Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-05
A9ritnltnral department.
GRATING.


plum trees begins about the goth of
March, and if the scons are carefully
preserved it can be continued up into
and through May, as we know from
our own experience. AS we have
often said, grating is a very easy
operation when once understood;
and the knowledge is easily acquired
on observing 1t being done by 9th
ers. In fact, every farmer and gar
dener should do his own grating,
which will take no time required by
other duties. A sharp penknife for
shaping the graft, a shoe-maker's
knife for splitting the stem, and
fine saw for removing the top of the
stock are Indispensable. Splitting
the bark so that it shall not be bruis-
ed, shaping the scion wedge-fashion
both ways, and placing the rim of
the wood Of both stock and scion ex-
actly together, so that the sap can
intermingle, and then, properly wax
ed, there is no danger of failure. We
make ''shoulder" to the scion and
think it adds to the certainty of sue
ceeding. 1t probably weakens it a
little, but we have never found it
any disadvantage. We prefer also
two eyes or buds to scion, and
would rather have one than more
than two. One years wood should
always be taken when it can be OBJ
tanned, and as it is more certain to
stake" and to grow more vigorously,
and the scion should be cut from
bearing branches.
We wish again to remind those IN
preparing their grating wax, that
we take four parts of resin, one part
of beeswax, and one part of beef
tallow, as the proper proportions for
making a satisfactory wax. Melt
them in a skillet, (Which is best) :,
or tin cup, and stir well. 1t should
remain in the vessel and be used
when needed. Twenty or thirty
crafts can be WaXed with one heat
ing up. When much grating is to
be done, little fire for warming the
mixture should be made Oh the spot,
between two bricks or stones. APP
ply the wax with small thin pad
die; and in two or three weeks 90
over the CRAFTS and close up any
opening in the waxing caused by
the wind on the spits.
There are many receipts for max
ing grating wax, and we have tried
most of them, and have found some
of them to be very good, but we pre-
fer our own, because it is the sim
plest to prepare and answering the
purpose well. Applying it warm OIL
hot does no injury to the scion. The
object to attain in the proportions is
that the wax will not crack in cool
dry, windy weather, or run in warm
weather. If, however, on trial, diff
ferent proportions be required, the
foregoing can be altered in order tc
make the wax thinner or SITTER
though after using this wax in sever
al ways we have come back to these
as meeting satisfactorily all the re
quirments.- Germantown Telegraph
EARLY PEAS-HOW TO GROW
THEM.
The first dish of the season of any
given vegetable generally tastes thu
best, and with many, an additional
relish is given it if we can secure
this little earlier than our neigh
bors. The first dish of green peas
is especially welcome as one of tn
luxuries of the season.
There is not much that is new t.
be said as to how to get peas EARL
est. know of no royal road. w
can only plant, and cultivate ant
wait. By assisting nature at tn
start though, we can sometimes hur
ry her up little. l have found tw
ways of doing this. One is to ridg
the ground in the fall, before
freezes, to make it dry earlier in tn
spring, and the other is too start tn
seeds before the ground is dr.
enough to be worked. The frs
needs no further explanation. Fo
the second place my seed peas i
moist sand, about the last of Marcel
and set the box containing the san
in warm place, until the peas hav
formed sprouts about half an inc
long. Then, if the soil in the garde
is not yet sufficiently dry for plan
ing, / set the box in the cellar, cover
ing with a board if mice are trouble
some, and leave it there until we ca
plant. 1 have left the sprouted see
in this condition for a fortnig
without apparent harm resulting
When the ground is dry enough
plant, 1 pick the peas carefully o
of the sand, place them in the dr.
about two inches apart, and GOV
lightly with fine soil. have gain
as much as eight days in earliness
thus starting the seed beforehan
though the difference is usually 4
so much.
The earliness may also be incre,
ed some by planting in shelter
location, particularly if it is one tt
receives reflected heat from the s
as the south side of building
high, tight board fence. Very mi
also, depends upon securing
earliest variety. thouph inst VIII