The National tribune., 1883-04-26
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
BRIEF sEAsoNABuE HINTS.


order, regularity and neatness are not opposed
Go, but that they 20 hand in hand with, good
cultivation, and nowhere is their appearance oil
more moment than in the farm garden or
house-yard, where their appearance indicates
thrift and refinement to the members OF the
household as well as TO visitors, and adds 10 the
endowment which NAV be derived from contem-
plating the gradual growth and development
of vegetation For the better enjoyment of
this never ending delight the walks and paths
should be kept clean; it viii not pay one 10
grow weeds anywhere-least of all, among
other crops.
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has readers in
every State IN the Union, so that while some
are only thinking of sowing, others are think
ing of gathering the same kind OF crop. Ii is,
conseouently. impracticable to frame calendar
of operations TO be performed which would he
equally serviceable; all that we can attempt
therefore, is 10 designate general principles OF
action. This can safely be DONE as the laws OF
nature are universally alike; her modes OF
action are the same in every climate, aud the
same laws are observed, whether IN the Produe-
tion of the most gigantic of forest trees or IN the
tiny moss which We may unknoTlnSly crush
beneath our feet.
These remarks have been suggested from the
contents of letters received asking for explicit
instructions in regard TO times of pruning, sow
ing various seeds. &c, which can only De OF
practical value. so far as they observe dates
and seasons, over limited territory.
Such vegetables as Lima beans, the common
string bean, melons, eggplant, and okTa make
no growth until the soil becomes dry and
warm. Ii the seeds are planted IL cold soil
they win only rot or become diseased, and If
they terminate at all, produce sickly plants,
which are comparatively worthless. Crops
oftentimes become unhealthy and unprodue-
tive from this cause when the evil Is attributed
10 bad or poor soil. The earliest and best crops
sd
for their growth; and while this general rule
may apply to all plants, it is one of varied de-
grees, because the seeds OF plants vegetate at
different mperatures-pe2s and onions viii
vegetate where the seeds Of Lima beans and
elephants would perish.
Many persons pay no attention TO having
successive crops; one sowing satisfies them, and
when the crop is gathered it is over for the
year. Such crops as lettuce. radishes, beets,
peas, beans, sweet corn and tomatoes may be
had in uniform tender freshness for several
months by sowing suitably-sized patches at in
terVals of two or three weeks during the
months of April. Nav and June. Another adj
vantage gained by this method is the certainty
of hitting upon a crop; for if one sowing
should prove partial failure, the succeeding
one may provo 10 be quite as notable success.
Attempts TO grow corn, potatoes and such
crops in limited areas ike the common city
house lot. usually prove unremunerative. But
and which are all the more valuable because
they can be had at any moment when wanted
without waiting the pleasure or convenience Of
the green-grocer, and because they can be gath
cred crisp and fresh, and thus again contrasting
favorably with the eHSitGged green's Of the mar
ket man. A short row Of eight or ten feet in
length appropriated TO each OF the following
herbs. which are used more or less in cooking,
would be priced by most housckeepers. We
allude to such things as parsley, thyme, taragon,
sage, savory, maTjorum and lavender; there are
also several plants often used TO advantage in
domestic medicine, such are chamonlile, ta8sy,
worInwOod and horchound. The seeds Of all of
these may be had in cheap packages from seed
stores and may be sown any time this month
when the soil is in good condition for working
The dwarf pear Is particularly fitted for
small gardens These are grated on ounce
roots, which grow best IL rich, damp. but not
Wet soil. In planting these, il is important to
cover up the whole OF the ounce part, and
many growers advise planting deep enough to
cover up portion Of the pear, giving as 4
reason that the pear portion viii ultimately
form roots sind become 2 full-grOEing pear tree
on pear roots. Ii is well TO cover up all the
ounce, because il is liable TO be attacked by
borers il exposed. As to The roofing Of the
pear, we think that MANY people have allowed
themselves 10 be mistaken on this scbject, for,
instead Of being common, il is 3 rare occur
renee.
In planting trees, whether Of fruiting or
of merely ornamental kinds, good holes should
be prepared. To those who have not seen the
difference in growth between trees carefully
set in large holes and trees merely stuck in
the hard ground, 1t would be difficult TO con-
yey any just idea OF the difference in growth
during the first TWO or three years. Tree
planting should never be carclessly performed
it is mere waste Of tine to plant ct all if not
well done Many persons plant tree as they
~,
aftcr-treatment ID about the same light; that
is, leave them til they decay, aud then set g
new one. If tree is worth planting at ALL ii
should be planted wen.
The amount Of pruning that the branches
require at Planting viii depend. in como de-
gree, upon the amount OF mulilation which
the roots have been subjected to. Large trees
have less roots in proportion than small trees
on removal. For fruit trees Of ali kinds, except
peaches, two year old plants are preferable.
and all the shoots should be cut OF within q
couple Of inches OF tie main stem This viii
cause the shoots to grow with more vi2or, and
sproduce good sized leaves, which viii in turn
cause the rapid growth of young roots.
DeciduOus trees aud shrubs should be ut
tended TO first; evergreen trees and shrubs
may be transplsnted l.ter. Tie test tine to
move these is just ~ they are about 70 grow
as a matter Of fact, an evergreen may be re-
moved al almost any time, with fair chance OF
even novice may remove an evergreen at the
time advised Sitb every likelihood Of is grow
ing; good soaking of water after rcTlantiug
viii usually insure the life Of the tree
Flowcring Plants which have been kept IN
the house during winter should not be toe
rasbly exposed 10 the open air. They should
undergo short probation TO inuTe them t.
the change. IL tlley are set ont in Z sheltered
position tex week or TWO before final plant
ing, they viii not suffer by removal from q
uniioIgal yEaria atmosphere 10 orc where the
alterations OF heated days and cold nights
would be liable 10 injure them for some slime
&c come.
Rustic baskets Of plants hanging about
porclles and IN psrior windows are very orIa
mental when III fire condition, hut When they
contain enly few starved looking plant,
they lose their interest and fail to iii theil
intended object Of refined decoration. Thert
arc many forms CT these baskets bat, as j gen
er2l thing, they arc always too s,a@u. TAes
should be large enough 10 bold at least on
peck measure Of soil. Fantastic york in th,
structure C such baskets Is all out of place fol
whcr filed with the proper plants but little
OF the basket should be seer. One OF IL,
neatcst arrangements IS 10 lave good plant o
dd1a-'iB' CT ri2id@a hair fem, ia the center
Gnd tae edges planted with the coparaon Igsi
nlgciaG ;siaastiJria, forming a cCatinuou
pendent fringe Of 3lnch beauty The Ivy
leaYed gcraDiuEis are famcus basket plants
Colcus, scarlet goraaiflns. aud fuchsias arc 80
well adapted Nothing docs better or suit