The National tribune., 1883-03-01
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.

The trufle is subterranean fungus which
grows a few inches below the surface of the
ground, and is collected by the aid of swine
and dogs which are educated to scent 1t out
and indicate It's presence by scraping or point
ing to the spot where il may be found. Trutiies
are globular and vary in size, sometimes
weighing one pound and upwards; some are
black in color, with an uneven. rough, warty
gurface and a variOusly marhled, firm, feshy
interior. One species, Iabef aStiUuBs, is found
in Britain and Is about the size of a walnut.
Another species Tg5er metdaoSpOT7ua, is largely
produced and consumed in France, is richly
scented and of superior Favor. Athrd species,
1aJeT EtGgfat,Gn. is known as the PiedmonteSe
truliie. and is the most celebrated of all. Truf-
ftes constitute much esteemed luxury. They
are used, like the mushroom in sauces, gravies,
and for seasoning many culinary preparations;
they are considered iudigestible and injurious
20 health when eaten in large quantities.
1t Is said that trufles occur only in calcareous,
or CalcareOus and argilaceouS soils: they are
found both on plains and declivitiCs, and gener-
ally on ground shaded more or less by trees, but
sometimes in the open fields. Much has been
written on the cultivation of trutiies, and many
trials have been made TO subject them to a
regular system of culture, but mostly these eX-
perlIncntS have been unsuccessful. In some
places in certain calcareous soils, their pro-
duction is effected by simply sowing acorns,
attained the age of ten or twelve years, trufiieS
begin 10 appear. TrufileS have also been pro-
duced in artificial beds made up of calcare0us
soil mixed with small stones pieces of chalk,
mari and shells. Ripe trutflcs are then planted
below the surface, and in this way the fungus
has been cultivated, but no satisfactory return
has been received from artificial culture.
TO GROW STRAWBERRIES
The main points INVOLVED in the successful
culture of this fruit, as recognized by our best
cultivators, are as follows:
1st. Prepare the ground by deep plowing and
subsOiling; apply a dressing Of rOtted manure
equal to twenty cords per acre; spread ii over
the ground and mix with the surface soil by
repeated and thorough disintegration with q
harrow. The best crops are produced on strong,
loamy soils; if somewhat clayey it will be all
the better provided it is drained.
I'd. Give the plants plenty of space; the rows
should not be less than thirty inches apart,
and the plants about half that distance between
each other in the rows.
Sd. Remove all runners as they appear, and
keep the surface well pulvcrized and clean
during summer after the crop has been gath
cred IN old plantatlOnS-theS sane cleanly Y treat
ment applying to newly set out plants. If
young plants are wanted, keep portion of the
plantation for the purpose.
4th. Cover the plants in winter, after the
freezing weather sets in, with straw, leaves or
q protection
from injury by frosts
5th. Do not disturb the roots, by any process
of cultivation, from the month of September
until after the crop has been gathered.
9th. Make new plantation every year, and
destroy the old plants after they have produced
d second crop.
We know that strawberries NAV be grown,
after fashion, even should any one or more
OF these rules be ignored, but the best results
WlH follow when they are strictly recognized
and acted upon. We might instance that the
plants may not be destroyed, even seem
ingly injured, if left uncovered during the most
severe of winters but it does not follow that
their frliiting capacities are therefore unim-
paired prominent and one OF the most ex-
sensive stawberry growers in this country once
made the statement that portion of his crop
left unprotected during winter yielded at the
rate of about 30 bushels per acre, while the
protected portion of the same field produced 210
bushels per acre. In this case, therefore, it
was evident that protection protected.
FOREST FIRES.
The Forestry Convention ought to turn its
attention 10 the annual burning over which is
prevalent throughout Florida. Tens of thou
sands of acres are annually burned over in that
State by the cattle-owners for the supposed
purpose of improving the quality OF their
grazing areas. Most of these lands are covered
with pine trees, and these suffer from the
IdlliSS, anu, OF course, all young CROWNS are
injured, II not entirely destroyed. Most all
parts Of Southern Florida are fired during the
months of January and February, SO that the
whole country IS submerged in smoke. Hun
dTeds of thousands of cattle roam these forests,
where they feed, and are sold off yearly for the
Cuban and other markets In the West India
Islands. This annual burning has a most
disastrous effect on the lands, destroying every
Yestige OF vegetable matter on the surface and
there are no lands on this continent where
vegetable matter is more needed than in the
sandy pine lands Of Florida. This burning is
injurious 10 the grasses as has been proved IN
Texas, where il has been prohibited by law,
and the pastures are said to be improving in
value since the firing has been stopped.
EAIsIS MAKING IN CALIFoRNIA.
One essential Of a good raisin is that the
grapes must be fully ripe. Unripe grapes viii
not make a raisin at all. In picking the
bunch Is held by the stem and ali imperfect
berries removed, care being taken that the
bpHcAeS are not touched by the hands as it
destroys the bloom and very much mars the
appearance OF the raisins. They are then laid
on wooden trays, TWO feet by three feet made
Of hali-lnch lumber, plaBei on one side and
nailed 10 elects or cnd-picces two feet long by
one and half inches deep and one inch wide
The trays are usually filled with twenty
pounds o. grapes, which shrink wo-thrds in
drying. From two to three weeks are usually
thcv are usually turayd, which is done by
placiur au inverted empty trly ou top o. iuil
uaa aud turning both oy,r a,J the same time
The grapes arc usually icIt ia the vineyard
Gus'.- ,a. drEiH" process although some carry
thei- oay entirely d" clear ground.
THYME.
Tho garden t.ymc Is a wcl'-lnown low
E.y"'H.. r',:-ra G shrub. p native uE Southern
iaI.ps IL j. ..o.aa,ir cultivated in gardens
f1r D." sake yf IL, a.a.-ls'i" leaves w.s~h !g.
employed u ca.ia.lN dishes. An c~-. uliaI oil. .
a.. % al rs t.y.ae. is distilled fau the leaves
a..- young -.oat-. aud - sold ~ mariarua oil.
L a.4r rm. tE lDg lauJ....lo. In... .ue
s.',.. ..r..f.a. az lHl- g...r wiica vark iu
IT,. IL. and elaru. jIf.i. i...es. bat not ,iItaI-
IL" a -@--..| l. rites. rI.aMoatal Ha..-
c....a-.. .ao-.ade..l....3 and -l.er.lrErI
! .." aHaal -nr-'ateI s.H..'s is r.lE r,E.iar.
a. T.t tasme Ianar srgfnn. /. also a
-"N lIs. plant. l.H.. IN. l'.rr- of which ssl .
o--...t.a oil called .r.-l.f. j. distilled The .
C.r..-.u thyme. fn#., r,.sss. is usually .
m... .r.. -.a- a.' r..- ..a.t --ai-o al...-
s.'.a .s division aI ..- g...aI -rra-. aad these
l... ... Increased l.. .....-. -....a a..,u..r.H
COZ. ring sl.-a Esira srI when tagutI soon
emit l.a. al4 .a a-taa.p& a- independent
plants
la.r H....<. faa ,nay
T. .n ..n-.-..ar a..E. f:. deep ,l.s... .ar
s-.. .. ....-....# |. ,.r.....|- r...r.. . .....