The National tribune., 1883-09-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
GRAPE AITLDEw.


connected with its external appearance are
very easily traced, she physiological condition
of the plant WIZ attacked, and the h1odUs
opefdadi Of the progress OF the disease have
given rise 10 much speculation, and some very
strange fancies have been promulgated on the
subject: but. unfortunately, none OF them have
proved 10 be of much advantage 10 the irult
grower. So far, the following points have been
deduced from observation:
]. That lnildew on the leaves Of the grape is
mainly the result Of atmospheric influences.
2 The Per0aosp0ra, or Rildew, that attacks
the leaves on their under surface, is encOur-
aged by the atmOspheric4l conditions accom-
panying duh, cloudy weather, with occasional
showers; or when heavy deEs are deposited in
positions where the rays OF the sun cannot
penetrate or, at least, where the moisture can
not readily be eVaporatsd.
B. That, so far as is known, no peculiar con-
structiOn OF soil, on mode Of sOii culture, has
any influence IN its prevention.
4 That. so far as known, no mode of prun-
ing or training, except So far as they agree with
the fifth paragraph, has any effect IN Warding
of the disease
s. That shelter and protection by covered
trellises, or masses Of foliage, viii greatly
modify, if not entirely prevent injury from
mildew.
g. That varieties of grapes having downy
foliage are much more liable TO be attacked
than those that arc smooth or shining.
T. That all grapes having d0wny foliage are
not equally sensitive 10 the conditions favera-
able 10 the fungoiG development, but where
pubescent foliage and a smooth foliage are
growing side by side the former, even OF the
most robust variety, may be attacked While the
latter may be exempt from injury.
{. That the appearance termed Sltn scdld is
simply the result Of this lnildew.
q Thas timely and repeated applications of
sulphur, busted on the foliage viii check the
growth OF fungi.
Occasionally another fern Of Iaildew may be
observed on the vine This shows itself on the
upper suTface Of the foliage, giving the leaves
the appearance Of having been busted with
-four; this belongs to the Erysiphe family of
mildews, and, although very destructive, is not
90 fatal as the Per0a0spora.
This foury-looking substance can easily be
removed by brushing the foliage; it is most
frequently to be seen ON foreign grapes but
may be observed on native varieties in seasons
of extreme dr0ught-dry weather seeming TO
favor the spread of this particular species. The
young fruit and even young shoots are some
times coated with this mildCw. It retards
growth and Injuries the plant attacked, SO that
it is easily destroyed by slight frosts. Sulphur
will both prevent and cure it.
CARE OF TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS.
One Of the heaviest taxes to which farmers
are subjected is the purchase and repairing of
this tax is undoubtedly increased from care
lessness in allowing poWs, harT0Ws and other
implements 10 be exposed 10 the weather when
not in use.
There are a feE simple rules in regard to the
care of implements. which in most eases can be
easily observed. In the first place, every per-
son having many implements should have a
house Of sufficient size TO accommodate all their
working tools and implements, and it should
be fixed requirement that whenever tool is
not IN use. il should be placed in its appropriate
position in the t0o-houSe, and before being
put away it shoald be carefully examined, TO
see whether ii is broken or damaged in any
manner, and If SO, it should he marked for re-
pair the first leisure moment. No tool should
be put away in a dirty c0naiti9n. A very few
minutes viii be required 10 clean it, which will
prevent the rHsti1g Of the iron. rs well as dam
age to the woodwork All the polished parts
of an implement, as the share. mold-b0a and
coulter Of the plow, ard the blades Of axes
mattocks, spades moving ng-machines DE, should
be oiled TO prevent rastlng; they viii then be
in readiness for use at any moment. Every
wooden part Of an implement should be painted
al least once year and even twice year for
those that are much used IN the field. Rainy
days can be appropriated Tor such work; good
mineral paint is the best for these purposes
Paint not only preserves the wood from decay,
but from cracking, and consequent easy break
age Economy, comfort and appearance, all
demand care in the keeping Of machinery Of
any kind used in farming and field operations.
sPARRows AND ELM-TREE INSECTS.
1t would seem from recent paragraphs which
we have noticed that 1t was expected Of the
European sparrow that he would clean the
country Of caterpillars, beetles, &c. If such
were the motive for the introduction of this
bird the introducers must have got their fill of
disappointment. These birds feed their young
on soft food. but it is very doubtful if they
ever touch the small insects which eat and
disiguTe elm trees all over the country. One
enthusiast says that If the sparT0ws do not
clean the trees, he does not know what can be
done to save the trees. While we dislike to
see fine elns denuded of their foliage yearly, yet
it must be said that they seem to have wonder
full degree OF tenacity Of life; for, matter how
much they may he injured, we still find them
putting forth apparently healthy each sue
ceeding spring. But these, as well as all other
insects can be destroyed il proper means are
taken. With large trees it is almost imprac-
ticable, but where branch can be reached with
force spraying pump it can be saved. Paris
green or London purple mixed with water and
thrown over the foliage Will kill all leaf-eating
insects without exception. The same might
probably be said Of kerosene oil and water.
Certainly We have not yet met the bug or
beetle or caterpillar that can live when treated
to doses of the mixture. 1t is question OF
expense more than one Of experiment.
CUTTING CORN.
The Americaa CtltiUator says that nearly all
good farmers have now abandoned the practice
Of cutting the top stalks of their corn, but cut
upat the root The best time to do this is when
the kernels have passed ont Of the milky state
and are well glazed. DO not wait for the corn
70 get hard enough to grind, or for the stalks
and husks to turn yellow. If cut at the proper
time and uninjured by frost, the grain viii
ripen in the shock as perfectly as it would
standing Ia the field; and some even say that
the weight Of the corn viii be greater to the
shelled bushel, which they claim 10 be an in
dication Of It's containing greater nutritiYe
qualities. This may not have been well proven
yet, but the fact that the corn-fodder will be
far superior if cured in this way is well estab
lished. Cattle viii eat it as readily as they
would the best early cut hay. and it is worth al
least one-half and possibly two-thirds the price
OF good hay for cattle-feeding. This is too i'm
portant part Of the corn crop TO be wasted, as
it too often is, by late cutting and subsequent
careless management. Have the harvester
bind in neat bundles before putting in the
shock, and require the huskers TO rebind eacL
bundle after husking for convenience in the
handling 10 put in the NOW and to take out
again when wanted. It requires but little
time, which is more than saved in the case O
handling afterWard.
NEW GRAPES
A reader Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE re
40 Fqllaurc Ia