The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-04-17


yielded 1876 bushels of shelled corn to the acre
If any one would like a sample Of the Leaning
corn, | viii send same by mail for ten cents
for postage. DELOs STAFLEs.
WEST SEBEwA, IONA CO., Mich.
GRAPES RoTrING.
To the Editor NATIONAL tribune:
have an English grapevine with two main
branches from same rOot, one and two inches
in diameter, aud about twenty feet long. The
vine has been running on an apple tree, but
the grapes most all rot and drop off before
maturing, which 1 have been informed was ON
account of too much shade. I have removed
the vine from the tree mot disturbing the
roots and placed it on an arboF. VIII ven
please inform me in Rural Topics OF THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE how TO prune the vine,
and anything else that will be necessary to
insure q crop of grapes? Il. Il. BAIRD.
PIcKwICK, TENN
Ans. 1t is not at all probable that the shade
of the tree caused the grapes to rot. You viii
doubtless find that they will rot quite as readily
on the arbor. If the grape is not a native. il
viii not do so well on an arbor as it did when
sheltered in the apple tree. With regard to
pruning, it viii be well to cut down pretty
closely, so as to start strong shoots; and what
wood may be left for fruiting must of course,
be the strongest of the last years growth. All
slender and useless growth should be removed.
CAlAIOOtE HECEiNED.
Descriptive Catalogue of the Je,reU Nursery Co.,
Lake City MiR.-This catalogue embraces, as
a kind of speciality, good list of extra hardy
apple trees; the lists of various kinds of fruits
are select rather than profuse in numbers
highly commendabie feature A couple of
pages are devoted to a list of Holstein cattle
which are for sale. The reason given for
breeding these is that, having investigated
thoroughly the different promising breeds, we
IL.
Holstein combined more good points than any
other strain"
Catalogue of Small Fruits. Grapes, &c. Of the
Wayne County EraPordted Fruit Co., Neicark,
Wayne County, n. THE Ohio black raspberry
is speciality of this firm, who claim it to be
the best drying and canning berry in existence.
selected list of strawberries, coupled with
thoroughbred Jersey cattle, all ages, all for
sale, though unusual in a catalogue, is rather
appropriate than otherwise.
Select Roses for 1884. For Sale b. ERranger &
Barry Rochester N K-This is a select list of
the best and newest roses, with particularly
graphic description of their particular merits,
their origin, &c. There are many larger and
more extensive lists published, but this con-
tains more bat really good sorts.
SoTELETs.
The following is strongly recommended by
paint for out-buildings: Fifteen gallons of
petroleum. eight gallons of linseed oil, one half
gallon of Japan yarniSh. and one hundred
pounds of yellow ochre. These are the pro-
portions used by a farmer in covering several
out-buildings, dimensions not given.
Some extended trials made in Wisconsin in
regard to the value of salt on wheat, seem to
prove that dressing of from one to two bushels
per acre added from four to six bushels to the in
crease, and that it favored earlier maturity and
/ a stronger straw.
| -SunRower seed is said to be the best egg
| producing food known for poultry. They eatit
greedily, fatten we'll it, and increase in eggs.
! It is fully recommended by poultry breeders
/ who have tried it as an excellent and cheap
food for fowls. 1t keeps them healthy, pre-
vents chicken cholera, and should be fed to
| laying hens three times a week. For show
birds on exhibition, short diet of the seed
| gives their feathers an extra glossy coat.
TO try to grow corn on an old sod is nearly
always disappointment. There is an extra
amount of work in keeping the grass from
starting up in the burrows. While decaying
sod is excellent for corn one that is ali the time
| trying to live is detriment Old sod should
| be plowed very early in the fall, and if growth
appears it can be destroyed by narrowing, and
| possibly by shallow blowing afterwards. It
should be plowed over in spring, but not deep
enough TO turn up the grassy surface.
| of the soil is about ffty-five degrees; little
lower than this, and it will not.
| 1t is good and wise practice to plant yearly
! suitable number of TaSpberrieS and black
berries to take the place of an equal number Of
/ older plants which are to be destroyed. Weneed
not be reminded of the fact that old plantations
can be shown which have existed for perhaps a
score of years. But we also know that plants
set out in a new place viii give more satisfac-
| ton than plants which have been for many
years on the same ground.
1t has been found that the soil on which
strawberries grow has much to do with their
enduring shipment. On poor, sandy soil, they
on stronger and better land the same sort
possessed great shipping capability.
For canning purposes the Trophy tomato is
still considerd to be the best variety and twelve
tons per acre is q good average crop. With
heavy manuring and extra attention as many
as sixteen tons per acre have been grown, but
in general, high manuring is not desirable, as
it tends to force large and late growth of vine
and reduce the fruit
The best way to rid fields of the wild black
berry is to let hogs root them up. They are
very fond of the bark of the root, although it is
bitter and astringent. In neighborhood where
hog cholera was prevalent it was observed that
those who had the run of blaekberry-infested
field were not sick in any way.
The value of ensilage must be very great
according to a statement made by a speaker be-
fore the Ensilage Congress- who said that his
experience could be summed up IN one fact
that the same area of land that formerly sup
ported only two cows now supported fifteen
times that number.
The time viii come, sooner or later, when
farmers and others will cease to try to grow two
crops at the same time on the same piece OF
ground At late meeting of the Elmira Far
mers' Club the question of seeding grass with
barley was under consideration. A proposition
was made to SOW the barley early, and after il
is harvested, plow and fit the ground for grass
sowing in September; which was considered
favorably and generally assented to.
"A farmer says that he does not think il
pays to plant pumpkins with the corn. 1t is an
old-time habit which many farmers still favor
but it is questionable as to profit. Those who
have abandoned it claim to secure an earlier and
larger yield of corn. The increase of the corr
crop more than conpensates for the loss of The
pumpkins
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Much has been said against potatoes mixing il
the hill but if they do not mix and form new varie
ties in this way, how new varieties obtained? p
Rural, Johnstown, Pa.
Als New varieties are raised from the seed
found in the ball which succeeds the flower
this is potato seed proper. These seeds arr
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