The National tribune., 1888-04-12
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
STRAWBERRIES.


EDITOR NATIONAL TREBUEE: viii say to
Mr.. c. D. Wood Of BIT Pleasant, lows, that
the best time TO set out strawberry plants, as
well as all other varieties Of fruit plants, is
just as early in the Spring as the ground viii
do to work and get in fine order. That is, have
it well ploughed, narrowed and rolled. Draw
a cord where the rows are intended, drive
down the stake at both ends; draw the cord
straight and tight Have the rows three feet
apart; set the plants one foot apart in the row.
Plants must all be trimmed aud roots strsighten-
ed before you begin TO set them out. Have boy
drop them for you. Set with dibble to line,
aud exercise care to put the roots down firmly
in the ground. Set the plants no deeper In the
soil than when growing. Keep well cultivated
and hoed during the whole season. Do not let
the weeds get a start or the ground baked
You need no implements besides good, sharp
hoe and fve-tooth cultivator. Let as many
runners grow as viii make a matted row two feet
wide. Keep the middles clear all the time I
have plan, and ] think it a good one,-at least
other fruit growers are patterni1g after it,-aud
that is, after yoa are through cuI5ivasng in
the Fall. 20 through each row with a single
shovel pI0W once. Next take g hoe and draw
the loose dirt in among the plants. [ know
this protects the plants very much through the
Winter, and in very wet times the water runs
oil through the burrows, leaving the plants
high and dry. Just before Winter sets ia cover
the plants slightly with straw, and have it as
free from weed seeds as possible
Plant only one Or two varieties if for mar
ket and OF the largest and finest sorts; SUCH
viii always sell, and at paying prices besides,
1t Is pleasure and an honor to have the finest
fruit IN the market. Among the finest thatdo
well All over the country, sre--
Cumberland Triumph-This has always
| been a fayorite strawberry with us. II is of
| the largest size, perfect in form, beautiful in
color, good in quality, plant vigorous and
healthy. One Of the best for the home garden and
profitable for market, especially South, where
it assumes deeper color, greater frmness, and
yields beautifully. Season early to late, and
maintains its size throughout better than
others.
,. Sharpless.-A mammoth variety in every
respect Berries uniformly the largest of all.
| Clear, light-red, sweet delicate and of excl
lent flavor
B. Chas Downing-Medium early. Does
well on all soils. Productive, juicy and excel
lent flavor. Scarlet fruit, and good for general
cultivation.
3. Jersey Queen.-This is one of the best
late strawberries, and is claimed to be the
nearest approach to the ideal strawberry yet
introduced. Foliage short and Iight-green in
color. The fruit is the most beautiful Of any
grown, Of the largest size and good quality,
taking the prize over all others a5 Evansville.
P. Cresccnt.-Sgill maintains the reputation
Of being the best market variety. In localities
where the strawberry does exceptionally we'll,
and near markets where large berries are de-
manded at paying prices, IL may not be the
most productive sort TO grow; but the fact that
under uufavorable circumstances it viii yield
good crop whep most other varieties fail,
makes it deseryediy popular. 1t will not only
/ succeed where most other varieties fail, but
! VIII respond more readily and certainly 70 good
treatment than almost any other sort. The
average size Of the berries is bat little less than
/ that Of some Of ito varieties that have q repu-
tation for large berries The fruit lacks in
/ 6rmness and quality, hence a variety without
these failinss aud IS productive aud sure as
the Crescent, Is much to be desired.-ERAEK
/ MURPHY Donnclsville, 0.
FLAVOR or EGGS.
/ The Farmers Rssi6g says: Wei wager p
/ dime that hens I'D On the manure heap, and
compelled 70 drink barnyard WateT, viii give
! their eggs a peculiar favor" We think the
Rsview Is correct. The quality Of eggs can be
/ improved or degariorated By the feed. A con-
/ tiEuous feeding with chopped onions viii i'm
/ part strong onion favor to eggs, and, FOR that
matter, 20 the flesh Of the fowl too, If killed at
! the time Of eating onions Food should be
( clean aud Of good quality if good food is desired
from the product Of the feeding Remember
the old saying that Like produces like. '-Er-
/ change.
GET THE BEST.
| A manufacturer who had single COW for
| the use aad necessities Of his family, in speak
ing of the qualities OF his fine jersey, and Of
I the feed that he provided it, remarked, by way
Of inquiry: Is it not better 70 keep an animal
| Of 6ue milk or butter qualities and provide the
material for their production than TO keep one
ofquestOnable quality and feeding poor 2" The
proposition had our hearty assent and then
the thought occurred to Us, why do not farm
/ ers take the same view of the subject? 1t re-
qures no more time to feed an animal that
will produce the best results than one that is
OF a very inferior grade; in fact, it does not
| require as much time to care for one fine ami
! mai as for two or three Of very questionable
quality, nor does it require any more feed in
! reality for one animal fed we'll than than two
or three poorly fed, and il the same returns
can be secured in one case as in the other, it is
certainly better policy. The adoption Of CO
! operative dairyiug by means of associated
creameTies, undoubtedly tends 10 improve dali
ry animals, aud by that means becomes Of much
Indirect benefit to the farmer who INDUCES in
the associated system. Whatever system leads
to better animals and better feeding must in
the end show its results Germautowt IeEe-
graph
IMPROVEMENT OF milk,
The tendency to adulterate milk that is con-
sumcd in cities renders a close inspection nee
essary, and that this is having a favorable in
huence is seen from the change that has been
effected in the city Of Boston, rs we gather
from the Milk Inspectors report from which
it appears that in the year 1885 the percentage
of poor samples was 1864; in 1886. 1855; in
1887, 1854. We are glad to see SO marked an
improvement and if the &dulteration comes
from the farmers we hope the strong arm oil
Law will be employed to turn them from
their evil ways"
NOTES.
In dressing capons for market leave the
feathers on the head tail and first joint Of The
wing, to show that they are what they pretend
to be.
Eggs are too valuable to be left out in thu
nest over night to become frozen and cracked
Look sharp and gather them all III when yor
60 out to feed in the evening
We should not know how to carry locl
through the Winter without coal ashes and dry
earth. free use of them keeps the door Of tht
house dry and prevents bad odOrs
1t certainly does not pay to keep low
grade OF sheep aud then let them take care 0
themselves The small amount of wool SO
cured, as well as the poor quality, is such tina
no margin of profit viii be left TO the farme