The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-16
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
norrrNe eRouNp AFrER sEEprNe.

IT mas igllG d. Sl M eAIsDilchrO PTacIlcS ib
gardening operations TO tIanple or otherwise
compact the soil over newly-sown seeds, and
Will such farm crops tumips, bets and car
riots. sowing machines for putting IN these crops
are arranged 80 that re- lers pass over the drills
after the seeds dropped. We presume that
ali kinds OF seeds would be equally benefited
by this OF, gStion-at least, we cannot think of
any exec ption 20 L is rule, and that il is ap-
psicsbe 10 grain crops has been fully verified,
and has time and again, been recommended
and recognized by some farmers, but il has
sever been properly understood and considered
as IL ought 10 be.
Ia a late issue Of the Kansas Farmer mention
is made of a method of Seeding winter wheat
watch removes largely the danger of injury by
winter killing, and iermits natural influences
and causes 20 DO needed work in adding ad
ditioma soil Ia the roots of the plant just as
needed and when most needed The method
alluded 10 is tiat adopted by L. d. smith,
farmer Of Shawnee county. Kansas, who, sew
eral ysars ago, having obs rived that wheat
which grew in tracks made by wagon-wheels
that had been driven across wheat field i'm
mediatsiy after seeding, better than that
not IN the tracks, induced 10 make expert
ments ina the same direction. His experiments
were made with iron wheels following seed
drills 10 press down the earth on the seed.
Last year he sOsed field of sixty five acres.
drilling One-half bushel Of seed TO the acre.
which produced crop of over fifty bushels per
n
December when we first looked at the field, we
saw nothing but The clean, dark-cooTed ground.
We were looking wtstwardly, and the drill
had run north and south. The wheat blades
were lying in the deep burrows left by the
roller wheels and carelessly resting on the
sides Of the RIDGES. The winds, the freezing
aud thawinC. aud rains and SHOWS OF the winter,
instead af lifting the wheat roots cur and blowing
them away. Jeff them more and more protected
by the drifting soil gathering over them and
around the stems. At our spring visit. the
ridges had ali been worn down to a general
level, the plants were vigorous; not a dead
ole visible: nota root blown away. At harvest
Ing we see yield OF fifty bushels 10 the acre.
weighing siNty-one pounds 10 the bushel and
that too, from onehalf bushel of seed per acre"
GRAPE ROT.
This malady is very prevalent in some sec
tions Of the country, and its predispoSing
cause is somewhat obscure. Observation has
shown that IL is not produced any partic-
ulsr kind of soil sandy soils clay soils, wet
soils dry soils. all alike; nor does any
system OF pruning make vines more or less
subject 70 the disease, and il may be prevalent
in al Ne2Ihers-wet or dry, warm or cold
That il is lungoid growth, and depending
upon atmospheric Influences, cannot be doubted.
The success of covering up lunches OF grapes
IN paper and muslin bags, and their pronounced
entire freedom from rot when SO protected is
furtker evidence Of the atmospheric origin Of
the Disease. II also appears that all varieties
OF grapes may be attacked at times: it has
been supposed that young vines were exempt
from The rot, but it is now well known that
even the first crop is just as likely 10 become
diseased as those OF older growth. The origi-
majors Of new grapes usually hold forth the
doctrine that their varieties are exempt from
all diseases One of the most recent OF these
Is the Niagara grape which is held at high
price, and can only be had on conditions which
20 experienced grape grower VIII submit TO,
because OF Its supposed extraordinary merits Of
health and pBOductiveness, and yet, among
hundreds OF acres OF grapes, this variety has
this year shown 10 be attacked by both lniIdew
and rot beyond al Others IN the same locality
The conditions which render this disease pos
. elble seem 10 have close resemblance TO those
which favor the growth of mildew on the
foliage. To guard against mildew ii is neces-
sary to protect the plant from rains and dews.
The best localities for grape growing are those
where there is but little If sny deFs, and an
artificial protection can be made which viii
protect vines from being injured by mildew,
and the same protection viii also be tie means
OF preventing the berries from rot bat whe her
this protection VIII be practicable, ia a profit
able view, remains 10 Be seen.
LAVENDER
The lavender plant, LGueadula Uera, is a
shrubby perennial from the south of Europe:
IL Is cultivated ia gardens for the Agreeable
fragrance Of its flowers, which are dried and
put 10 saehets for laying in wardrObes as a per-
tumery and a preventive of moths A
tlmcture OF the flowers is popular domestic
medicine. 1t is also cultivated ia fields for the
ESSENTIAL OIL, which is distilled from its flowers
Root slips are planted ia the spring Ia well
prepared, although not highly enriched soil,
as the plant is more aromatic when grown in
moderately rich and dry ground: the flowers
ere CIT WIN The blossoms on the lower part of
the spike begin 10 change TO brown color
Lavender oil, when dissolved in spirits Of wine
and mixed with other perfumes forms the
much esteemed Lavender wa eT Red lavender
drops consist Of lavender oil mixed with other
aromatic materials, and used as stimulating
cordial.
Another species, LaDendgla Spica. yields oil of
spike, which is darker IN color and less odor-
ferrous than true lavender oil 1t is used by
painters on porcelain, and by artists in the
preparation of Tarnishes
EARLY RIPEYING FRUITS.
Among the qualities aimed for by the orr gi-
nEtore of new fruits early maturity seems 10
predominant. An early strawberry, raspberry,
or tomato seems 70 be the great desideratuEa,
and If descriptions were truthful some won
oerfully early crops would now be common
We would be pleased TO have some conipeteut
authority point out what mas been gained in
respect 70 early maturity in the above mem
toned fruiis during the past thirty years The
1
the respective order Of their ripeninE as any
person can prove who has been in the habit of
testing great number Of varieties of fruits.
But much confusion results from the pro.nul-
CATION Of insufficient tests. We lately noticed
al article detailing the comparative qualities
OF plantation of raspbeTTies set out last
spring. II is positive injury 10 fruit culture
70 pabllsh such immature statements.
wHITEwAsEING TREES.
Mr. Purdy says that having whitewasbed
his iruIt trees for thirty years and always with
decided advantage To the health and wellbeing
OF his trees, he prononnccs as mere bosh" ali
articles which state that the operation is in
furious. We have seen more absurd state
ments about whteWashing trees than we ever
recoiiect seeing about any other practice We
are told that it flls up the pores in the bark.
and that no tree live with Its pores thus
ei0gged. Again we viii be told that it pre-
vents the circulation Of air through and around
the tree, whatever that may mean: indeed
there seems 90 be no end 20 the absurdity of
the reasons addgced By those who have under
taken to oppose the practice One thing we
may be assured Of is chat this opposition is not
based upon practical knowledge or experience.
SOW TURSIPs.
This is a favorable time in most parts Of The
country 20 make sowing Of turnilSs Root
elc2s can only he pr0fia5y grown on well
piIfVere I'd a A.