The National tribune., 1883-08-09
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
TIE A1LAyrHrs TREE.


The naUseous odor belongs 70 the staminate
flowers only, 81 that by planting the pi>t.iiate
form the objection of the oder Drly be ebviated.
Bat although il has been condemned as 2 street
tree, yet we think that it is one 81 the few
among foreign trees worthy OF being grown
here for its timber. Its wood IS very enduring /;
IL is OF beautiful white col II, having a satiny
appearance and takes beautiful polish. For
inside work IN trimming houses II IS very much
admired. Its rapidity of growth Is greatly in
its favor. and if some Of our Western forest
planters would set out Two or three hundred
acres of II. we are sure that Il would be as pioi-
liable as the CataRa, which is now being SO
extensively planted. Ia some countries it is
gr0wu~fef its leaves which are fed 10 a silk
worm, which is said to produce 2 coed quality
of silk. Ii is known Boa5yr cgHaliSa or Ali
anthus silk worm. The powdered bark Of the
tree possesses strong aDIhclmi1tic properties.
The tree is native of China, and Is called
AilaHtAas glaEda'osa
EXPERIsTENTAL RESULTS.
We select few Of the results Of experiments
conducted under the auspices OF the Ontario
agricultural College:
ia competition with Swede tGrnips, en-
silaged corn fodder gave u Peg cent. less milk,
30 per cent. less butter and a poorer market
able butter In color
I'm fattening cattle with damaged wheat,
9 pounds per head per day gave Il daily in
crease OF 2 pounds per head per day, at cost OF
A. cents per pound 10 the live weight"
Rice meal gave daily increase Of Isl
pounds per head per day, at cost OF about Z
cents per pound"
Barley meal requires a large amount OF
other foods in association and Ia pounds per
head per day gave daily increase OF I'D
pounds per head per day, al cost OF cents
per pound live weight"
Corn meal took the highest place in daily
rate of increase III the iatteHing of cattle; 81
pounds per head per daa, at cost of 55 cents
per pound of the added live weight
Pea meal was second best; - pounds per
head daily gave rate Of 2.26 pounds, at a cost
Of 5 cents per pOuad."
Sugar beet, weight for weight with mangels
and tumips, and in association with equal
kinds and quantities Of other fools, gave the
highest returns IN feeding cattle, or go
pounds per head per day"
Mangeis gave 2.3s pounds per head per day
under similar conditions 10 ihs sugar beet"
Swede tUrnips added 23D pounds per head
per day to the average steer that weighed ], 06l
pounds, under conditions similar 10 maagels
and sugar beet"
There is either q simple natural reason or
hidden chemical one 10 the fact that by the
use Of less grain and more roots cattle gave a
greater daily return in live weight"
During winter a l.00Bpouad steer viii
consume daily 10 pounds hay, - pounds tur-
nips, pounds bran, and 8 pounds OF . mixture
OF grain, upon winch II vii add 2.Il pounds 10
its live weight"
HINTS On CULTURE ASD MANAGEMENT OF
The PEACH.
The peach requires warm, dry soil, that is
moderately rich, but as il is gross feeder and
draws heavily upon the soil, especially of pot
ASH, natrment should be supplied iii the form
OF bonedust and potash. WOO. ashes are ex-
cellent. Potash should be supplied in abund-
ance by al means, for not only is il useful in
supplying the requirements Of the tree, but in
repelling the gsiloOs, the great enemy OF the
peach. huriaJe Of potash is the best fern to
Use, applying broadcast always. Ia preparing
for planting, the land should he plowed thor
oughly and as deep as possible, without bring
ing 10 the surface tie subs0i, following in the
furrow with good sgbsoil plow. The trees
may be planted sixteen or eighteen feet APART
each way. The trees should BE- cut well back
ct planting. The first two years after plant
ing, beets, mangels, sweet potatoes, or other
hOed crops may be planted among the trees
after which time they should be given the full
use OF the soil, which should be kept always as
mellow and free OF weeds throughout the sea-
son as field Of corn; being careful never to
disturb or iDJure the roots while blowing OF
cultivating peach orchard should never be
planted 10 grass or grain crops, as such are ex-
ceecingly detrimental 10 the trees. The peach
tree should be annually headed-in TO produce
sturdy tree with round, compact head, in
stead Of being allowed TO grow into one with
an open, spreading, unsymnetrical top as usu.
ally seen. 10 pruning always use sharp tools
The trees should be examined carefully early
In the spring OF each year, for borers or CRIBS
70 be found in their bodies just at or imme.
diately beneath the surface of the ground
Their presence will be detected from the gum
formed by the exnding sap, when they should
be extracted with sharp-pointed knife. As 9
preventive of the borer, place at the butt OF
each tree shovelful of stacked lime, or sew.
eIal of coal ashes.-FTom L0Uctfs Circular, Lit.
Gs SiiUer, Mem Jersey.
MATURITY OF FOREST TREES
"The subject Of ripeness aud maturity Of crop
Is one of great importance. To know precisely
when each respective product is ripe and ma
ture is TO know that which is of immense i'm
portance, first TO individuals, and then Il
nations. The farmer and gardener frequently
require ali their skill and knowledge to enab!t
them TO know the right and proper time &
gather and store their diverse products and
yet their task Is an easy and simple one, com.
pared u that Of the forester ia respect of trees
as 70 their rlpcness and maturity.
+" The whole development of trees is so uni
formiy Sow and imperceptible, that we neither
observe Il coming or Passing and IL is only
when decay becomes visible that we learn thai
maturity has not only been reach d, but con.
sidefa0.y gone past. ] saw plantation of hard
woods siEty-1ye years old, partly cut down, q
short time ago, OF which Iuily 50 per cent
Were diseased, the result Of 0Ver-ripeness. This
plantation should have been cut ten or fifteen
years ago, and the GROUND replanted. Thus
the growth OF ten or fifteen years was not only
lost % what should otherwise nave been a sue
ceeclng crop OF young trees, but every year i
st0oa il was o. less and less value.
" The ash tree furnishes good timber when i
liz growing iast, and it IS necessary that IL
RAPID growth shOald continue throughout il.
whole life. when il ceases 70 arow f:st it Should
cease 10 grow at al Tor il the tree is allowed [,
stand uncut after ii ceases to grow rapidly thu
wO5d very soon fuses lis t0ughneSS and elastic
itg. an example Of this occurred under tht
writer's observation some years ago. which
illustrates the subject The plantation was q
lsS ir-lne At iity-lge years growth, and th'
bottom cats At that age were, 10 use the phrasI
Of a carpenter WHO used much Of the wood a
tloaen as whaleb0He At segenty-fiye year
Old the toughncss VI the wood had almost en-
tIreiy left IT, and breaght less than half th
price which Was willingly paid for it tsent,
years before. "-GGsagaeF's Clsr0leicle.
This is a subject of much importance which
has had bat little oi stndy devoted TO it, VIII
can tell ut what age the various timber tree
Should be cut in order to procure wood of tn
best quaiityY And yet hat can be more reason
able taan 10 suppose that there is certain
period when timber has reached It's best condi
ton, and after which il gradually deteriorates
fhs Is facts la W00d-craft which has bcel
almost If not altogether, overlooked.
E4srrrr trrF.l,