The National tribune., 1883-07-05

measure OF acid TO one hundred OF OIL.
wHTTEwAsHTNG TREES.
Some time ago an article under the above
heading appeared in the Massachusetts Plough
man severely condemning the prastice; among
other similar reasons why it is injurious the
following remarks are given: The idea that
the trunk and larger limbs of tree should be
covered with anything which in the least in
terferes with the free circulation of air should
be abandoned. The orchardist who has to re-
sort to this practice to keep the insects off has
much yet to learn" This paragraph contains
an absurdity about circulation of air being OBJ
structed by withdrawing tree; the whole
question of injury to a tree from whitewashing
is only repeated by those who have no expert
ence whatever in the matter and yet, absurd
as it is we find the article copied in several
papers, one-a Philadelphia paper-using it as
adouble-leaded editorial without acknowledge
ment. If the matter in these papers is of as
little value, or always selected with as little
Judgment as in this case, they can only retard,
not advance, knowledge.
CORN FOR FODDER.
We have got the best results from corn sown
for fodder when the corn was so thinly seeded
as to produce plenty of ears; then it was cut
when best fitted for cooking for the table. We
have also heard of excellent results obtained
by others who have followed this plan. From
one-half bushel to three pecks to the acre
would be abundant seeding, if the ground is
properly enriched and prepared for the best
results; one-half bushel would be ample if the
seed is good We are aware that this will seem
to many to be light seeding, but the best crop
we have ever grown was raised when not more
than one-half bushel of seed corn was used
The corn grew very tall and formed ears
abundantly.-RHrGi New Yorker.
BLIGHT ON FRUIT TREES.
There is still good share of discussion as to
the cause of blight in pear and apple trees.
There is bat little of profit in these discussions
The nature of blight is well understood, and,
as we have frequently remarked, it can be kept
of by washing the bark with lime 1t is not
practicable to cover every inch of the tree in
this way, but it is perfectly practicable to cover
the trunk and for considerable distance the
main branches, and when blight appears on the
ends of twigs ii can be pruned off. This is all
that is necessary. A blighted tree is not TO be
looked upon as dead tree. Cut off the dis
eased portion, and it may never again appear
on the tree
SORGHUM SUGAR TO BE CARED FOR.
Prof. III. w. Wiley, who succeeds DIR. Collier
as the chief chemist to the Department of Agri-
culture at Washington, declares that he will
do everything in his power for the development
of the sugar industry of the country, and also
help every attempt in the right direction
wherever it may be made in the States. This
| is good news for those newspaper writers who
/ feared that this important industry was being
neglected. Prof Wiley is the acknowledged
expert in sugar from sorghum in the United
States, so it would appear that the change has
been made wholly in the interest of sorghum
| growers.
HUNGARIAN GRASS.
It not yet too late to make sowing of the
above; in fact, it makes but little progress in
growth unless the soil is warm. 1t succeeds
1 best on a rich dry SOIL and should be sown
/ thickly, at least one and a half bushels to the
acre. This thick sowing makes better hay if
cut just as the flower heads appear. When cut
In this tender stage cattle eat the hay in prefer
ence TO that made of timothy, but when seed
| ing takes place the stems become woody and
harsh. To give it good start the land should
be narrowed until quite smooth, and the seed
| lightly covered. dressing of superphosphate
viii help it forward.
THE ATLANTIC Strawberry.
This name has been given to new straw
berry by convention of fruit growers which
recently met at Hammonton, n. j. 1t is a
Seeding raised by Mr.. Potter, of that place, and
| is said to be worthy of introduction. 1t ripens
| fully a week later than the Wilson, and ten
/ days later than the Crescent, and is Endorsed
| by several noted strawberry growers for its
good qualities of favor, size, color, and produc-
tigeness. 1t is in the hands of William +.
| Bassett, of Hammonton.
coTToN-sEED MEAL.
| What is known as new process oil-meal has
but three per cent. of oil left, whereas in the
old process about ten per cent. of oil was left.
| Although not so strong food, yet it is con-
sdered TO be less liable to injury from overfeed-
/ ing. Two quarts per day of the meal mixed with
| bran is found to be an excellent ration for
milk COWS. This is divided into two meals,
| one quart in the morning and one in the even
| ing, mixed with bran. 1t is considered cheap
food at twenty dollars per ton by those who
have tested it on their animals
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In your answers to correspondents I notice
that you do not believe that there is any use in
the analysis of soils, and that chemists have
| reached that conclusion. This is news to me,
| and / doubt whether all chemists believe in
that doctrine, and it seems reasonable to sup
| pose that the wants Of q soil could be better
found by analysis than by any other mode
Critic, Juniata, Pa.
| ReRaTks.-For the past quarter of century,
at least, chemists who have made speciality of
soil analysis, have been agreed upon its useless
ness, at least so far as it serves to throw light
| upon the active fertility of soils
A hundred pounds of best guano has made
| all the difference between poor and good
crop. although with but fifteen pounds of essen
tial ingredients, and constituting, when dis
solved and absorbed a foot deep, less than a
! hundred thousanth part. But chemical analy-
sis will not certainly show ten thousanth
part, and analysis may not distinguish between
| two soils, one of which has dressing of 1000
pounds of the best guano to the acre and the
other nothing.
In the analysis of soil on which grass would
not grow TO any advantage, it was shown that
all the elements of plant food were present in
as large percentage as in some of the best
wheat soils of Illinois. Nothing could be found
in it to explain for its poverty.
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