The National tribune., 1885-04-30
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
GRATING APPLE TREES.

made valuable by grating to some good mar
ketable fruit: and every farmer should be-
come sufficiently Hskilied in the business to be
able to do the work himself which he can if he
will only exercise little judgment and be rea-
sOnably careful III his work. But few tools are
necessary-a saw, strong poeket-knife and d
| wedge made Of hard, seasoned wood will make
up the necessary outfit and answer all the pur-
poses required as well as the more expensive
and elaborate implements that are advertised
for that purpose.
Ii is usually practical to cut scions during the
| Winter, placing them in the cellar in moist
earth until required for use; but if gratis are
| inserted as soon as cut they may be taken off
at the time they are wanted for use. The
branches for grating should be selected with a
| view to forming q handsome and open top or
head to the tree. When everything is all ready
take the saw and carefully remove the branches
at such points as are desired, being very careful
| not to disturb or slit the bark If from the size
of the branch there is any danger of this, it is
| better to saw twice; first cut off a little above
where the graft is to be inserted, and then a
stub can be cut off with little danger Of inter-
ference with the bark if reasonable care is ex-
4
much to be preferred if it can be had, as it is
| less likely to mangle the bark, and would leave
| q smoother surface.
| After saving off the limbs pare off the sawed
surface of the branch smoothly with a knife as
! before, being very careful not to disturb the
bark. Having done this, with a knife and light
| hammer split the branch through the center
and drive in the wedge Now we are ready for
| the scons. These should be of the previous
| years growth and should be carefully cut off,
| leaving from two to three buds upon each, ac-
! cording to their length; then with avery sharp
| knife cut the lower end to a wedge and at the
| same time a very little wedging from one side
of the scion to the other. Insert the scion in
| the opening caused by the wedge. being very
! careful to bring the line of the bark upon the
| outside of the scion as nearly in con JUNCTION
| with the line of the bark upon the branch as
! may be. 1t is sometimes well to set the scion
| at q very slight angle, which will be likely to
| insure an intersection of the bark lines at some
! point. The scion should also be set as deeply
as it is cut in the sharpening, SO as to leave no
! exposed woody surface If the branch is small,
| but one scion need be inserted If larger, two
! may be used; and even in very large ones we
! have seen four put in, but we cannot recon-
mend that course. Having inserted the scion
| or scions as the case may be, carefully remove
| the wedge without disturbing them, and then
! apply the grating wax over the cut surface of
| the branch, being careful TO protect every part,
pressing it gently about the scions and over the
cracks made i'll splitting. as to prevent the
introduction of any moisture, or of the dry air,
which would alsofb injurious. This being done
the work is accomplished, and in little time
! the flow of sap which finds its way into the
! scion will send life into its buds, and they will
unfold and develop as though nothing had hap
pened.-CermdntOlra Telegraph.
THE VERMONT FORESTS.
| From 80 to 30 per cent. of the native forests
| of Vermont have been cleared away, but the
| general annual decrease is now very small. In
| some parts of the State there is an actual in
! crease, resulting from the growth of wood on
abandoned fields. The abundance of coal has
checked the consumption of wood as fuel. The
| greatest enemy OF thetOrestS is the owner of
steam saw-mill, and the Forestry Commission
recommends that these mills be excluded from
the benefit of the statute exempting manuiac-
turing establishments from taxation, even if it
adopts no severer measures. The commission
also recommends the passage of law punish
ing the careless as well as the malicious authors
of forest fires, and one will deny it is needed.
Alleged "sportsmenp and reckless campers-out
are responsible for the devastation of vast
amount OF woodland.
NorELETs
- Don't forget that the pasture fields should
have some attention, at least, as well as the
grain fields. Weeds, briers, and bushes should
be eradicatcd from them just as carefully as
from the potato lot. Many farmers would be
astonished to know how greatly the pasture
yield can be increased by the aid of little
fresh seed and manure occasionally, and the
keeping down of all alien grOwth.-Sdll Fran
cisco Chronicle.
- There is nothing more injurious to sheep
than to lie on fermenting- manure pile.
- Do not forget the great value of wood
ashes They are valuable in the orchard, in
the garden and in the fields.
A COW giving milk should never be fat
Either the milk is deficient in quantity or
quality. often both The best cows are never
fine-looking animals, except to the eye of an
expert, who can see behind the rough and
bony frame evidences of gOod-milking quail
ties.
"A Canadian farmer advises the planting of
maple-susar orchards on hillsides. He consid-
crs it matter of considerable profit. He would
not plant maple saplings dug from the forest,
but woaid raise seedlings. After the Fall rains
small maple seedlings may be found in any
maple grove, and they may be pulled up by the
fingers. Hundreds can be collected in an hour
where they are abundant. These little seed
linss may be transplanted to a rich place in the
garden, two feet apart each way. In three or
four years these trees will be fit for transplant
ing, and they will overtake maple saplngs
which are transplanted from the woods when
10 feet high.
way, even utilize the dead carcases of their
animals which die from disease or otherwise.
The dead animals are converted into rich super
phosphate by means Of suphurc acid. 1t would
seem that the method is an excellent and prac-
teal one as regards the public health and the
economical production of fertilizers.
"A farmer who takes the trouble to find out
what his soil, climate, and location are best
suited to produce, and selects from these such
things as his taste, capacity, and facilities will
enable him to cultivate to the best advantage,
and keeps on that line through thick and thin,
has as sure hold on success as is vouchsafed to
any calling or occupation here below
"A correspondent of the n. \. Tribune, after
years residence in Dakota, writes to urge peO-
pie not to think of migrating to that Territory
without first sending a trustworthy man to see
exactly what the conditions are-instead of
lars, or the possibly too favorable views of the
local papers. His letter speaks in detail of ex-
tOrtions of various corporations and middle
men; OF high price. for fuel; of very hard"
Winters; and, finally, ati vises Eastern people
who are making,"a Lying to let well enough
alone, rather than take risk, by removal, of
encOuntering " ills they know not Of"
Stones may DO madevery useful by placing
them around plants an8trees as mulch Thus
used under trees ESPECIALLY evergreens, they
are very valuable One advantage over ordi- |
nary mulch IN using stones is that weeds are not
so likely to spring up among them.
- The MaSsaclipsetts Board of Agriculture |
cites a suggestive instaBee-that of a liveryman
who SDread the stable rrfilSe from IL horses M, !