The National tribune., 1884-06-12
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
narEr snAsoNApLE HINTS


nothing better than partiallyrotted stable
manure. ii is better to apply this mnlching
now than earlier, as when applied at planting
time il has the effect of keeping the ground
cool when it should be rather exposed to the
warming influence OF the sun, which encour-
ages the gg0wth of roots but as the season adj
vances the covering viii have tendency of
retaining moisture IN SO far that ii prevents-or,
al least, lnodiiles-sgriace evaporation. If the
trees were not cut back sufficiently at the time
OF planting, and are now producing weak
growths, they may get be cut back, which VIII
cause them 10 make a better growth.
Ii IS q wcli-cslablished fact that pruning
weakcns trees; but when a tree is moved its
roots are much abridged. and il IS found that 1t
viii fare better wien the branches are also
shortened, which helps 10 restore the balance
between the roots aud the top.
The peach trees, so far as we have been able
10 observe, have set a very heavy crop OF fruit.
Much OF this VIII drop before the stoaing pro-
cess has passed bat where the finest fruit is
desired. some OF the smallest fruits may be re-
moved. This can only be done well by hand,
and is a tedious business, but those who have
praciiced 1t find il profitable operation, as it
adds 10 the value of the fruit far above the cost
OF thinning the crop and where but a few trees
are grows tor family use, the result from thin
ming viii be very satisfactory.
When blight appears upon apple or pear
branches at once and burn them. The advice
to cut up and destroy all trees that show
bllghted branches IS not commen0able. The
new shoots which follow this pruning are sell
dom attacked, and we have known trees which
were 80 severely bligAted as 10 reduce them TO
mere stamps 10 recover and soon make per-
1ect trees IL seldom, happens, however, that
trees become so badly blighted as to involve
the cutting away Of al their branches; but ali
blEhted twirs should be removed as soon as
they are observed, and where this is perslstenly
followed the blight viii not be found so formid-
able an evil as many persons would lead Us 10
believe.
CuTaats.-Currant bushes are so much bene-
hted by coating Of manure over their roots
after the fruit has formed that it should be
considered a necessary factor IN their culture.
The same may be said Of the gooseberry; the
want OF moisture aud nutrilnent during the
period OF the swelling and ripening Of the fruit
oitenlinies renders these crops of but compare
lively little value. Where plentiful supply
OF water Is available for irrigation, an applica-
ton OF guano on the surface stirred into the
soil. then well washed in with water, VIII
vastly increase the value of the crops.
EaYbewseS.-The stalking of rasp5erries is
almost a thing of the past. Instead Of being
supported with stakes or wires, as formerly the
plants are SO managed as TO support themselves.
This is accomplished by cutting OF the tops of
height OF from two to three feet this causes
them 10 produce side shoots which may also
require stopping or cutting back later IN the
season. As soon as the fruit is gathered re-
move the shoots that produced il; these are of
mo further use, and their removal viii allow the
shoots of this years growth TO perfect stronger
wood and fruit BUDS for the future crop. 1t is
also necessary 10 keep all young suckers hoed
down as they make their appearance, and thin
out the siIsots which are 10 be retained allow
ing moi more than four or five TO remain. All
this may be ciassed as fanciful treatment aud
foolish waste of time and money by those
who have not tried it; but We can vOuch for it
that i once tried it VIII never be abandoned
Tor the let-alone system by those who value
plenty Of fine fruit.
Standardization plantations which are TO be
Kept for truiting another year the soil between
the TOMS should be well broken mp and pulyeF-
lzee rs so0n rs the crop is removed. A sharp
tined cult.yat0r should be employed; broad
bla0cd Implements only scratch the surface
without sufficiently loosening the soil. AS run
ners form remove them as ehectually as prac-
bca5ie Young plantations set out last spring
should be carefully tended, the soil kept clean
anu irlable, and ali the runners kept cut off If
the very best results are sought for. To get
the largest yield OF the best fruit, strawberry
plants should be set from sixteen TO twenty
inches apart, and every runner taken of dur
eiEmps VIII be formed, heavily set with crowns
or fruit buds in tie fall, and viii produce a
premium crop. Managed thus, we have seen
one hundred plants produce one hundred and
len quarts Of berries.
Vegetables.
1t is poor policy to pat in crops Of vegetables
and then neglect to give them proper cultiva-
ton. Where space can be spared, such as on
farms, al vegetables should be planted so as to
admit OF culture with the plow and hoe-har-
row. The best OF all implements for such
crops as l,arsnips, carrots, cabbases, &C., is the
su5soii ploE. These are made for one horse.
and 1or al crops which do not have masses Of
spreading roots near the surface they cannot
be replaced by any other implement This
Light subsolleT docs not disturb the surface but
loosels the soil for some considerable depth
F4iAable consideration IN all cultivated soils.
more particularly those Of a cIayey nature
One Of the advantages Of this deep stirring of
the soil j. that i facilitates the absorption Of
Na1eI. lOr this reason drained lands and lands
deeply loosened retain a larger amount OF
moisture than undrained and uncullivated
soils.
leets ed Pcraiips-If these have come up
lrreguiafly, from whatever cause the blanks
csn be made goOo ~ tTansplanting Previous
10 removal the young plants should be soaked
VIII water, SO that they can be withdrawn
without injury 70 their roofs The ground
should be lO0scne1 with a fork before rlanting
and u TIE weather is dry and hot, most Of the
Leaves should be picked from the plants which
VIII diminish the demand npoa The roots con-
seenent upon large leaf surfaces Ia the garden
the digging fork may well take the place Of
the su5soll plSy between the rows Of crops
AspGfogHS.-1t is not well 70 cut asparagus
alter the shoots cene up weak This causes a
poor crop the following season. and if perse-
Fereo III lor lew years the plants viii run
out. The treatment Of the plants during
summer influences the crop Of next year:
therefore applications Of manure viii be more
effective III applied TO the summer growth than
IL any other way or time. A dressing OF bone
meal Al the rate Of ton 70 the acre, VIII helm
the plants wonderfully
CG1aiaOUcr.-Seeds of this vegetable sovn
nov, and young plants set out in good soil as
soon as thcy become strong enough and treated
exactly BIKE cabbage plants, will probably pro-
cuce Inc heads N the fall If not cut short in
tieir growth by frost; but even If oyertaken
by frost before heads are formed they NAV be
iiiteo, planted closely together, and covered
WIN leaves OF straw. In this way we have
seen good heads taken out from under q cover
Ing q snow FOR A Christmas dinner
feas-I-Xccpt IN cool climates, il is difficult
70 maintain succession crops Of green peas dur
lng summer Nothing but the deepest and
richest soils VIII produce good, tender peas in
lot. dry summers. The plants inildew In dry
weather; abundant watcrines will be bene-
ficial, but usually there are other crops which
give better satisfaction and better returns
towards the middle Of summer than reas