Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-15

ally when found on the side OF trees, so as
to do no harm in shooting at them.
1t would be some consolation if the dep
relations of birds were confined to the
rlpening season, but in many parts they
| commence the work of destruction by eat
ing the buds from the trees and follow it
I'D by eating the small sets soon after the
| blossoms fall off, This has been the case
great deal in the San Joaquin valley.
An Albany (Oregon) paper remarks 4" For
several weeks past there has been very
peculiar bird playing havoc among the
cherry trees about the city. 1t is about two
thirds the size Of a robin, and, like Joseph s
coat of old, is of many colors it has short,
thick beak, much like a parrots in shane.
They travel about in bands of ten or fif-
teen, and in as many minutes can rob a
tree of about all its blossoms, working
mostly on cherry and apple. 1t has never
been seen in this vicinity before, and no
one seems able to tell from whence it
came" The Oreg0lltGn says the bird is
the evening grossbeak, HeSperophond res-
pertina, flocks of which have been around
Portland all winter They have fed on
the seeds of the maple and locust shade
trees along the streets, and are quite tame.
Another bird, for which no name is given,
is reported by the Monmouth local paper
as working on the cherries in this way :
Many trees that hung full of blossoms
| have been almost entirely shorn of their
white mantles by the pesky little destroyers.
| They seem to take delight in swapping off
| the blossoms right down to the twig and
twitter, and chirp about it as if it was
great sport for them.
Sooner or later there will be a general
demand on the part of certain small fruit
growers for war of determination upon
these so-called " songsters," but it will be
difficult war to wage.
NEW ZEALAND SPINACH
| The heats of July and August are too
much for spinach, which, if it does not run
| TO seed, grows slowly, and is without the
| succulence that it has in the earlier months.
| While spinach is in perfection, one wants
nothing better, but it is well to prepare for
| the months when that cannot be had, by
sowing seed of the New Zealand spinach.
This plant is not at all related to the true
spinach, but belongs to the same family
with the EGGPLANT. The plant grows very
slow at first, and makes but little show, but
as the heat increases. the better does this
New Zealander like it, and after it has
made start, 1t goes on branching and
spreading in every direction. The seeds
| are rather slow in starting. and if one has
the convenience for so doing, il is well TO
SOW the seeds in pots; after the seeds are
up, thin, leaving but three or four plants in
pot. Make well-manured hills, six feet
apart each way, and turn out the ball of
earth containing the plants, and set in the
center of the hill. The seed NAV also be
sown in drills, which should be three feet
apart. Sow thinly, and when the plants
are up thin to foot apart The leaves are
10 be gathered for use, leaving the ends of
the branches uninjured. 1t is used in the
same manner as spinach American Agri-
culturist for May.
THE MODEL ORCHARD
That which insures success in hortfcult-
| ure is, first, to plant the best and most prof
liable varieties, and afterwards the intelli-
gent care and cultivation of the orchard
| and vineyard. The Inyo Independent thus
refers to an illustration of the subject
Not weed in sight, the ground loose and
smooth every tree clear of suckers around
the roots, their trunks clean and tops neatly
pruned not trace of destructive insects
or vermin anywhere; apples, pears, peaches
plums and other fruits all thick on the
trees, with every promise of a good crop
| such is the condition of the orchard of
John Kispert, at Georges Creek 1t has
always been a wonder how Mr.. Kispert
| could produce and market so much fruit
every year as he does, but look at his
orchard explains the whole affair. He SAYS
there is nothing gained by having more
orchard than can be thoroughly cared for !"
sUCKERING MUscAT VINES.
Many of our best raisin men are this
year not going to sucker the muscat, but
allow all the shoots to grow, even those
from the roots of the vine. The object is
| to counteract the effect of, or possibly even
to prevent, the black-knot usual in any
wet and warm seasons. In some countries
this leaving of the suckers has the effect of
| diminishing the crop of grapes, as the
| suckers generally do not bear. Here how
ever, it is different Even suckers from the
| root have here grapes which are Just as
| good and just as perfect as those from top
branches. The old talk of fruit buds on
| the vine is at least here pure nonsense
All buds are here fruit buds, at least on old
I vines. Leaving the black out of con-
| sideration, it is also best to occasionally
| raise some suckers, from which a new
crown may at any time be formed.-[ Gustav
| Eisen in Fresno Republican.
GENERAL NOTES.
Cows eat sugar-cane so greedily that
every farmer should plant at least small
patch for soiling purposes.-[New York
| Herald
The Maine Farmer says: thorough drain
age lies at the foundation of all good road
| making, and lack of it is what is the
| matter with nearly all of our public thor
oughfares.
Good vegetables will only come from
good seeds. One cannot afford to SOW
doubtful seeds. Those of uncertain age or
| without labels, and of doubtful source,
should be burned, and fresh stock or
| dered
4 Missouri farmer who has been testing
| seed corn from the butt, the tip and the
middle of ears for three years, finds that
the corn from the tip of the ears will Iipen
| first, that from the middle next and that
| from the butt last.
The full report of the fourth annual
| State Viticultural Convention, held at Irv-
| ing Hall, March, 1885, has been published
by the San Francisco Merchant 1t makes a
pamphlet of 1l9 pages, and is furnished
for 81.
At the last meeting of the Napa Grape
Growers Club it was stated there never
was better prospect for large grape crop
than the present season. Several speakers
recommended early sulphuring to prevent
mildew. Sulphuring should be done as
soon as possible.
So valuable have been the services rem
dered by science TO agriculture in Sweden
| that the Swedish Government has pro-
vided funds for the establishing of five
| more so-called chemical stations" the
object of which is to furnish the farmers
with scientific advice concerning crops,
their diseases, etc
German agricultural chemist, Professor
Heinrich, concludes that plants are best
nourished when the plant-food, in soil or
water, reaches certain concentration, not
the absolute quantity of plant-food. but its
concentration, determining the fertility of a
soil. Deep tillage without simultaneously
increased application of manure is hurtful
since the plant-iood is thus diluted and the
nutrition of the crop rendered more diff.
cult. Deep tillage insures, but heightened
concentration of plant-food increases the
harvest
| To Digest yulcanite
Requires acids more potent than the solvent
juices of the human stomach. And yet, in
| the form of medicine intended tn reform,