Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-11-13

ant leaves, hence their natural spy awling
condition is the best during the hot sea
son.
Most amateur florists use too large
pots for their plants. Geraniuu.s, hello
tropes and many other kinds bl DOM bet,
ter when somewhat pot-bound When
large pots are given them thi y make q
great growth of branches and give fewer
flowers. A ese e.l.,..i. &, a4sii..
Turn the plants in the windows around
, occasionally, so that all side,i may have
an equal share of the light and sun.
Pants naturally grow toward the light,
and if not turned soon acquire that
bent, lean-to appearance SCI often seen
with plants in the window ..
Dr. Jabez Fisher tells in the Rural
Mem Yorfer that animal manure makes
strong grape vines, but not much fruit,
and tend to induce rot and lnildew. On
the other hand, potash and superphos
phate have quite the opposite effect,
producing large amount Oh fruit of su-
perior quality.
The fcus elastica is plant exceed.
ingly well adapted to window culture,
because of its thick leaves of leathery
texture, which resist the dry air and
dust. They can be cleaned easily by
wiping them with sponge or cloth.
One such plant well grown is worth
dozen inferior plants.
The damage of causing potatoes to rot
by large applications of fresh manure is
largely obviated by drawing it on the
land intended for potatoes the fall be-
fore. The manure is also distributed
through the soil, so that the same guam
tity does more good than would its ap-
plication in the spring.
If signs of rain are numerous farmers
are always in hurry to get seed in the
ground, SO that rains may bring it up
But heavy rain always forms a crust
over land with any clay in it, and it is
always better to defer sowing until after
it has fallen, even if two or thDee days
waiting is required to get the land In
tillable condition. On noaccourt should
wheat be sown while the soil is hot and
dry. Wait for rain, even if the waiting
delays seeding one or two weeks beyond
The accustomed time.
If one wants perpetual bloomer and
something which will make brilliant
show, and isn't very particular about
1elicacy, he can scarcely do better than
:otry the double pet1lnias. Our florists
send out some quite as double as roses,
N all shades of magenta and crimson,
and most are blotched and striped with
white, and some have elegantly fringed
edges which give them fantastic ap-
pearance. The double kinds are not as
vigorous growers as the single ones, nor
rs profuse boomers, but they require no
more care, and will be favorites with
hose who do not like particular
plants. ...I.
Fewer improvements have been made
n harvesting and husking corn than in
any other farm operations. 1t may be
because fewer are possible. In the old
fashioned way each stalk is taken in the
hand, but not lifted. This makes slow
work, but not hard, exception the hands
If we put stalks separately through any
kind of machine and do it rapidly, it
makes harder work still Probably the
Improvement most needed is in the corn
itself. Some of the Dent varieties of
corn open their husks so as to lessen the
abor of husking. This tendency may be
increased by proper selection of seed.
Cultivated corn does not require closely
sitting husks as protection, as wild corn
might do.
On many subjects the expression of
very positive views is generally in in
verse proportion TO knowledge. This is
especially true in discussing the COM
parative hardness of fruits. Men who
know that certain variety supposed to
be iron-clad is really tender, because it
was killed on their grounds, while less
hardy varieties escaped, should explain
the relative positions of the trees. Often
difference of few feet, giving one
.ree the benefit of sheltering bank of
snow, will save it, while supposed
hardy variety, not having this advan-
tage, will be killed. Not even an oak
can escape winter killing if exposed in
place where the frost extends down to
the lowest roots.