The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-07
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

Under the general name Of mi,dew, nun1er-
Gus kinds Of fungoid growths On plants arc des-
ignated, and We arc, probably, not Tar from
truth i'll saving that when the leaves OF plant
become rniidcwed it has caught cod; this may |
arise from various caases: the plant may have |
been subjected to sudden changes Of tempeEa-
ture. or ii may have had its heat reduced by /
evaporation OF moisture from Its surfaces. These 1
conditions acting separately or in various de- /
rrees of combination, lnIure plant, and the (
Injury makes itself manifest by mildew on the (
leaves. And here the query presents Itself: DO I
plants become miidewed in their native habl- i
tats, or is it confined to plants growing in for /
eign climates, those strictly under artificial
c0niiii0Hsg We know that this is not a rule /
without an exception, for we have seen mildew 1
on the leaves OF fox grapes in the woods, and 1
we lave also seen rot IN the berries on vines /
growing on low grounds nearstreans. We hear I
frequent complaints about midew on roses, but 1
only on plants which have been growing IN the /
house. or IN glazed structures OF some kind, |
where they have been subjected TO sudden
changes. ii Is a common observation that roses
may be kept during winter in a pit or Frame
where for weeks or months they receive no
ventilation Whatever; hut IS spring advances 4
and the increase Of temperature necessitates
ventilation, thea miidew makes its appearance I
lit may be said that this is the result oil careless
management or in The method of admitting
fresh sir TO the plants; bat, nevertheless, The |
best Of management viii not always prevcntit !
Scarcely season passes without the leaves 4
ct peaches becoming mlioeWed IN the early !
part OF their growth, from the sudden changes
OF temperature. We do not know whether or
not peach leaves become biistered IN Persia, I
but We de know that when they are protected
by any proper means from extremes of tenn
peratHre the leaves are not troubled with this
maladv We also have proved that If peach
tree which has been started to growth ia a
Ereenhouse and afterwards exposed to the
colder (but many degrees above freezing)
open air temperature, the leaves VIII show the
biistered appearance caused by fungoid growth.
We could multiply examples Of this kind, if
necessary, but We have said enough TO show
that plants can take a cold just as animals
can, and we do not know of better cure, in
either case, than applications of sulphur, a
wel-known antid0te TO fungoid groBths.
THE HAzELEUr TREE
The botanical name OF this small tree is Cory
lus Arcllaaa. 1t is mentioned in very carly writ
ings Iii is said to have been introduced into
Greece from Pontus; hence, the nuts We're called
Nux P0ntica by the Greeks. lis fruits were
esteemed the Sncents, and Its shoots or twigs
were employed by them as diyining rods.
There are numerous varieties of the hazel,
which are divided into two kinds, nuts and FL
berfs, which are distinguished by their husks.
The nut has a short husk or calyx, which in
the tlbert is much longer; these, again, are
divided into varieties having long or short
nuts, the latter bearing the name Of cob-nuts.
These nuts are cult waited to large extent in
Europe Those grown in Spain are known as
Barcelona nuts. The trade in these nuts is
immense, about half a million Of dollars worth
being annually imported into England alone.
Two kinds are received from Smyrna, known
respectively as Turkey nuts, which are small
and nearly round and Turkey flberts. which
are long and pointed. The oil expressed from
these nuts is considered as being scarcely infe-
Tior TO almond Gil; they have been used IN the
preparation OF poor kind of chocolate and
are sometimes made into bread. The wood of
the hazel is seldom Of a size to be employed in
the arts, although the roots, which are curiously
Tcinee, are sometimes cut into veneeTs. The
young wood Is very tough and elastic, and
makes excellent hoops. fishing rods and walk
ing sticks. The magic wand or divining rod
was formed If the forkea young twigs. The
charcoal OF the wood makes good drawing
craypiis. Comparatively little has been done
in growing tie mats IN this country; they are
largely imported. and nj glli be profitable crop
IN average crop is stated TO be about 1.500
pounds per acre. The plants are prcp2nated by
layers on suckers, which arc abundant on old
plants They are planted about ten feet apart.
The plants are kept very dwarf, as 1t has been
found that by tins means a larger crop. as well
a. OF better quality OF frnit, Is secured. The
plants are trimmed so Us to have an open or
eup-llke center
THE COW TREE.
The Paio de Naca- or COW tree, Brosinua
GGicctodeRGg0a is one Of the largest trees in
the South American forests, often reaching TO
height Of 100 feet Il is called COW tree. on
account OF is milky juice, which is used as
milk
This milk is obtained by making missions
In The trunk OF the tree, from which it exudes
The Juice j. rather thicker than the milk of
the Cow, is feebly acid, and sours on exposure
aT- ok Il
cheese; it is pleasant with coffee OF tea. but
has sight ranlness, with something of bal
earEic odor, when drank pure; il soon thickens
60 glue, which is tenacious, and is used as a
cement for broken crockery.
Its analysis is as follows: Wax and fatty
matters, 3D.: SUGAR, -; casein and albunaen
II; earthly matters, 0.5; undetermined sub
stances, Is; water, IS.
Tins resembles IN its general constitution
the milk Of the COW. containing fatty saeeha-
rine, Gaseous, and phosphate substances. but
the proportions are different Ii resembles
cream more closely in It's composition. The
tree bears edible fruits, and its timber is said
TO last well under water. closely allied
species il the 5read-nut tree OF the West Indies
which yields nuts, which, when boiled or
roasted, are agreeably tasted, and considered to
DC nutritious.
KEROSENE BUTTER.
This substance is specially prepared for the
destruction Of scale insects on all Kinds of trees
1t has been long known that coal oil is specific
for these pests OF the orchard and lawn as we'll
ss Oh house plants, bat the difficulty IF apply-
ing IL has interfered with It's application. This
is now accomplished by first making an ernul-
sion with The oil and milk, which then can be
diluted with water rs desired. 1t is made by
taking two gallons ef the best kerosene oil and
one gallon Of sour milk and chuTDing them to-
fether until a compound is formed about the
consistency Of lard in warm summer weather
Practically, il is most convenient to do the
churning with the machinery used IN APPLYING
the mixture AL that is necessary is a cask
and force pump. The oil and milk having
been placed il the cask, ii is drawn through
the pump and forced back into the caak. THIS
agitation Is kept up until the butter-y form ap-
pears. Then add about forty gallons Of water,
keeping the pump going as before while the
water Is gradually added. The whole appar-
ntus Is then placed IN position and the trees
snfested receive a Spraying with the liquid.
Aphss, or green fly cater pillars. elnl-leaf eaters
and 1aost I'll kinds Of insects sGccumb TO this
mixture
APPLEs FOR VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE
Mr. IT H. Hoskins in Mirror aad Farmer.
has the following IN substance, about apples
for the aforementioned States:
+" in 1859 ] received cions Of Russian anples
from the United States Department Of Aeri-
culture; OF these have tried about forty va1ie-