The National tribune., 1883-06-21
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
CROPPING THE GARDEN.


learned in regard TO the plants which are best
adapted 10 succeed one another, and we hope
thats0rne Of the experimental farms, now doing
Hko much good work, VIII by-and-hy take notes
on this matter OF rotation. For instance, we
have found in cur own practice that orr best
results in Strawberries have uniformly been
where the previous crop was potatoes and, SINH
larly, we have found the most satisfactory crop
of melons on ground previously cropped with
tomatoes.
IN general way, we may conclude that
plants which are grown for their seeds should
be followed by those which are grown for their
leaves; long rooted plants as bees, carrots, and
parsnips, should be followed by surface root
ing plants The seeds Of plans contain mat
tiers which differ lrcm those contained in the
leaves, consequently seed-naturing plants win
exhaust the soil more than those plants which
are grown for their leaves alone. Early suai-
mer crops can always he followed by something
planted for fall and winter use. in reducing
these ideas TO practice two methods may be
adopted, as may be deemed best: Either by
having only one crop al a tine. and when that
is removed, 10 be Immediately succeeded by
another; o., have two croIsoa the same ground,
so arranged that tie one viii be removed be-
fore it inteTferes with the growth of the other.
In illustration of the first method, piece OF
ground may be cropped with early peas, which
VIII be cleared OF III time fcr a crop OF tuTnlps.
beans, beets, &c: or a crop of early potatoes
may be cleared of ia time for planting cabbages
for winter use. By the second method, peas
may be planted il rows IN March and between
the rows melons may be planted IN May. 1t is
q common practice with some TO first plant
early potatoes, and Immediately sow the surface
with radiShes and as soon as the radishes are
removed to plant early cabhages between the
rows OF potatoes; even after the cabhages arc
removed, crop OF turnips may be taken from
the same ground, thus making four crops from
one field IN a season.
Soil thus cropped must be rich and properly
managed; good, succ0lent vegetables cannot be
produced on barren, dry soils. The most i'm
pOrtant requirement is water; nDless rains are
abundant or artificial watering practicable, the
best quality of vegetables may not be secured.
The time viii come when vegetable growers
and fruit culTiTators, at least with fruits such
IS the raspberry, strawberry, currant, &c. will
provide themselves with a constantly available
supply of water for their crops, and thus all
uncertainty of failure or success viii be re-
moved, and good crops be as certain to follow
ne the seasons TO roll round.
LIcoRTcE
The licorice plant is a native of southern Eu-
rope, and is cultivated in many parts of the
world for the sake of Its root, which contains
speculiar sugary, gummy substance well known
in commerce by the above name. The article
is obtained by boiling the sliced roots in water
or the juice is expelled by heavy pressure, and
IN either case is boiled until il reaches proper
consistency. The thickened juice is made into
sticks or rolls. and packed in bay leaves for
shipment. 1t is mostly produced in Spain and
Italy.
The cultivation Of this plant has not been
considered profitable in this country 1t re-
quires a very Deep rich soil so that the roots
can ramify freely and penetrate to good depth
during summer; otherwise the crop viii not be
remunerstiye. II is propagated by planting
pieces OF the smaller roots, something in the
way Of growing horseradish The pieces are
planted IN shallow drills and cultivated SINH
lar 70 potatoes during summer. 1t requires
three years growth under the most favorable
conditions before the roots are large enough
for removal The process Of digging out the
roots IS q tedious operation; they run from
two TO three feet in depth, and are easily broken,
which causes loss. After removal from the
ground the marketable portions are trimmed Of
al side fbeTs, washed, dried and tied up in
bundles If kept for any great time they
should be covered with sand.
The plant has very much the appearance of
syetch, or wild pea. Its botanical name is
GlycyyThiza gla5ra.
INJECT ITEMS
The oodling worm may be destroyed on sp-
pie trees by taking tablespoonful Of Paris
green and placing il in four gallons OF water
Apply this with syringe and keep the mix
ture well sgitsted; otherwise the poison viii
sink TO the bottom.
The above mixture is equally a remedy for
the bugs which destroy the leaves of elm trees:
indeed no leaf-eating insect can live On leaves
sprinkled with Paris green.
The aphis, or green fly, is sometimes very
abundant on the young shoots of roses during
the early part OF summer; they seldom do
much hurt. and have the habit of disappearing
IL
tlon OF tobacco leaves or stems sprinkled over
the bushes will destroy them
Plants IN greenhouses are very apt to become
infested with red spider during summer; its
presence may be detected BY the brownish ap-
pearance OF the leaves. These insects cannot
exist in moisture, and the best method of
. checking their progress is 10 syringe the plants
about sunset or later so that they viii be wet
ali night. This is more effective than syring-
ing during the day, when the moisture soon
dries up.
The most troublesome of insects are the
thrps which infest grape vines We think
that tobacco stems sprinkled on the ground
VIII keep them in check. We have no expe-
r1ence with this remedy in open air culture
but it has been found completely efectual in
she culture Of grapes Ia glass structures.
TEXAS Blue GRASS.
The botanical name Of the above grass is Poa
eSocdsaJerG; IT is abunCaht Ia parts of Texas
and is likely TO prove as valuable TO that State
as the common blue grass, Poa pratensis, is to
Kentucky. A farmer in Texas saws: al find
this grass spreading rapidly over the country
tnd claim Tor IL al and more in Texas than
E awarded to the blue grass il Kentucky. 1t
seems 10 be indigenous 10 all the prairie coun-
Try between the Trinity River and the Brazos
m our State 1t blooms here about the last of
March, and ripens its seeds by the 18th OF
April Stock Of ali kinds, and even poultry
seem 20 prefer it 10 wheat, rye, or anything
else grown in the winter Ii seems TO have ali
the characteristics Of the Poe prateasis only il
m much larger, and therefore affords more
grazing. / have known it 20 grow ten inches
IN ten days during the winter. The coolest
winters DO not even nip il, and, although it
seems TO die during summer. it springs ND as
soon as the FIRST rains fall in September and
grows al winter. / have never cut it for hav.
Why should a man want hay when he can
have green grass to feed his stock on2 Cattle
WILL not eat hay when they get plenty of grass
This may be found of great value In dry and
EaTm climates.
This useful Ingredient Of the conopost nile
may DOW be obtained from all leading dealers
IN fertilizers. ii is mined at StrassfuIf. Prus-
sia. It's composition is as follows:
snipaate OF potassa % 20 81 per Ct
6usfAate OF lnhsft IL 10 20 per ct
Sn5oilde OF nlasilssl TO per ct
Chloride Of sodium common SALT IS 40 per CT