The National tribune., 1884-01-03
OUR RURBL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
FRUITS FROM SEED.

aud plant seeds" We have met the above
quotation in several papers lately, and we
would be glad to know from the Iowa hOrti-
eulturistp what he wishes 10 convey by the
expression. If he means that the best fruits
have originated from seeds, the advice seems
superfu0as if he means that ali fruit trees that
are planted for the sake of their fruits should
be raised from seeds, the advice is simply ab-
surd. Doubtless, the idea meant to be conveyed
is that budding. grating. marching, iayering.
and propagating plants from cuttings or sliss
are unnatural processes they do not belong to
Natures method and consequently are all
wrong. it is traditional that the method Of
grating was first suggested by the discovery of
branches OF trees in the forest which had
grown together from some cause or other. and
the same phenomena IS not wanting even now,
as an occasional example has been met with in
modern times This would therefore sesm to
be one of Natures methods Of uniting trees,
and mankind has profited by the example
1t is a matter of chronic complaint with some
people that grated or budfled trees are short
lived that they are more liable TO blight aud
all other diseases that affect plants than those
which are produced directly from seed. This
is mere matter OF opinion, unsupported by
facts, and, therefore, destitute OF the elements
for intelligent argument
With regard to healthiness, freedom from
disease, aud longevity OF grated and budded
trees, the world is full of examples and the
Iowa horticultuTisb may console himself with
the reflection that there are grated trees still
fruiting abundantly that We're productive be-
fore he could distinguish between an apple aud
potato and will continue to bear fruit long
after he has suceu1nbed to " Natures method
of dealing with all mankind
ORCHARD PLANTING
An exchange says that apple trees set ont
in long single row by themselves bear larger
and much brighter-colored fruit than when set
in orchards, because they get more sunlight on
all Sides The getting OF sunlight on all sides
Is one advantage, but II IS not the main reason
of the greater healthfulness and produetiveness
OF trees thus comparatively isolated. IL is
common observation that the outer rows Of
trees in established orchards are finer and more
productive than the trees In tie interior Of the
plantation. This superiority IS al the more
evident if the orchard is bordered by eulti-
waited fields, where the roots have liberty to
extend themselves and to ranlify in soil unOc-
eupied with roots Of their kind The rotation
Of crops is quite rs applicable TO soils 0ceupied
by fruit trees as it IS to soils occupied
by wheat or clover, and it is well enough
known that the wheat crop will gradually de-
teriorate If grown continuously on the same
soil; and ia the same way soils VIII become
cloyer-sick. as Il is called. rotation or change
of crops IS more potent than al the efforts Of
science SO FAR, IN endeaEoring TO f0rtify the
soil against the deterioration which results by
continuation Of one crop. It need NOT. there
fore. be matter of surprise that vineyards fail
to maintain their pristine yigor after bearing
several crops, or that strawberry or raspberry
beds will not remain permanently prohtably
productive, or that apple orchards, especially
| those which are closely planted, become dis
eased, produce poor and Uudersized fruit, and
altogether fail after the soil becomes thoroughly
flied with their roots.
OF Il Of fraa-
isolated lines through fields, with ample
breadth5 between their repetition viii in time
! become an established method Of planting
orchards.
MURRArS
! As we have had various inquiries about mur-
| rain in cattle. we copy the following reply to a
similar question, which we take from The
i Prairie Farmer:
The ailrnent complained OF IS generally due
to exclusive feeding on dry, coarse. and fbrous
| food, and insufhciency of drinking water,
and the avoidance of such causes would pre-
| vent the appearance of this disease among
cattle, which frequently proves fatal. if not
energetically treated on the appearance of the
first symptoms. Treatment consists in the adj
| ministration Of liberal doses of saline laxa-
! tives. Dissolve an ounce each Of common soda
and aloes in half pint Of hot water. and add
to this solution one ounce of oil OF turpeRIlne
also dissolve one pound of Epson salts IN a
quart of hot water. Mix the two solutions to-
! gether, and give the whole In one dose TO cattle
| over one year and half old; half such dose
to cattle from eight months to one year and a
half old, and a third of the whole quantity
! named to younger ones. Repeat the desc
named every six hours. and at every interven-
ing hour give half a gallon Of fax-seed tea
| with half an ounce of ground ginger; or, in
stead OF the hax-seed tea, give q pint OF raw
linseed oil or molasses every intervening hour.
Inject as often blood-Yarm soapsuds or salt
| water per rectum. Give gentle walking exer-
else. On recovery, give steamed, cooked. or
ground feed, wetted, among which during q
week, mix handful of ground willow bark"
JUTE, RAsIE, AND OTHER FIEERs.
For the past twelve years or more, prize:
have been offered by the Indian government
| for machine which would clean the ramie fibel
and prepare It for the manufacturer. Many
efforts have been made TO produce such a ma
chine not only for the ranie, but also for jute
Sisal hemp, and other similar plants We no
tice a report IN foreign paper to the effect
that machine for this purpose has at last been
produced and that the treatment of these fibers
has been fully and fairly accomplished. We
hope that this is SO, but q similar announce
ment has-often been made, and as the machine
has never made its marx. we hope rather thar
believe that it has been found at last.
The raInie plant was introduced into thi!
country over twenty-five years ago. and it car
be grown over large portion of this country
at least from the Gulf coast to New Jersey. II
culture has been held in waiting for maehin
cry 1t is valuable fiber and works in wei
with silk, making beautiful and durable fab
ric. Jute culture only waits machinery Il
become an extensive industry in all but tn,
Northern States, and the family of plant
which produce Sisal hemp istle, and pita fb
ers can also be grown in some Of the Southern
States.
OyERGRoWN CATALOGUES.
One of the perplexing evils of the times j
that of the unnecessary extensive lists of in
ferior seeds and plants What possible u.s.
there can be in enumerating 10 varieties o
garden peas. 80 varieties of beans, 40 varietie
OF turnips. 80 of cabbages, and 80 of lettuce j
would be difficult to say, yet we may find al
and in some cases more than these number
marked in lists: No one desires 70 cUitiyat'
all ofthese; but what is wanted is to know wha
varieties are most suitable TO certain climates
and this information we fail TO find It wouls
be of great practical value TO the country, j
the experimental farms now established il
connection with agricultural colleges woult
take up this matter of thoroughly testing tn
numerous varieties of seeds, and publish tn
results, SO that those who wish to plant 70
example, the best early, medium, and lat
varieties of peas, eabbages, and other vegetables
could do SO understandingly.
SOIL FOR PoTTING PLANTS.
0raa .YYo,, firoo ,,-o-