The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-26
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

&
Propagation by cuttings is probably the best
method of multiplying ounce trees. Cuttings
of large branches are better than those of small
shoots The amount of wood seems to measure
the vital force TO form both roots and tops.
From II to 10 inches is a good length, enabling
us to plant deeply, and so guard against drouth.
Small cuttings may be cut shorter, aud have
piece of apple or ounce root grated on to push
them. The chief thing is to guard against the
exhaustion of sap by evaporation until roots
are formed. Facilities for regulating light,
heat, air, and moisture with precision will
enable US TO succeed with q succulent cutting
furnished with few leaves. When the air is
warmer than the earth, buds are excited more
than roots; and when the ground is warmer,
root growth is most excited. Hence the custom
of burying cuttings inverted during the Win
ter, to keep the buds dormant while eallus is
forming for the emission of roots. In prepar-
ing small cuttings to graft upon roots, the chief
thing is to have the cut ends fit, so that the
inner bark shall match at least on one side and
at the end. These grated cuttings may be
quickly dibbled in, making hole deep enough
to receive the entire length except bud or two
above the surface. Holding the cutting in the
hole at the right depth with the left hand, push
the earth firmly against the cutting with the
dibble, as you would ia planting a cabbage
For lack of such frming the earth there are
many failures.-AmeT{can 4gricdtarjst
MORE BEANS WANTED.
Thore are two or three Counties ia Western
New York where beans are grown to an enOr-
nous extent and the farmers have become rich
by their sale. There seems to be no special
reason why this crop should have been adopted
IN this section. We have millions OF acres Of
similar soil and climate where beans are seldom
grown. If leguminous crops get their nitrogen
from the atmosphere the farms whore beans
are grown so largely and the vines fed out to
sheep ought to be very rich. We do not learn
that such is the case. In fact, it is claimed by
some that beans prove to be an exhausting crop,
and that the old bean growers are not making as
much money as formerly. Beans are at the pres
ent time brought from EurOpein bags right into
the heart ofthe bean growing section of Western
New York, where they are put ia barrels and
shipped as New York State beans" From this
it is evident that our bean growers have an es-
tablished reputation which the dealers are not
slow to utilize. 1t also indicates that beans
can be grown in other places. We have known
many farmers undertake to raise beans for the
first time who made failure of it. They gen
orally plant when beans are high, and antieipa-
ting large profits put in twice as many acres
as they are able to take care Of Beans must be
hcDb fi6a1, OuG 700 UluCu nOeln9 ana CulLlVd-
ting does not suit them. In others words, we
need clean land to start with or we must plant
on sod turned over with "jOinter" pillow i'm
mediately before planting. On such land the
beans get good growth before the weeds start,
and but little hoeing and cultivating are neces-
sary.-AmericaH Agrieaturist.
NEGLECT OF ANIMALS.
It Is to be regretted that there are TO be found
so many cases, which, if critically examined,
would be found TO furnish cause for the inter
ference of an officer Of the humane society In
every community are to be found those who
occupy good standing in society, apparently
have ample means and yet are so negligent in
the proper care of their stock that they are con-
tinualy losing it because of its poor condition.
We are wholly unable TO comprehend why such
a course should be pursued, To reduce our aui-
mails to starvation rations in Winter is a sort of
policy that is sure to bring its punishment in
the loss of the animal, aud it takes but little
time to get a farmer that follows such process
upon a downward grade, so far as prosperity is
concerned. it should be remembered that
while domestic animals are subject to mans
dominion, they are not TO be abused or i'll
treated, and the man who will do that should
be deprived of them and be compelled to suffer
all the inconvenience that may result from
their want. Animals kindly treated are will
ing and submissive helpers of the farmers, and
as such should be well fed and cared for in the
matter Of comfortable shelter.
swARMTNG-BOXEs.
During the swarming season every beekeeper
should provide himself with " sWarming- box"
This saves an immense amount of labor, besides
Obyiating the damage often committed on valu-
able fruit trees and vines by cutting and mu-
tilating them in order to detach swarms there
from. This box may be made 10 by 10 by IA
inches, inside measurement 1t should be per-
lad with lPpa. ma rfa
inch in diameter; a pole eight or ten feet long
should be fastened through the center of the
box. so that it may balance After a swarm has
pretty well settled on branch of tree, the
box may be pushed up into the cluster of bees
when they will ordinarily take TO it and &C.
cupy it. If they should not do so readily, the
box, being open at one end, may be held under
the swarm when by giving the limb jar a
portion of the bees become dislodged into the
box. The remainder will readily alight on the
same, and all may be carried TO the stand.
CULTURE OF THE CAsToR-oIL BEAN.
The castor-oil bean is very rank coarse
growing plant, and requires a rich soil and nigh
cultivation to insure a remunerative crop Of
the seeds, or beans, as they are called. The
plant will flourish in good soils anywhere in
| the South, as well as in many of our Northern
States; but the first thing to be taken into con-
| sideratiOn by the cutivator is a market for his
crop, and this can rarely be disposed Of to ad-
vantage, except at the 0il-mill where oil is
| extracted. At the present time the principal
| CastOr-ol mills are located in Missouri-St.
| Louis being the center of this industry-and a
| few manufacturers control the entire castor-oil
trade Of the country. 1t is quite probable
| however, that some Of the cottOuseed-Oil mills
| in the South would work up the beans, provid-
| ed they could obtain q sufficient quantity ia
| pay. Planters in the South who may take an in
| terest in this industry should cali on the owners
| of the oil mills and see what arrangements eau
| be made Castor oil is and has been scarce, and
commands high price.
| NOTES
| -Grubs in cattle may be removed by squeez
| ing them out through the orifce, which can be
seen just over each grub. As this process causes
some pain and local irritation, remove only a
few each day. some little distance from each
other.
Severely cutting back the dead wood OF
the peach trees will start them into new life
IL the tree be dead at the top, and the wood
near the trunk green, the new buds will soon
| give new top By keeping all the injured
old wood cut away the tree will do serv
ice much longer than is usually the case with
peach trees.
| Analysis shows little manurial value In
coal ashes but it is undoubtedly beneficial as 4
mulch for trees, keeping the soil open anC
allowing rain to soak into the soil without
pushing the surface. 1t is also good absorb
ent of odors, and in the henhouse, mixed with