The National tribune., 1883-11-01
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
Roor-rRuN1Na eRA1N cnops.

ROOT PRUNING GRAIN CROPS.
Checking the wood growth of fruit trees by
cutting off a portion of their roots has long been
successfully and advantageously performed, and
the same operation has been suggested as being
equally applicable to corn and other grain crops.
Experiments have been recently made by root
pruning growing crops of barley, as well as
corn, but with no decided advantage 1t is
doubtful whether any gain can result from cut
ting of the roots from annual plants, as their
growing season is comparatively short, and the
plants have not time to recuperate and ripen
their crops after being checked In their growth
by severing their roots.
Taking corn as an example, the idea is, that
when the plants very strong and healthy
and forming profusion of luxurient leaves,
root pruning will cause cessation of grow IN
and set the plant to forming ears. Farmers
nowadays do not favor deep blowing of corn,
as they find the mutilation of roots to be fol-
lowed by a diminished crop. The best crops
are procured from light and frequent surface
stirring, and not by deep and frequent ploYing.
1t is different with a fruit tree. Take an
apple tree, for example: if the plant continues
year after year TO grow luxuriantly without
giving any blossoms or fruit, it can be placed
almost with certainty In a condition to fruit
by digging around it and severing all the main
roots TO within three or four feet of the tree.
at that time will cause a formation of flower
buds at once, and a crop of fruit viii appear the
following summer, and in the meantime the
roots viii at once commence to extend, and by
the time their vigorous action is required in
spring they will have increased in sufficient
quantity to nourish the crop OF fruit. But no
such reeuperative period is available to the corn
plant. as only few months elapse from sowing
of the seed until the crop is matured. And we
opine that all annual plants resimilarly beyond
the effects OF root pruning as practlced on trees
and other perennial plants.
PLANTING NUTS.
The best time to plant tree seeds is just as
soon as they are ripe. We do not know any ex-
eeption to this rule SO far as the termination OF
the seed is concerned. Most seeds, however,
can be kept for longer or shorter period and
| then yegetate and produce just as healthy
plants to all appearance as if they had been
sown Immediately from the tree. But many
of the nuts are exceptional, and viii not grow
after being dried. OF these are the walnut,
hickory nut, butternut, horse-chestnut, acorns.
chestnuts. and we may also include the mag
noias. All of the above seeds should be planted
in the fall, or if not convenient to do so, they
should be placed on the surface of the ground
where they are shaded, and covered with a
layer of soil sufficiently deep to keep them
from drying. few leaves thrown over the
soil will effectually maintain sufficiently
moist condition.
Complaints are frequent that walnut and
| chestnut seeds fail to grow when planted IN
| spring. This is altogether owing TO the fact
| that they have been kept dry during winter.
] When properly preserved there is no difficulty
| about their growth. Magnolia seeds require
| similar treatment. They can be kept dry for
some time and grow afterwards with care, bat
they are apt to become dry beyond recovery
| unless covered during winter
The time is now at hand, so far as timber
/ supply is concerned, when farmers will find it
/ profitable to SOW seeds of trees yearly, just as
1 they grow other crops, and plant out an acre or
more of timber yearly until all the land which
| they can devote to that purpose has been
/ planted.
| To raise young trees the seeds should be
sown or planted in rows thickly, and draw out
the young plants after they have made one OF
| two years growth.
| TRANsPLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS II
/ AUTUMN.
/ The Massachusetts Pl0uqltmda says: There
are several objections to planting trees in tbs
autumn: First, in removing the tree the feeding
roots are broken of, thus depriving the plant
/ of its regular channels of communication with
/ the moisture of the soil until such time as new
ones can grow; second, if the tree be Of any
size, it is exposed to the winds of winter, which
| often loosens the roots OF newly-set tree
| third, the soil around the roots will not be in
| as good condition for the tree to make rapid
| growth as il set in spring"
These objections" have no weight when
! fairly balanced by facts. The feeding roots viii
| be broken off in spring planting as well as IL
fall but with this important difference
/ IN fall the soil being warm, new roots are
| immediately produced, which does not oceul
| Immediately after spring planting, because the
soil is then cold, and not until the weather be-
comes warm, so as to heat the soil, is there any
| effort towards new roots. Instead of the sol
not being ia as good condition for root growth
in autumn as it is in spring, it is infinitely bet
ter; indeed the greater success in autumn ovel
| spring planting is altogether owing TO the SD
perior condition of the soil in the fall.
coLLY DOGS.
The Breeders Gazette says that farmers witt
a little tact in getting along with dog woul6
soon fnd the coliy saving them many a step
| Eager and anxious to learn, willing to do every
| thing within his power, the young dog needs
| only wise and patient restraint and inteili
gent direction to become the most useful hell
on the place. The colly is an alert and diserim
| mating watch dog, answering for this purpse IA
| better than the heavy sleeping, stupid. savag'
bull or mastiff, who is liable to attack his bes
| friends or eat up a child. As colly acquires
age and dignity, if he has been well taught, h
| imagines that the whole business OF the farm
I hinges upon the performance OF his duties, an(
he becomes as punctuai and regular as the sun
Canine companionship, if at liberty, has bat
effect upon the colly in most instances. Th
duties of the coEly are practical aud mear
work eompanionship means play, and is demor
aiizing. Especially is this true of companion
ship with a hunting dog. The shepherds coll,
has enormous perceptives and is very initiative
he quickly goes wild over game when led by
limiting dog, consequently neglects and shirk
his work, and is spoiled.
CLEAN THE ORCHARDS BEFORE WINTER.
In districts where snow is likely to remain
on the ground for long period orchard tree
are frequently much injured by mice eatin
the bark from the base of the stems. Thi
mostly occurs when rough grasses or weeds ar
allowed to grow around the tree. so that thes
depredators find genial winter lodgment, ant
when other kinds of food are not within eas.
reach they deyour the bark. 1t is therefore
proper to keep ali weeds and grasses from ao
cumulating near trees, and especially have a.
clean before winter. Young plantations ar
more subject to injury from this cause than ar
older trees, but no shelter should be permitte
for vernlin around trees of any age. Some
times during long winters mice will worl
under the snow, and to prevent them fror
reaching the bark it is good method to pacl
soil around the stems as high as snow is likel
to lie as the mice will not eat bark when the
have to come to the surface to reach it.
CoTToN-sEED MEAL.
Cotton seed meal is the most concentrate
! nutriment which can be procured in the shap