The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26

yields annually heavy crop of clover, timothy
and blue grass. There are hundreds of farms
streams that flow through them.-Nationaal
Stockman and Farmer.
JOHNSON GRASS FAILURE.
In private letter from Nebraska CORE
spondent the hope is expressed that we will not
say too much about the value of johnson grass,
as it has proved failure in that State. To
this we would reply that We never said or
thought that it would be of any value in
Nebraska, but that it is of no value in that
State enhances the probability of its being val
liable in warmer climates. In the introduction
of any plant into this country some time must
elapse before its proximate climatic region of
successful culture can be determined. But it
is not to be considered total condemnation of
plant because it will not exist in every eli
mate. Failures in this case are as necessary to
ultimate results as successes are. Most of the
failures in fruit culture and fodder plants in
the Southern States have been caused by the
attempts to cultivate varieties of fruits grasses,
clovers, &C., which have been found adapted TO
the Northern States Such plants as the John
son grass, Bermuda grass, Japan clover, sor
ghum, &C., although of but little if any, value
in the north, may be the most valuable of all
for southern regions.
ANALYSIS OF FOODS, &C.
~ 10 very dppdEClL tudb Vic IcpOFlo VI CHCul-
lists in regard to the feeding value of foods are
not by any means correct or borne out by
practical experiment. Turnips, beets, potatoes,
cabbages, and in fact all the grasses are de-
clared to be composed of from eighty to ninety
per cent of water; the feeding value of turnips
is said to be very slight, yet farmers in many
parts of the world make fine beef and mutton
from these roots, and CRASHED cattle become
fat, which they hardly ought to do, if chemical
expositions are strictly correct.
Something of the same discrepancies exist In
the chemical value of manures and their actual
value as made evident to the farmer. The
chemist cannot alter his obtained results. and
these must be accepted if the processes of analy
sis have been perfect But there are evidently
some undiscovered influences at work which
are not at present fully understood, which,
we may assume, are consequent upon vital
action both III plants and animals, which never
reach the laboratory of the chemist, and OF
which he is ignorant.
NoTELETs
We occasionally hear of man growing
500 bushels of onions on an acre, or 500 of
green peas, or 250 of strawberries, or 150 of
raspberries, but we may be sure he has omitted
nothing in the way of manuring culture or
protection that would promote the growth of
plants and fruits. A plantation of few acres
of Triomph d Gand strawberries yielded $50
bushels of fruit per acre, but the soil was a
rich loan; bad been dug up deeply in digging
out stones; richly MANFRED; cultivated fire.
quently; all weeds, runners or aught that
would rob the plants removed
- Dr. Salmon, of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, is of the opinion that
abortion In COWS is due to two classes of causes.
l. 1t may be caused by improper food by me-
chanical mishaps by standing in a wrong posi-
ton in the stable, &c. 2 1t may also occur in
form that is contagious In this form daily
disinfecting the stable with one per cent
solution of sulphuric acid has been found
useful.
- Carbolic powder is considered to be the
most economical substance for killing vermin
on fowls 1t should be scattered freely over the
ground, beneath the roosts, in the laying nests,
or wherever the fowls congregate in the cor
ners and shadows of the runs. Lice cannot
live where this powerful disnfectant is present
1t viii clear dog of fieas very quickly if it is
rubbed into and through the hair to the skin
with a short, stiff brush.
= One advantage of growing millet or Hun
garian grass is that it may be sown for hay
after the grass crop is likely to be short, as it
may be cut within eight or ten weeks after
sowing 1t requires soil in good condition to
produce a profitable crop
- very small amount of arsenical poison
is enough to kill an insect. It is very COM
application more dangerous TO poultry and
stock. 1t is found that one pound of London
purple thoroughly mixed with barrel of
plaster is strong enough.
- For destroying weeds no crop can well
excel buekwheat. If sown pretty thick, it
makes dense mass, and its rapid growth
enables it to overpower all kinds of weeds. We
have seen apple orchards very much improved
and cleaned by a crop of buckwheat. 1t is a
good practice in vegetable gardens, when a
crop has been gathered, and nothing better to
put in, to SOW III buckwheat instead of allow
ing it TO be nest of weeds as is often the case
One reason why better crops are not OBJ
tanned is the failure to pulverize the soil suf-
fcientiy fine in preparing it for seed. Just in
proportion to its 6neness is the soil in condition
to give to the growing plant the food it requires
That portion of the soil which remains in Jumps
contains matters for the growth of plants, but
are only available when the lump is broken up
or pulverized.
The Poultry Monthly says that Toulouse
geese are good layers but poor settlers, and their
flesh is tender, juicy and well favored. They
often reach the enormous weight ofsixty pounds
per pair. Their heavy bodies and disuse of
their wing muscles fit them admirably for close
coping. They can be easily confined by low
fence in the orchard, meadow or waste land
and will thrive on less water than any other
variety of geese.
-Bagging of grapes protects them from rot,
birds and insects, and costs about half cent a
pound. 1t increases the market value of the
fruit several times that amount. The bag must
be- put on while the grapes are very young. or as
soon as there is anything to fasten to.
To get rid of the borer at the roots of
squashes it is said that an effectual remedy con-
ssts of dissolving one ounce of saltpetre in gal
Ion of water and pouring little over the plants
as soon as they get above ground. One or two
applications about four days apart viii prevent
injury from the worm.
The small black flea or jumping beetle that
is sometimes so disastrous to young plants of
cabbages, radishes and turnips, can be destroyed
by busting the plants with Paris green mixed
with one hundred times its weight of plaster or
-four; it is best applied when the plunts are
wet.
"A hedge can be kept in good condition by
proper trimming. The first summer trimming
should be directed altogether to the top shoots,
which should be cut before the wood becomes
hard and difficult to cut. The lowermost side
shoots should be allowed to grow until fall.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
am interested in growing the strawberry and
not wishing to spend much labor, would like to
have list of kinds that do best when allowed to
run without cutting away the runners.-Joshua
Kent, Pa.
Aas There is no such variety; all kinds of
strawberries will produce larger crops and
finer fruit by keeping all runners cut from the
plants while they are perfecting their flower
buds.
soxred dov, lawn earJv in bI,,a