The National tribune., 1883-05-24
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
GARLIC.

II is a Dubious perennial. indigenous TO the
south of France, Sicily, and southern Europe.
1t is largely cultivated for its bulbs, which are
much esteemed in culinary preparations.
Every part Of the plant has pungent, acrlmo-
nious taste, and peculiar, unpleasant odor,
which is very penetrating and diifusive.
The bulbs Weld by distilation an essential
oil which is of a dark brownish- yellow color,
and which decomposes at It's boiling tempera-
ture. 1t has an exceedingly pungent odor, and
a strong acrid taste, and when applied to the
skin produces Irritation, and sometimes bis
tiers. incidentally, garlic is tonic, stimulant,
and dieuretic. 1t also has popular repute as
preseryative against infectious diseases and
mwholesome miasms, and is frequently eaten
before visiting spots places afflicted With such
diseases as are considered infectious.
A substance called garlic butter is prepared
by peeling the bulbs and cutting them into
small pieces, afterwards rubbing them 10 paste
IN a mortar. As the rubbing proceeds, olive
oil is added till the mixture assumes the APP
pearance and consistence of clear yellow honey.
Lemon juice improves its flavor. Apple rubbed
with it renders il bland. A small handful of
garlic viii take mp quart Of oil. Spread on
bread, or eaten with any kind of food, it is said
10 be delicious. The oil becomes solid in the
process, as solid as honey at a low temperature.
Garlic is cultivated by planting the bulbs in
shallow drills on light rich soils. They are
harvested when the leaves change to yellow
color tied in punches, and hung up in dry
airy room until used.
CUTTING SEED POTATOES.
Theagricultural experiment stations through
out the country are doing good work in testing
seeds of various kinds in various ways. There
is much to be learned in the superiority of
good over bad seed. Farmers are altogether
too careless about seed saving. By a system of
selecting the best seeds only, it is possible TO
increase the value of crops. We trust, how
ever, that these experiments viii not place too
great a value upon what may be termed nom
essentials. We are inclined to the opinion
that in the matter Of cutting seed potatoes,
about which much is being said, too great con-
sideratiOn is given TO the size and shape of the
cutting, and the influence which the seed Sec
ton has upon the strength of the plant. Any
person who has lifted potatoes may have OBJ
served the seed potato looking as solid, plump,
and fresh as it did on the day when it was
planted. 1t is recorded that as fine crops have
been produced from rooted cuttings of the
young stems as have been yielded by the cut
potatoes. As soon as the potato makes sprout,
roots are formed al the base of the young stem,
which spread in all directions, and have no
regard 10 the piece of potato from whence they
came; they are independent plants. The prac-
tice of spreading manure, or strawy matter of
any kind, over the potatoes after they are plant
ed. is the correct method of treatment. as the
Our experience in potato growing tends to the
belief that if the soil and conditions of culture
ere such as 10 be congenial 10 the plant, it mat
ters nothing how the potato has been cut that
produced the plant.
THE PAPER MULBERRY.
This tree is a native Of China and Japan. At
one time il was generally planted around
dwellings for shade In its native country the
young shoots are employed for making paper
These are cut in December are tied In bundles
and immersed in water until the bark comes
readily of The bark is beaten into pulp until
ii Is ready for making into paper. In making the
paper portion of the pulp is taken up in a
tay which has low, almost imperceptible
projection round its edges. Sufficient pulp is
thus retained to make the paper of the desired
thickness; il is then dried IN the sun and
becomes fit for use.
in the Fiji Islands the bark of the tree is
made into a coarse cloth called tapa. The
bark is first softened in water and then beaten
into fat pieces, which are glued together with
Rrrowroof paste Mosquito curtains and screens
are made of il of great size. Ii is recorded
that piece was thus made which was two
miles in length and 120 feet wide.
The plant is largely cultivated in Japan
Mulberry plantations look very like planta-
ton Of willows when they are cultivated for
matchmaking. They are pruned back in the
fall, and in a few years the young growths be-
come as thick as a field of wheat
The tree is not utilized in any form in this
country. The leaves cannot be used for silk
worms although we have known it to be igno-
rsntly planted for this intended purpose. As
shade tree 1t is poor substitute for any of
our native naples. Its roots penetrate every
where. and throw up suckers until they become
troublesome nuisance.
THE ARNoTTA TREE
rT~bss 100 ;s n ,,o+;,.a ,of co,,.,, A.,o-:,. -
81 grows from twenty TO thirty feet in height.
Il bears punches Of pink-colored flowers, which
are followed by oblOng bristled pods, resembling
chestnut burs, and Of a reddish-brown color.
On bursting open the interior of the pod is seen
10 contain a crimson-colored waxy pulp, in
which the seeds are imbedded This pulp
forms the substance called arnotta which is
prepared by maceration in hot water until the
seeds are separated. The liquid pulp is then
strained and eyaporated by boiling until it
sttains the consistency Of putty. In this state
IL Is worked into rolls, wrapped in leaves. and
is then known as flag or roll srnotta but when
more thoroughly dried it is made into cakes.
and called cake arnotta. Good arnotta is of a
Fiery red color and dissolves entirely in water
Roll arnotta is principally brought from Brazil.
lake arnotta is furnished by several of the
West India Islands; the best is said to be the
product Of Cayenne This dye is popular paint
with the Indians Of South America as well as
Win llOSe IN OIner parts OF the world. some OF
them covering their entire bodies with a paint
Of which arnotta is the principal ingredient
using but little else in the way of clothing. AS
" commercial article it is mainly used as a col
Oring matter for cheese, butter and inferior
chocolates, TO all Of which it gives the required
tinge without imparting any unpleasant flavor
or unwbOlesome quality. 1t is also used In
oyeing silks and cottons, but is not easily fixed
and discolOrs in the sun. 1t is also used in
imparting rich orange and gold colored tints
10 rarnish.
FRUIT-PREsERvISG HOUSES.
When crop of any kind is shown to be
profitable everybody wants to grow il. Some
years ago the Bartlett pear brought highly re-
munerative prices in our markets, bat in good
seasons the crop is SO heavy that prices rule
low. To guard against losses from this condi
ton Of things many fruit growers adopt meth
ods, which are more or less successful of keep
ing their produce until prices are better. The
Country Gentleman describes fruit house be-
longing TO Mr.. Shearer, of Tuckerton, Penn.
Eylyania. This house is fifty feet square II
has two stone walls each twenty-five inches
thick, with one foot Of space between them
and that is filed in with charcoal. Under the
hoor Is space enough to put four feet Of ice; al
the sides four feet Of ice is also piled, kept il
place and concealed by studding and boards
and above the room and under the roof the ic,
is eleven feet thick, and on the top Of this about
three inches of coarse wool There IS there
fore, ice on every side veritable refrigerator
capable OF holding three Thousand bushels O
III