned to the old
mode of enrichiDg the soil as the quickest
and the most profitable.
: We have no doubt that for small lawns
and gardens, whero the expense is a mat
ter of consequence, there is no mode OF
enrichment SO certain and effective as
liquid manure, for in these cases it can be
applied with watering pots commonly used
by gardeners. For this purpose, basin
should be dug from ten to twelve feet in
diameter and about three feet deep, which
should be filled with stable manure, and
either conductor from a roof be turned
upon it-rainwater being the best-or
supplied from hydrant or pump, the
water being added gradually, SO as to
admit of daily turning over of the mass
In a few days or week it will be fit fo1
use, and can be applied to the crops as
the necessity may occur. In this limited
way liquid manure can be used with great
effect but upon farm it would take a
mint of money to SO dispose of it, what
ever the beneficial results may be upon the
crops.