The National tribune., 1883-10-04
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
TREE PLANTING.

The time is at hand when fall planting of
trees will be ia order. Fall planting IL some
times advised on account of there being
greater amount of leisure in outdoor opera
tioas al this season than in the springtlme,
when crops OF many kinds demand attention,
and that trees planted before winter will Lave be-
come well settled in the soil by the time growth
commences at the roots in spring. These may
be advantages but fall planting has stronger
reasons than these in Its favor. Throughout
large portion of this country fall is the proper
time TO plant trees, not a mere matter of con-
yenience. but because of the greater certainty
Of success with trees removed at this time than
is obtained by planting at any other season.
But 10 obtain the best benefits from fall plant
ing il must be done from the middle TO the end
of October, or as soon as the leaves fall. In
special cases. such SIS the removal of large trees,
il is best to denu0e the tree of leaves just as
they change color Trees moved TINS early
will do more than become settled in the SOIL
before winter they viii make a new system of
roots and start into growth next spring as
freely as If they had not been disturbed. Dur
ing the latter part of autumn the soil is, on the
average, warmer than the atmosphere. At
twelve inches below the surface the subsoil is
even warmer than that above it. All this has
the effect of promoting the growth of roots,
and the tempersture of the air being on
gradual decline, there is no tendency to bud
growth, as is the case IL spring, when the soil
is cold and the AIR warm, thus causing the
leaves to burst forth trees planted at that
season, while the ground Is so cold that root
growth is slow so slow. indeed. that frequently
the budding leaves and young shoots will eX-
hanst the plant of It's vitality before the roots
become sufficiently active and numerous 10
supply the demands of the branches. Hence
il is not unusual TO observe spring planted
tree throw cut leaves and short branches, then
suddenly wither up and die This result never
occurs in a tree planted early in fall, but late
fall, or early winter planting often results IN
failures, especially in northern climates. In
these remarks we allude TO deciduous trees and
shrubs only. Evergreen plants do best when
planted in spring.
BURN TIE GRAPE LEAYEs
writer in the Country Gentleman states that
"the time for destroying the grape nliidew is
not up until every leaf has been burned, because
the spares viii remain dormant until spring,
when they viii germinate and introduce the
mildew for another season. The on " thing Is
TO gather the leaves after they have all fallen
from the vines and burn them. The use of
-four Of sulphur in the early part of the season
is of great Importance in srreSting the progress
of the pest; but the burning of the leaves is
the preventive, while the use Of sulphur is
the cure"
Ii this advice is given with the hope that the
burning of the leaves viii prevent mildew, it
is altogether futile, and proceeds from total
Ignorance as TO the cause of mildew on the
grape leaf. In the case Of insects that winter
in dried leaves, stems, etc. il is evident that
their numbers can be sensibly reduced by burn
ing ali rubbish likely TO afford their eggs or
larvR a resting place, but for diseases depend
ing wholly upon climatic conditions, such
burning of twigs or leaves is of no avail what
ever upon the future health Of the plant. IL
.he atnospherical conditions favorable 10 the
growth and spread ofmildew exist, it viii appear,
Notwithstanding that every mildewed leaf and
a,
hand. if the conditions are not favorable Tor
fungoid grOwths, they viii not appear, even
should they be surrounded by the mildewed
leaves OF q previous growth; they VIII not
attack or extend on a plant when the plant is
not under conditions favorable TO fungold de-
velopments.
ABOUT TREES
An exchange remarks: 4" In a very logical
article DR.. Rafhyon, OF the Lancaster Earsser
says, that when a tree is replanfed IL should be
repianted as il gTew-the north side torhe north
When planted IN sandy soil, a clay basin bottom
should always be put In first to hold the water,
and then loan mixed with clay should be used
for filling TO cover the roots. A theorizer viii
say that three-fifths of the nourishment Of tree
comes from the air, which is a humbug. 6irdle
tree and see how long il viii live. The tree
draws Its nOurishment from the earth and not
from the air; and if you wish TO keep your trees
vigorous and healthy, remove the soil occasion
ally SIX or eight inches deep around the tree,
and replace il with rich, fresh dark loam'
Hsach writings as the above are logical it is
because they are logically absurd. Dr. Rathvon
Is something Of an entOmologist, but he is pro-
found novice in practical tree planting. 1t is
really surprising that anu editor would allow
such crudities 10 enter into print. To make a
clay basin IN which TO plant tree was surely
never before recommended, even by the most
imaginative theorizer;-his common sense
would prevent him from making such a state
ment ltmay be called humbug to state that
three-ffths oftree food comes from the air, but
only because it errs in not stating that more
than nine-tenths of plant food is gaseous and
has been collected from the air. Any common
elementary treatise on vegetable physiology
would teach the Doctor that fact; and he may
convince hlmselfby burning billet of wood and
see what IS left Ia the way Of ashes. 1t is no
wonder that ignorance prevails where such nom
sense is given as acknowledged facts.
DURABLE WIRE FENCE
An exchange suggests that a durable wire
fence CAL be made by planting straight growing
trees rod or so apart and fastening wires to
them by means Of staples after the trees have
grown TO a sufficient SIZE The Lombardy pop
lar has been recommended as q good tree for
this purpOse.-whieh it is not: at all events ii
has nospecial properties over other trees Fruit
trees have also been suggested, and, upon con-
sideratiOn, we think that row of pear or apple
tASS1 1AIIAliS bA1ouSl n 1eiQ SDuiG Wen be
utilized for this purpose. This would only be
suited Tor inside dividing fence; we doubt
lis adaptabllity for a bouylary-line fence as it
mightlead TO trouble and complications between
owners We have no doubt but that the prac-
tice Of planting fruit trees in isolated lines in
stead OF close orchards, viii become profitable
and popular method, because of the healthiness,
iulttnlness, and perTn2nency of the trees dispos-
ed IN this way-haying ample room for exten-
sioB OF roots IN fresh, new soil 4 single row
OF trees can be planted pretty close together,
because there is no limit to their extension on
both sides SO that there would be no crowding
IN these directions
An orchard could be very easily fenced in by
using the outside row of trees for posts but
when live trees are thus employed il is well TO
pull out and replace the staples about once a
year; otherwise, il VIII soon be overgrown, and
may ultimately injure the tree.
how TO MAKE scARE-cRow
Take two small, cheap mirrors, fasten them
back to back attach a cord 10 one angle aud
hang them 70 pole. When the glass swings
the suns rays are reflected all over the field
even if it be large one, and even the Oldest
and bravest crows viii depart precipitately,
should one Of its lightning flashes fall on him
The second plan, although a terror to the crow
is especially well suited 70 fields subject to the
inr0ads Of small birds, and even chickens
II involves the artificial hawk, made from :
large potato and long goose and turkey feathers
The oaaa I,sc