Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-11


 should go with judicious feeding in caring for all farm animals. In winter dairying es- pecially is the key to success. Canada Thistles.-When so many of our farms are year by year losing actual value by the spread of this insidious pest, it is always in order to consider methods of getting rid of 1t. One reason for the rapid advance of the weed is that it extends by underground stems. To till the soil in any manner less than to completely destroy every sign of plant life as it appears above ground is usu- ally to till just enough for promoting this underground extension. Now one of the best agents to be employed against the weed is the surface turned into a sod, for this will serve as smothering blanket to the under ground stems. Then by moving the patches two or three times during the season the growth will be so affected by both of these means as to secure great advantage over the enemy. The missiles bloom about hay ing time and, in common with most plants when cut at that period of their growth, their vitality is greatly lessened. The ener- gy of the plant eliminates at towering and fruiting time, and with the top being moved the roots are less able to send out new shoots. By this means seeding is also pre- vented, which is a great gain. These thoughts occur at this season when the seed ing of meadows is near at hand Calculate now whether it would not be well to carry war into the stronghold of the weeds by em- ploying such effective methods
 ORCHARD AND GARDEN.
 Prepare for spring.
 Plum culture is looking up.
 Burn the prunings before summer.
 Heavy crops do not come from poor gar dens.
 Strawberries will do but little under trees: entrants more.
 Wood ashes in large heaps increase in richness the longer they lay by absorbing ammonia and forming saltpetre.
 Early hotbeds cost good deal Of care don't start them yet. At the end of this month, and from then on for a month, will answer well throughout the North.
 An Iowa fruit grower advises airing fruit cellars on days in winter when the tempera- ture is at forty degrees rather than in the warmer days, as tending to a more even gen. eral temperature.
 Guard Against Mice Girdling.-Ths usual remedy suggested of treading the snow firm Iy against the trees is good so far as it goes, namely until the first considerable thsw. Then the snow against the trees will thaw first, causing a depression, and in this the mice will do their work. With deep snow trees along the lines of fences especially should often be visited, and the snow re- packed around them.
 Pruning in Winter.-We do not recom- mend pruning in nlidwinter, but when this season is at hand and the work was not done in the fall, prefer putting it off as late as possible. The only advantage there would be in getting at it now would be in the time gained Here is the real disadvantage; the cold winds season and check the wounds, causing them to heal over very slowly or not at all. If one feels that he must prune now let him carry paint-pot and brush with him when at the work and give to each wound dab of paint.
 FLOWERS AND THE LAWN, Sow dusty miller seed. These sunny days suit the plants. The roller is the best gravel walk preser- yer.
 Pots of plants bestow grace upon the plainest of apartments.
 It is better to border the lawn with mar gin of trees than to bring these near the house, causing shade to the building.
 The question why many of our roses bear French names is easily answered by the word that these are of French origin.
 Remember this year to trench the flower and shrubbery borders fully fifteen inches deep, mixing in some manure to this full depth.
 To have the hardy garden flowers show off to the best possible advantage, set out in wide beds with an irregular line of ever greens along the rear side. The effect with such background will be much finer than when the beds narrow and limited by walks as so often seen.
 Treating Heavy Soil.-Even if the garden is supposed to be 8 tenacious clay, it can be treated to suit flowers and fine gardening, provided it is not wet from lack of drainage, by carting to it load after load of coal ashes, sand or sandy soil, to cover it to the depth of three more inches. By the time this material is we'll worked into the clay, say after two seasons, the land will be deci- dedly loamy and easily titled. Of course there must be manure or some other form of vegetable matter added also. The writer last year newly started flower bed on heavy soil. Besides working light materials into the bed the surface at planting time was GOV cred with an inch of sandy soil. After that only the rake and the trowel were used in the bed. and the matter of tillage and keep ing down the weeds was light and pleas ant task Without such a coat more or less Jumps would have shown up, as the bed was in it's first year; with it one could have surmised tLat a heavy clay underlaid the sandy surface.