The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-07
sAGRIOULTURR.

AGRICULTURR. II.
FRUIT BUDS OF THR PEAoH. The cold
weather which prevailed over the country
recently, was marked with various degrees
OF severity In different localities, from zero
to thirty or forty below. In very rare In
stances we have known a portion OF the
peach crop to escape destruction when the
thermometer had gone to seventeen deg.
below zero, but more commonly all have
been killed at twelve below. Whom, there
FORE, the thermometer went to twelve be-
low at Union Springs, N. Y, we began to
cast about to see what other fruits could
BIO made to take the place OF peaches the
coming season, and were agreeably surpris-
ed since to find, on examining one or two
hundred buds, that not more than one-sev.
enth had been fatally injured, the remain-
Ing large portion being fresh and entirely
unharmed. There was very little differ
ence in the sorts examined, and no prefer.
ence could be discovered IN the buds on
large, stout shoots, or on small and slender
ones, or on exposed or sheltered sides OF
the shoots. The only exception was in the
case of the Early Crawford; which had
about one-thlrd of the buds killed. but this
may have been owing to peculiar aspect,
the tree standing on the west side OF the
building. A reason Of the unusual escape
OF the buds was doubtless the continuous
cold weather which has prevailed since the
close Of autumn, and which has prevented
the buds from swelling and becoming more
susceptible to injury. We never saw them
less swollen at this time Of the year; in
some years they have been found twice as
large, and when this has been the case, a
cold Of eight or ten degrees below zero has
killed nearly all. Should several warm
days still occur, followed by as severe Il
temperature as we have already had, we
should probably lose the entire crop. These
remarks apply 10 single locality only, and
only few miles distant varying results are
often observed. The danger still cohtin-
ues for some weeks, but after the 1st OF
March we hive never known the crop to
be destroyed, except In a siDgle Instance.
about the 9Th Of that month.
If you take the dividing wall or septun
CT bulbs nose between the thumb ami
forefinger, you lind that the upper part.
we'll forward, is thin. hard, and apparently
blood lcss, or nearly 80; at least there Is
little room for blood vessels and nerves.
This is the point to pierce, and many bulls
will stand still and submit to the treat
ment with proper instrument and the in
sertion of the ring without making much
trouble; but it IL safest to bind the head
of the animal by the horns to a strong ho-
rizontal beam, Tor then you can work with
greater care and less nervousness. Pinch
ing the spot benumbs it, so that the opera
lion is as painless as it is simple. The
"trocar" Is very convenient for ringing
IN animal.
a CoRREsPO EDENr says he has been cX-
perimenting with sorghum as fodder for
farm stock, and finds one acre of 1t equal
to an acre of corn. His cattle eat it rcadi-
ly, consuming stalk and all, and it makes
them as sleek and fat as cDrn-fcd stock.
lie plants in hills, about double the guam.
tity he would use If he were cultlvating
for sirup, and when tho seed Is ripe cuts,
shocks and cures, same rs corn fodder. II
cnt before frost he says 1t Will retain its
sweetness all winleIa
pROERssoR j.. b.. ARNOLD says the points
In favor OF dairylng arc: First, a dairy
farm costs 20 per cent. less to operate than
graln-growng or mixed agrlculture:s second
the annual returns average a little more
than other branches; third, prices are near
Gr uniform and more reliable; fourth, dal-
rYlng eXhausts the soil less; fifth 1t Is more
secure against changes Ill tho season, since
the dairyman does not suffer so much from
wet and frost and varying Seasons, and he
Can, ii prudent, provide against drought.
SHOULD fowl become crop-bound. work
the crop we'll with the hand, and endcavor
to force away the obstruction i'll the pas
sage way TO the giZaard. Should this fail
draw the skin TO one side and cut the crop
sufficiently to relieve IT. OF the contents.
Sew up the wound with silk and the fowl
will not be seriously damaged. After the
cutting be sure that the obstruction Ill the
passage ls removed as well as the contents.
AS A close-bodled, heavy compact fowl,
with rose comb and yellow legs the Amer.
lean Sebright has no superior. This fowl
ls nearly as large as the Plymouth Rock,
and the hens arc good layers and sitters.
They should not be confounded with the
diminutlve Scbrlght bantam. There IS a
great contrast between the cocks and hens,
the former being quite plain IN appearance,
while the latter arc beautifully laced and
spangled.
AT tho meeting of the Western Iowa
horticultural Society at Corning, In their
practical discussion Oh small fruits, 1t was
SAID that the strawberry Is the most tllscr-
minating of all fruit plants Of common cul.
ture in regard 10 composition anu texture
of soil. 1t must be moderately rich and
deeply pulvcrizetl, and fed from year Ia
year with fertilizers.
A DAIRYMAN says: In the case of an un.
usually large and wel.-devcloped hclfcr
there ,s no objection to having her first
calf before she ls two years old, but when
undcrslzcd or at all weakly 1t Is safer to let
her reach the age Of 81 or 8 years. II
thrifty heifers como In at an early age and
are properly attended to they usually make