The National tribune., 1888-03-29
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
STRAWBERRIES FOR MARKET.

thinking Of engaging IN strawberry culture TO
watch the market in their localities, and if the
demand for strawberries was paying one
then begin their venture. Some of them have,
no doubt found the strawberry market active.
To this class 1 would say, devote at least one
acre TO strawberries
Set out the plants thisSpring. Set them out one
by three feet, and let them form matted rows.
advise picking off part or all the blossoms the
first year. Some readers may have found their
markets overstocked with strawberries. Prob
ably much Of the surplus was composed of
small, inferior sorts that never sell well when
there are berries of fine size and quality in the
same market Fine, large berries, as a rule, find
quick sales at fair prices; therefore it will pay
to set out only the best varieties, placing the
plants properly. Cultivate well the first year,
and pinch off the blossoms and part Of the
runners. The next year there will be full
crop of large berries that will sell anywhere
and at prices that will pay.
To readers who desire to sell plants suggest
preserving some of the berries as specimens to
show when taking orders. They will be
surprised to find how exhibiting the fruit
helps to sell the plants. I viii give directions
for preserving specimens. In the first place
select your specimens from the first few pick
ings, as they are much more solid than those
ripening later Select the largest and most
perfect you can get Now prepare a saturated
solution of rock salt in water add to it little
borax and alum, and when these shall have
been dissolved strain the brine through q
fine CLOTH place the fruit in Jars or bottles,
pour on the brine and cork closely Speci-
appearance for yeags.-FRANK MUMMY, Dom
nelsyillo, 0.
EARLY VEGETABLES.
1t is always desirable to secure an early sup
ply Of vegetables OF the more important varie-
ties that cannot be grown or started under glass
to advantage. OF this class potatoes and peas
| are of that hardy character that they can stand
q considerable degree OF cold. 1t IS almost
/ always the case that tbaW occurs and the bulk
! Of the frost leaves the ground before there is
! an actual opening Of Spring, or rather before
| there is any real settled weather. When this
/ is so and one has portion of dry soil, by plow-
/ ing and planting potatoes and the use Of good
! supply Of horse manure, potatoes may be plant
/ ed for an early supply with safety, and the Pc
/ Rod Of ripening considerably FASTENED.
The potatoes should be planted to consider
| able depth and the coarse manure dropped on
! the seed, and then considerable surface frost
| will DO no harm.
The same is true Of peas. In a sandy loan
| we'll MANFRED they may be planted much ear
lier than they could be to wait for planting al
the ordinary time
If these garden products can be secured two
| or three weeks earlier than by ordinary meth
DDS it is advisable to attend to the matter When
there is less press Of necessary farm duties
Germaat0ua Telegraph.
SMALL FRUITS.
Those farmers who have not already made
provisions for a fair supply of small fruits FOL
/ the accommodation Of home use, should make
no delay in attending TO the matter at once
1t costs little labor and attention, but is wei
worth the sacrifice. Take for instance straw
berries; it requires a surprisingly small mum
Der Of plants TO produce a considerable quantity
of berries if well cared for.
We set at one time in the Spring only a dozer
plants of the Crescent variety, Of which only
10 lived and yet from those plants the follow
ing season we picked 50 quarts OF fine berries
Every farmer owes il to his family to supply
all such luxuries as can be provided from TIN
farm by reasonable labor. Strawberries ar
among the earlier cultivated small fruits, auC
plant rod square or q row so or 70 feet lOni
will give good supply. Raspberries are easil.
grown and furnish palatable fruit requiring
little attention more than to keep clean ant
we'll supplied with fertility. Blackberrie5 ar
a fine fruit, but somewhat Objectionable becaus
Of their thorns; they should, however, find
place in the fruit garden.
ATTENTION TO FENCES.
One Of the important duties Of farmers in th
early Spring is attention to fences. The opera
ton Of the freezing and thaWing Of White
tends to weaken fences. and unless they arc sub
jcctcd TO careful scrutiny and repairs are liabl
| to lead TO an injury to crops or the trespass Q
animals upon the premises Of others. 1t Is Away
better to be in season, acting upon the principI
that an ounce Of prevention is better thai
pound Of cure ," or another that " stitch i
time saves nine" The work ofrepairing fence
should be of the most thorough kind, an
should be attended to as soon as the ground
free from frost. If before that, the labor ca
hardly be depended upon, because the froS
may strengthen weak points
NOTES.
49, When the cattle are put on the grass to
early both are injured.
- Counting our chickens before they az
Matched would not be so bad did we first candl
the eggs.
49, Unsuccessful farmer is the one that make
10 per cent. on the money he has lost throug
mistakes.
49, The horse with plenty of currycomb GU
side and oats inside doesn't show his ribs befoI
Midsummer
- Bad-tempered cows, dull plows and wea
IcuCCo OuBhC 70 H6 GYlls UISuAuAdD4SJ iuA GLLC
3 are not immOVaDle
The man who allows the riVulets to g
, his manure is always sure that the GovernmeI
. is r0bbing the people.
- What doth it profit man if he keeps I'll
weeds down on his farm and allows them
Y grow on the highway?
- Extend the ouse.cleaning into the celia
and make the work more thorough whel
Sinking would be least seen.
= - Better have your heart in your work an
so acres than a quarter-section and be at od'
j with your occupation.
! There are now hundred riyulets on IL
farm, yet it is cheaper to give the ANNA
drink from a well protected from surface waite
- 1t is better to take a little liver mediciI
than to grumble and feel blue, and the las
v who has had fruits during the Winter will L
y need the medicine
9 Good highways are impossible as long
4 the highway tax is worked out by the tax-pa
e ers Collect the tax in money and let the woI
0 publicly to the lowest responsible bidder.
A Ills of Children.
9 Mrs NJ. J. French, of Ludington, Mich writ
q Of the successful treatment of her child