The National tribune., 1883-03-29

This LIS wire guard which IL placed in front
of the knives, Ind which allows Of the ma
chine being thrust under shrubs OF flowers
without injury to the plants This machine
is one of the very best in USE and thousands of
them are annually sold in Britain, where they
are becoming very popular, on account OF their
lightuess and the efficient manner in which
they do their work, contrasting favorably with
the heavier and moro cumbersome machines OF
European manufacture.
WATERING PLANTS ny roTs
In the m::....,serient of plants in pots more of
success depends upon q proper application OF
water than upon any other item connected
with plant growth, and yet 1t is subject upon
which no very definite instructions can be
given. The best rule that can be followed is
never to give plant water antil it requires It,
and then to water it thoroughly so as to wet
the whole of the soil and have surplus TO f1ow
out at the bottom of the pot.
One thing is certain. that daily dribblings of
water on the surface Of the soil will soon injure
the plant, because the eye is deceived by the
wet surface, while the bulk of the soil is dry
This is frequent carse 1sIi lure with plants in
pe-l5fz. more disastrous than any other single
point in the management OF plants IN pots.
MANURENG FOR SPECIAL PRODUCTS.
The science of manuring has not been so far
developed as to point out the best manures to
apply for the growth of special products in
plants, although something has been learned
in that direction; yet, it is not more than
merely hint as TO what may be learned.
Professor Weber, of the Illinois University,
found that by the application of superphosphate
to sorghum ii shortened the maturity of the
cane by sixteen days, and increased the
amount of cane sugar contained IN the stalks
over one per cent Whether this increased
h. , iTaa-
ton is not stated, but probably it would; then
the earliness is also matter OF much value III
using machinery on crop usually OF short
duration.
PRUNING FRUIT TREES.
1t is an undoubted fact by all who have
taken pains TO compare results, that the most
uniform and satisfactory crops of fruit are those
from orchards where but little, if any, pruning
is given TO the trees. 1t is not TO be concluded
from this that no pruning whatever is the best
rule. 1t is always I'm order to thin out the tops
of trees that have become too thick, to trim
out dead weakly branches, or stop unruly
growths by shortening such branches when
necessary But the system of going yearly
through an orchard, removing and shortening
branches, and clipping a portion off the top of
every strong growth, is, in the long run, GER
tain to diminish the bearing capacity of the
trees
PROFITS OF SORGHUM.
Professor Scovell, of Illinois, makes the
statement that the best result obtained
during the past year was from the Orange
cane. This yielded 121 tons of cane per
acre on a plot of 12I acres. The product
yielded $500 pounds OF sugar and ,450 gallons
of moIasses; yield of sugar per acre, 76S
pounds; gallons of molasses per acre, 116.
Value of product: Sugar, $500 pounds, at 81
cents, SS16; mOlaSses, 1450 gallons, at 40 cents,
$3.50; total, 81, 1896 The cost of the cane and
expenses of manufacture were $653.43; profits,
S742.57; profit per acre. 1896.