The National tribune., 1883-03-15
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Cur
Agricultural Readers.
RRrFF srAsoNArIE HINTS.

BRIEF SEASONABLE HINTS
The success of crops is strongly Influenced
by the time and manner of seeding and plant
ing While there Is but little 10 hc gained by
cropping before the ground becomes warm, yet
with MANY Of the harder kinds Of vegetables
the sooner they car be sowR the better, as
difference Of 4 couple Of weeks il sowing VIII
often determine the 81 ,cc-s or partial failure OF
q crop. As soon. then, As the SOL IS III &ood
cOndition-that Is, diy CncI-h-ior Wurhing,
such seeds as those OF pea, carrots, tuTups
onions. parsnips and bcCts should bvsown. Tn
less turnips are sown quite carly they will not
be of much value and I0r an carly sowing
selection Of the earliest varieties OF peas btcts,
&c should be made. For very carly crops OF
this kind it is not well TO use rank ManurcS;
dressing OF supeIFhusDh2tes j. IL: peleflpie
because so rank q growth VIA not oe ehcouE-
aged and earlier maturity will result. In
planting onion sets, the ground should be made
firm about them and when The ground Is III
best condition, it shoaid be made iirIn by
tramYing or rolling over the seed drills after
sowing. Parsley should he sonn early 1t is
slow OF ycgetalIEE, therefore early sowing Is
desirable to set GOOD leaves for summer use.
Lettuce and radshcs should be s0Wn At inter
Yals cf two or three weeks 10 keep up supply
of tender salads
An early dish Of rhUlarb may be had by
covering a few strong plants with old barrels;
when grown in the dark The stalks are very
earliuess.
In planting asparagus, see that it is not set
too Gcen. and that ID is allowed plenty of space
for growth. The tayor.te mode Is 10 plant y
in hills about three feet apart, like corn. The
soil is made rich to begin with, and is kept
rich by yearly applications Of manure. In tins
way very large shoots are produced, and OF
fine sUcculeut quality. The Old method OF
digging trenches and planting the asparagus
foot or more below the surface, gradually fill
ing up rs the plant progressed, Is 10 longer
employed. When planted three feet apart, the
principal culture can be done with horse, and
the plants are more robust owing 10 the greater
space allowed them.
Manure that is applied to early crops should
be well rotJcd spread on the surface and lightly
forkcd under. 1t is, of course, promised that
the ground has previously been deeply worked,
Sad is in good condition Tor cropping.
The winter covering should now DE removed
from Strawberries: if allowed to remain until
the plants commence TO grow II viii lnJure
them to some extent; it is prudent to rake it
from the tops of the plants without removing
it altogether, and. if not too rough, allow Il 10
remain between the plants, where it may still
afford some protection from late frosts and if
straw or leaves have been used, they viii help
to keep the fruit clean from sand and grit.
As q general rule, il is not advisable to cult
vate between the rows Of Strawberries III spring
on account Of cutting the small surface roots,
crop; but in hard beaten soil q careful stirring
of the soil after the winter is past has been
found beneficial.
Roses should be pruRed before they start into
growth; late pruning tends towards late flow
ering. The Tea, China and Bourbon roses
should be cut back quite seyerelyso as to cause
vigorous grOWths; all small sprays and weak
shoots should be removed. Hybrid perpetual
or Remontant roses do not require 10 be cut so
closely as the aforementioned kinds; remove
ali weak shoots and merely shorten-in the
strong branches. from which blooms will appear
at each weli-natured bud. Such roses as
GiOTie de Dion, Marshal Mel, and the class Of
hardy prairie roses flower best from strong
shoots Of last years growth, so that they must
not be removed If flowers are expected.
II grape vines have net been pruned they
should be attended to without delay. They
will probably bleed some if pIuned now, bat
that docs not seem to be notably injurious, and
pruning should not be neglected on that ac-
count. If the plants are young, or have only
few weak shants, rnt tbcsn dii GOWN 10 WItnIn
few buds from the main stock; this viii make
then send up vigorous shoots, fIOm which Sc
I.crions can be made for the future establish
paent of the plant. The best fruit is produced
from good shoots well matured, so that in prun-
ing these must be retained, and all small, wiry
growths removed. This is the principle in
grape pruning; methods Of training are of
secondary importance.
REX MAGNUs.
This name has been given to a preparation
for the preservation Of ali kinds OF food sub
Etalces Its basis is a tasteleSs, innocuous
white powder, which is dissolved in water,
forming a solution in which the article to be
preserved is immersed and treated. A COM
pany has been formed and a manufactory es-
tablshed at Salem Mass, and at their Office,
II Kilby street, Boston, may be seen an ex-
hibit of fish, fowi, beef, mutton, and Ike per-
ishable articles, exposed to the atmosphere
and keeping perfectly fresh. Prof Humiston,
the inventor Of this process, has preserved but
ter with all the freshness and aroma of the
June product for six months, and eggs entirely
fresh and sweet for fourteen months at time
Its use is so simple that child may direct the
operation Of preserving food The company
has prepared Rex Magnus under different
brands, with directions for use:
"Piaadine," adapted to keeping fish, meats,
poultry, and game. 1t saves them from putre-
faction, and keeps them perfectly fresh, sweet,
and wholesome.
Ocean Hdre," for preserving oysters, clans,
Holsters, sea turtles, and all kinds of sea
food. Opened oysters have been sent to Europe
IL perfect condition, three weeks after being
prepared with " Rex" and tasting as if newly
opened.
''lS.5cgaale," for keeping butter, cheese, and
milk After the butter has been well worked
over, 50 as 10 remove all the butternilk, the
pOHdSE IS HDfkcl INTO II; one pound OF SnO3C-
taLe viii keep 100 pounds Of butter firm and
solid and free from rancdity even in the hot
weather. The powder may De mixed with the
curd IL making cheese; viii save the latter
from swelling and cracking, and elcctually
prevent the development of cheese mites.
Three-fOurths Of an ounce Of the powder dis
solved in 4 gallon of milk or cream will pre-
serve the latter perfectly sweet for several
days. even when standing in the SIN IN the
warmest summer weather.
Green" Tor the preservation Of eggs and
green corn in the ear. Eggs may thus be kept
for months and sting ears may be kept
fresh and sweet ". ii winter.
'igHa Iiias" for medical purposes. and for
the keeping Of al kinds Of ilud extracts with
out the use Of alcohol, glvccIine, or sugar, and
At less then ouc-twcntieth the cost OF alcohol.
init Fs'meat." for preventing or arresting
ferncntiti0n in beer, cider, wine, and the
juices OF all fruits and vegetables.
We abridge, as above. from a long paper on
ibis subject in The AnerjcaH Caiticdt0r so that
Il any Of our readers meet with Rex Iisguus
they viii knew what il means.
PRACTICAL REMARKS on soILING.
At recent meeting Of the Western New York
Farmers Club, Air. T. S Peer, OF East Emira,
made some remarks upon his method of soiling.
he defined soilinG as the feeding OF stock upon
the grass or other forage cut from the field in
stead of grazci. lie claimed That il is 4 saving
l.. s-F