The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-16
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
NOTHING BETTER THAN FARMING.

EQ4A4NG DEL AEi1h man HaAAS4AAk'S'
There are certain class of farmers who are
never satisfied with the results of their labor,
and they look upon the mercantile business as
something to be enYied, and to be got into as soon
as they can raise the necessary capital They
seldom consider how the successful merchant
has striven TO establish himself in the way of
making money, and how watchful he has to be
to sustain himself; STILL there is no reason why
the same process may not lead to as great sue
cess on the land as in the store; indeed, it is
common experience that it is So Hundreds of
men every year make money to their entire
satisfaction out of agricultural or horticultural
pursuits They are not so well-knOwn-do
not make as much show as store-keeper.
Agriculturists are too much scattered TO rake
this imposing appearance; but the profits we
speak of are there as surely in the one case as
in the other.
These successful businesses are simply the
result of q series of experiments as to what can
best be done. Hardly business that We know
of, that may be pointed out as illustrative OF
great success, achieved that success in the line
marked out for it at the start A general
knowledge of some one thing may have sug-
gested the enterprise but one after another, as
bOIDS paIEo WCHlu bS DSbb5T uuntIoLOO1s bho
least profitable would be dropped, and, in many
instances, firms that began dealing in dozen
articles would end in only few. We have
frequently pointed out the fact, and urged on
cultivators that this is the only way to get into
the special crop business. There is scarcely
district Of country in the whole United States
but is able TO grow sOme one thing or few
things a little better than another thing. 1t
should be q continual subject of experiment on
ng tn yl1 a. vii and ThTiVa
remarkably well; and having found this out,
what would be the prospects of q good market
for it. 1t is rare indeed that any one who
raises Just exactly what his neighbOr does, ever
makes q great stride in the way of wealth.
He makes out of wheat or corn, or pork, fair
average living price, and ii he IS g little more
intelligent than some as to the niceties of Cul-
tivstion he may make more than his neighbors;
but the rich farmer is generally he who by
careful observation and calculation is able
gradually but surely to get cut Of the beaten
track Germantown Telegraph
OUR MARKET ABROAD FOR DRIED FRUITS.
1t is a mistake among many farmers and
fruit-raisers in the United States to think that
the different varieties of fruit, such ss apples,
pears, peaches, plums, cherries, goOseberries.
ETC., are grown in greater perfection in Europe
than here. 1t is not the fact. VS. raise these
as abundantly here and in as much perfection
as ilbg 10 III ILuEtpCg Guu WIN iob AuOEo IMAM
half the labor and expense. 1t is true, how
ever, that more pains are taken there, and
their modes ara more thoroughly systematized !;
but the cost of producing crop, we repeat, ia
very much greater there than here but still
the profit may be greater, as nearly ell kinds
of fruit sell st a much higher price there than
here. We have not doubt that the United
States ere many years will become the great
est Embarrassing country in the world. Our
soil and climate norfgra uf naarFIDtIOu-
and if one kind offrui6 is not adapted to par
ticular place, another is, hence the wide extent
of our territory presents to us means of eulti-
waiting successfully all kinds Of fruit For
years we have been shipping enormous guam
titles of apples to Europe, and this expectation
is steadily increasing and will continue to in
crease until the trade shall become Of National
Importance. In dried fruits such as peaches
and apples, the expectation has already &C
quired largo proportions and twill go on null
tipIying in extent until fruit-raisng will be-
come far greater and more profitable branch
of industry than 81 present With such q
market open to Us we can never grow an over
abundance of apples snd peaches; while these,
in addition to cranberriea, IN their natural con
dition, fresh from the trees and vines, ought to
be and no doubt viii DO produced in sufficient
quantities to meet any demand. The very
cheapness that We can send them abroad for
will open for Us an unlimited market for all
| with which ne can supply it-EEcbange.
CELERY
Celery plants may be set to advantage now
| The ground should be we'll prepared, be mellow
and previously well fertili2ed. The pIants
| should be set in trenches at least eight inches
| apart, and as they grow they should be fire.
| quently hoed clear Of weeds and the soil kept
| banked up closely around them, leaving only
| their tops exposed Even the White Plume
and Golden Dwarf are better when frequently
| banked up and attended to. These yariete.
! will live and bleach themselves, but will be fai
inferior in quality to the same varieties treated
| with special care and attention. The croL
| should be kept in mind during the present
| busy days.
| SHADE T0E POULTRY.
| Poultry, as well as other kinds of farm stock
require shade in the extremely hot weather. /
! they are allowed their liberty, as they are upoI
some farms, they can secure this themselves
| but If they are confined TO yard and hen-hous,
they are extremely liable to suffer from
heat, To remedy this it Is good plan tx
| set one or two shade trees in the fowl-yarC
that will furnish the desired shelter from thu
sun. For this purpose the fir tree possesses
some peculiar advantages. tits q rapid grower
| the lower branches are wide spreading auC
| dro0p to the ground in such manner that the
tree, though trimmed TO hight of three o.
four feet forms a perfectly-shaded bower, IN
der which the hens will rest in comfort An
other thing, the tree being green and of thiel
foliage also affords protection from winds il
Winter, furnishing lee in the sun in which
fowls will stretch themselves with great dea
of comfort.
NOTES.
A correspondent of the New York Tribun
says dark stable is az injurious to the health
of animals as prolonged darkness to the growth
Of vegetables.
The farmer who thinks that to max
money be must go where land is cheaper
should consider we'll if he would not max
more money by making the land he has deepe
aud richer.
Where weeds have grown up in the garden
to such g hight that they cannot be plOwed O
spaded under, cut them down and let then
dry. After they have been we'll dried appl1
fire and burn the surface of the ground over
which can be done with but little risk if 8 clos
watch be kept over the FIRE as it progresses
The advantages will be that the appearance o
the ground will be better the ashes will serv
as q fertilizer, the seeds of the weeds prevente,
and thousands of insects destroyed, as well q
saving labor in the garden next season.
The white daisy is a difficult weed to &c
rid of, but we have known energetic farmers t.
completely clear their farms of it by means 0
combined remedies, although surrounded b,
farms which We're white with it. Thorough
cultivation was employed with various hoe
crops; then buClcwheat TO smother it, folloWe,
with wheat and seeding to clover A deng