The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-28
Draining Proiongs the Season.

Draining BrOlOngs the season.
a case showing the utility of draining re-
Gently occurred under our observation. A
portion of the field. underlaid with clay and
hard pan, that kept the water near the sur
faee, was drained i'm the fall of 1882 Crook
neck sQuaShes and other crops were planted
in 1883, about the middle of May,
where the ground originally was so wet
until June. Several hills of squashes
were planted at a distance from the drain,
while chance seeds dropped in the manure
came up within few feet OF another main
drain. The first week in December came
cold snap which killed the squash vines in
the first location, leavingsa portion OF the
crop about half-grown. This and the subSe-
ouent frosts of that month did not injure
the vines near the drain, and they were still
vigorous when the squashes were gathered
in October. The same Influence in pro-
longing the season was noticed in
the beet crop grown upon the undrained
land in 1882 and the same crop grown in
1883, The soil was so wet and muddy in the
previous season, that the beet seed rotted
and had to be planted three times, and after
that many gaps were filled with turnips. 1t
was a very poor crop. In the past season
the beet seed came up fairly, the few
vacant places were filled by transplant
ing, and a fine crop OF mangolds
and sugar beets was gathered,
at mQCn less cost OF ms Is very
conclusive proof of the advantage OF drain
ing. 1t raises the temperature of the soil so
that seeds will vegetate two or three weeks
earlier in the spring. aud it retains the sum-
mer heat so that damaging frosts are kept
off several weeks in the autumn. Draining
is of special service in raising the crops of
tropical origin, as squashes, melons, toma-
toes. egg plant peppers, corn, ETC.
1t is the ellectual cure OF wet
lands in all climates. and indispensable to
the profitable cultivation of ali swamps and
sponey lands in the northern portions OF our
country. IL will add from four to six weeks
TO the length of the growing season. for
many of the crops grown in the market gar
den and upon the farm Capital invested in
tile draining is admitted to be among the
safest and best investments the farmer can
make.
A Thousand Clusters of Grapes for one
Dollar.
fOIange Judd, in American AgricultuTist for De-
cember.
And grown in a city, at that Yes, and
something more. also Year after year near
ly, and for a third of century. the Ameri-
can Agricultural mas urged every one having
a single square yard OF soil, in village or city,
as we'll as in the country, to plant grape
vine, and train it up against the house. on
post, on trellis, along fence--Or anywhere
Now for the Grapes-Six grape vines, part
Concords and part lsabellas, were planted
several years ago, two under the high trells,
and two in each side border, one near each
end of the cross trellis, but back OF it. and
another ten feet further back. The vines are
trained rearward, along the top OF the side
trellises and fence, to near the back of the
lot: also all over the upper
part of the cross trellis. The two
front side vines send arms along the fence
to the side of the piazza, and up and across
its front On one of these vines we have just
counted 246 punches of grapes, nearly all
fine ones. and the jewellers tell US "a great
many have already been picked and eaten"
y whole row of hanging clusters still fringes
the upper front OF the piazza; the cross trel-
lis Is black with them, and they abound by
the bushel along the border trellises and
fence. There are not less than
1000 fine punches in all. The annual cost of
having these vines trimmed and trained,
and putting on dressing OF bone dust,
does not exceed 81, which is tenfold repaid
by the shade, and the green foliage to look
out upon during all the parching days. We
might have headed this; "A thousand clus-
tiers Of grapes for nothingi' This is a good
year for grapes, but there is every year more
than a large family can use
The "Application"-A grape vine will
grow anywhere that it can get small foot
hold in bit of soil; it will run up on any,
thing that its tendrils can cling to; it will
help itself to sunlight and food from the air
and earth. If you have yard of ground
plant grape vine on il, in city, village or
country. Do IL now, or certainly next
spring.