The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-01-18
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.

Whether orchards of fruit trees should be
kept 1lowed and pulversed, or kept in sod, is
. frequent topic of discussion in farmers and
fruit growers meetings, and as each discusses
the subject from his own standpoint, the con-
illusions are generally conflicting.
The object in planting fruit trees Is, of course,
20 produce fruit. That treatment will there
fore be considered proper which maintains the
trees in a healthy truiting. condition; and
whether, in order to maintain this required
condition it is best 10 cultivate the soil or best
20 lay it down in grass, Will altogether depend
upon attending circumstances.
1t is well known that manuring and cultiva-
ting the soil are favorable TO the growth of
plants;-both are necessary when the maximum
of vigOr is REQUIRED. 1t is also equally well
known that the greatest vigor of growth
Is not always combined with the greatest pro-
ductivenoss of fruit; on the contrary, II IS an
tndiSputable fact that a tree cannot display
great viCor Of growth, and at the same time
be correspondingly fruitful. Here, then, is
principle for our guidance in determining the
question as TO whether orchard Should be
cultivated or kept in grass sod. When trees are
young II is well to encourage growth until they
reach q proper fruit-bearing siZe which they
will speedily do in good soil well cultivated,
provided the young yearly growths are
Ynstured. In localities or climates where the
season of active growth is comparatively short,
stimulating appliances cannot consistently be
used to the same extent that would be perfectly
iustifiable where a longer season would enable
even an eNubeTant early growth TO reach ma
turity; this is fact not sufficiently appreciated
by those who advocate the indiscrimlnate en-
riching and cultivation of fruit orchards. There
is well established law IN vegetable physiol-
ogy which states that whatever tends to
check vigorous growth in plant IS favorable
20 the production of flowers and fruit" We are
acting IN accordance with this law when we
find an orchard has reached afruit-bearing size,
but gives no fruit, to lay 1t down III grass. This
is the simple method of checking heavy growths
in trees, and if, in the course Of time, appear
snces indicate the need of stimulants, manures
can be applied on the surface; and still further,
If the trees become stunted in growth manurial
applications can be supplemented by blowing
and cultivation; the trees may also be thor
oughly pruned in winter, and in this way be
again thrown into freShvigor and fruitful health.
Therefore it is that the question of keeping
orchards in sod or in keeping them in a state
of surface culture, depends altogether upon the
state of the trees, as influenced by the nature
of the soil and conditions of climate; always
keeping in view that the principles governing
vegetable growth are universally the same, but
that the practices to be deduced from them will
vary according to circumstances, as partially
stated above.
TREE SHELTER AS A CONSERVATION OF MOIST
URE.
We think that those who advocate the plant
Ing of trees on a farm in order to increase the
rainfall on the neighboring fields make the
mistake Of suppOsng that trees cause rains,
where the effect Of their presence acting in a
mechanical manner, merely prevents or retlrds
evaporation of moisture by drying winds.
Evaporation increases In a very rapid ratio
with the velocity of the wind, and anything
which retards the motion of the latter Is very
efiicacious in diminishing the amount OF the
former. The same surface which, in q calm
state of the air, would exhale 100 parts Of
moisture would yield 125 in a moderate
breeze and $50 in high wind. We can scarcely
form an accurate conception of the amount of
moisture carried from the surface of fields by
dry, searching summer breezes, although their
continued effect is evident on vegetation. The
humidity that is constantly arising by evapo-
ration from the surface of fields in hot weather
is very congenial to vegetation, and its rapid
exhalation is very sensibly checked by belts of
trees or even thick hedges which stop the
force of the winds. This kind of protection is
also serviceable in winter in preventing the
rapid escape of heat, and modifying intense
colds caused by great velocity OF the wlntry
winds.
BONE MANURE ON DAIRY FARMS.
An English paper remarks that the Cheshire
dairy farmer; by free use of bone manure on
grass lands, makes his farm, which at one time
before the application Of bone manure, fed only
twenty cows, now feed forty. In that county
about three-fourths OF dairy farm are kept
ia pasture the remainder in tillage. The
farmers commonly lay the whole of their
made manure on the grass land, purchasing
what may be necessary for tho arabic. The
chief improvement, besides drainage, consists
in the application of bone manure. In the
milk of each cow, in its exCretions in the
Il. Il g.,
parts with as much earthly phOsphates of lime
as is contained in fifty pounds of bone dust
The quantity Of bones commonly applied To
these pastures is from twelve TO fifteen hundred
pounds per acre This dressing on pasture
land viii last eight years, and on moved land
about half that time.
SORGHUM MEAL.
The director of the New Jersey Agricultural
Station at New Brunswick states that III chem
zeal composition sorghum meal is almost idcn-
tical with corn meal, although in some sections
1t is regarded with suspicion for feeding stock.
As an experiment, three cows were given a
ration Of nine pounds of sorghum meal IN sub
Etitution for an equal quantity Of corn meal,
and marked decrease in the yield of milk
occurred almost Immediately, and an increase
followed the change to corn meal again. The
conclusions reached are that sorghum meal has
no injurious effect upon the health of milch
COWS, ana CNGrIS no DDJlCGabIe influence on
either the taste, color, or chemical composition
of the milk, but in digestibility it probably
stands slightly below corn meal; for when fed
pound for pound the coru-neaI ration yielded
7per cent more milk.
CLOVER SICKNESS.
DR.. Sturtevant gives the opinion of DR.. Gil
bert that insect depredations upon clover are
the result Of clover sickness; that is, the in
Eects are but the concomitant of feeble growth"
The opinion seems 10 be prevailing, and we
think or true grounds, that fungus, and attacks
or plants by the lowest orders of insects are
due TO a diseased condition brought on by other
causes, and that these parasites are merely a
consequence, and not the Interior cause, of dis
ease. Such phenomena as the mildew on grape
leaves cracking Of the fruit OF the pear, lice 81
the roots of apple trees, and the PhylIoxcra on
the roots Of grapes, together with yellOws on
the peach and the blister Of the leaves Of the
latter during early summer are ali due 20 pre-
vious DISCRIMINATION and weakened vitality
Of the plant owing to conditions adverse TO
health for some time previous 10 the external
manifestations Of disease.
Usage ORANGE LEAVES AS FOOD FOR sILK-
WORMS.
The Women's Silk Culture Association of the
United States have. IL is stated, been making q
thorough test offs silk raised on the osagc orange
leaves and their manufacturers testify that tho
quality Of the silk is equal in all appearance tC
the Italian silk. Also that they see 10 differ.
euca in the diving and weaving from at her 81 K