The National tribune., 1884-04-24
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
A FED OF ROSES.


the garden. or on the lawn, cannot well receive
the soil preparation necessary for success
properly prepared bed containing u couple of
dozen plants will yield more and better flowers
than double the same number will if set out
among other things in the flower garden. A
circular bed six to eight feet in diameter will
be large enough to contain good selection. A
strong loa1ny soil is best; if it is somewhat of
claycy character it will be all the better If
the subsoil is hard means must be taken to
loosen it, and in general this can best be accom-
plished by throwing out to one side all of the
good top soil and then properly turning over
the subsoil with spade and pick. If the
good surface soil does not reach to twelve
inches in depth, enough of the subsoil should
be removed altogether to allow this depth of
good soil to be added after filling the bed
level, spread evenly over the entire sur
face not less than four inches in thickness of
rotted manure, and then dig over the ground,
which is then ready for the plants.
In selecting the plants it is not best to set q
mixture of classes. Tea roses should not be
mixed up with the stronger and harder hybrid
remontants, or perpetuals, as they are more
frequently called Where tea roses require
winter protection they can be better treated by
themselves than when mixed up with hardy
kinds, which do not need protection they can
be planted closer, also, than is necessary for the
varieties of more robust growth. The best
mode of protecting tender roses is to lay them
fiat on the surface, secure them in place with
hooked pegs, and cover them carefully with
fine manure-or, if that is not available with
sand. The object is to cover the stems so that
they will not be exposed to evaporation; it is
not essential that they be covered so as to be
below the reach of frost, but they should not
be subject to the direct influence of frosty
winds.
FENCING FOR LANDS SUBJECT TO OVERFLOW.
The recent floods throughout the country
have destroyed and cleaned out many thou
sands of rods of fencing, the money value of
which must De very great. On lands thus
situated the question of line fences becomes of
much Importance. A good hedge fence when
once established, is not easily disturbed by
washing and will suffer no material injury
from being covered with water for weeks
during winter when it has become leaiiess
and when the water passes off the fence is Just
as good as ever;-it does not even need any re-
pairs. There are some who object to hedges for
various reasons; one is, that they require too
much care in keeping, and when the cutting of
the hedge requires TO be done when farm crops
need attention, the former will be lett undone
This is often the case, but it is not good
Tor neglecting the hedge; as well might far
mer neglect to cut his hay crop because his
corn requires cuitiyating. Another objection
to the hedge is that it sends out roots far and
wide, TO the great injury of the crops in their
immediate vicinity. This can only apply TO
utterly neglected hedges which have been al
lowed to grow up In medium sized trees. When
hedges are regularly trimmed and kept, the
roots of the plants will not travel far, nor injure
adjoining crops. This fact is well known to
all those who have good hedges. On all lands
subject to overflow it would seem that the live
fence is specially suitable. and doubtless in the
future Enclosure of such lands the subject will
receive serious consideration.
CHEAP CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS.
Mr. ID. Shepherd, of Northampton, Mass,
states in q Massachusetts, paper as follows
Within few years have discovered process
By which good asparagus can be produced almost
spontaneously. The plants are set ont on ordi-
nary good land in single rows four or five feet
apart, and at least six to ten feet apart between
the rows. After asparagus has been growing
i've feet apart for three or four years their
roots have extended in all directions two or
three feet from the crown or center of the plant
aud frequently five or six feet perpeadicularIy
into the ground, thus meeting their fl We foot
neighbor half way and filing the earth with
roots as very few other plants do. They are
there to stay many years, IN defiance of the
mower which cuts them twice a year. As soon
the frost is out of the ground is the best time
TO transplant roots and the best time to
sow seeds. Two-year-oid plants are gen.
orally best, though on very rich land one year
from the seed may do as well if early thinned
in the seed-bed to six inches apart"
Growing asparagus like corn, only planting
wider apart, is an Improvement on the older
system of growing it in beds. What is gained
by cutting the tops twice year with the
mower is net stated. We presume the writer
proposes to plant asparagus in meadows and
allow it to come up as it best can, and the tops
to be moved down when the grass is cut. Not
a conimendable plan.
LEAVES OF THE Usage ORANGE FOR
sfLKwoRMs.
Some experiments have lately been made as
to the relative value of the mulberry and the
Usage orange as food for silkworms Four
varieties OF worms were reared. The race
known as the Var" was fed throughout on
mulberry leaves. The Pyrenean aud
"Cevennes" worms were fed throughout on
leaves of the Usage orange, while the Mia
Eese WORMS We're fed on Usage orange up to
the second molt and then changed to mulberry
leaves. Examples of each variety of cocoons
were sent to the secretary of the Silk Board
at Lyons, and appraised by him. The Usage
fed c0coons were rated at eighty-five cents per
pound; those raised partly on Usage and partly
on mulberry at ninety-ive cents per pound
aud those fed entirely ON mulberry at 81 per
pound. This seems to show that the difference
between Usage and mulberry as silkworm food
Is some twenty-five per cent. III IaVOf OF the
latter, while it is evident that the leaf of the
Usage orange can be used with some advantage
during the first two ages of the worms, thus
allowing the mulberry tree to grow more leafy
for feeding during the last three ages. The
experiment is not considered conclusive from
the fact that different races were used in the
different tests aud not the same races; SO that
the result may have been due, to a certain ex-
tent, to race and not to food
THE INDUSTRY GoosERERRY.
This is the name of gooseberry which we
learn is now being introduced by Messrs. Ellwan-
ger & Barry, of Rochester, n. Y 1t is Very large
fruit, and although of foreign origin it has
shown itself To be we'll adapted to this country,
having succeeded admirably at Rochesterfor sew
eral seasons without showing signs of mildew,
which Is the great drawback to the success of
the ordinary European varieties in this climate
1t Isl therefore confidently recommended by
the proprietors for garden and market calture, q
being unequaied in size, flavor productiveness
and vigorous growth. Ii this proves successful
alter more extended trials, it will be valuable
addition to our small fruits The American
varieties, although perfectly hardy, are two
small IN size, and are not OF high flavor But
1t will be safe to experiment with it before
planting largely, as we have occasionally seen
many European gooseberries do fairly we'll for
series of years and then utterly all.
OLD MEADOWS.
Timothy meadows after they are FIVE or six
years old often become root-bound aud the
surface moss grown. In this condition, most
farmers prefer to break the meadow, put it
into cultivation, aud set a new meadow else
where. This change NAV be- we'll Int If il in