The National tribune., 1888-02-02
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
PRACTICAL FORESTRY.

This question is now forcing itself into proml-
nence, and is being strongly urged upon the at
tention of tillers of the soil, That there is a
very pressing necessity for timber of vari-
Gus kinds cannot be denied nor can that other
fact that the use of timber for the various
purposes for which it is demanded is rapidly
diminishing the natural supply. 1t is very
probable that the destruction of forests for
economic uses is considerably more rapid than
the natural mode of supply by annual growth.
1t may be that there will arise a necessity for
providing for this destruction by means of
special culture, or that time may now be upon
US; but before entering largely into that field
of labor it would be well to consider the natu-
raj tendency of the section of country and its
capabilities Unquestionably there are sec
tons of treeless tracts of country where assist
ance by planting and cultivation might be
necessary in order TO secure a satisfactory for
est growth. At the same time it must be
remembered that there are other sections in
which the tendency is directly the reverse. Tt
is natural for the trees to grow unaided in such
sections. We know of tracts in which it would
be difficult to prevent a growth Of timber by
any other means than thorough cultivation of
the soil. We call to mind fields that were
once under cultivation but being abandoned
show to-day a good growth of forest trees.
1t may be profitable undertaking, and one
which economy would encourage, to enter
upon the cultivation OF forests, but we should
recommend that it be omitted where trees
spring up and grow in accordance with the
natural tendency of the soil. This country
has never yet come to feel the necessity of
forest culture as it may have been felt in Euro
pean countries, but it is well to have the mat
ter under consideration and actual necessities
fully anticipated.-G Germantown Telegraph.
EARLY TOMATOES.
F. G. Johnson, 146 East Gay street. Column
bus, o., sends the following plan for getting
tomatoes into market early: He first gath
ers as many old tin cans as he needs, and then
builds a fire between two logs, and as soon as he
has good bed Of Goals throws on bushei or
two of the cans. In a short time the tops and
bottoms will drop off and the sides open. These
are tossed out with q long stick, and the opera
ton is repeated until the cans are all opened.
Some fine broom wire is then cut so that when
the ends are hooked and fastened they will each
make a loop of the proper size to go over a can.
The sides of the can should be Tapped about
three-quarters of an inch. The natural spring
of the can viii hold the wire on. The cans
are all prepared IN this way and stored in some
old shed till wanted in the Spring AboutthTee
months before il is safe to set plants in the
open groand he makes hot-bed and sows the
| seed In about six weeks the plants will be
| three or four inches high, when milder hot
| bed is made and the cans ct in as thick as
| they viii stand and filed with rich soil. Into
! each can set one plant aud allow it to grow
! four or five weeks, until they begin to crowd,
| when they should he separated and given
! plenty of room, and let stand until safe 10
! plant ont. When the ground is marked off,
! take spade and throw out spadeful OF soil
where each plant is to grow. The cans are
! then taken to the field and planted about an
inch below the surface. Cut the wire and lift
of tho can; this viii leave the roots entirely
undisturbed. Hoe in the soil and the work is
| done
NEW 90-DAY SEED CORN.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have receiv-
ed so many inquiries in regard 60 the new 90-day
| seed corn that / will have to answer them
! through The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
planted May 10 and on the 10Th day of Au.
| gust cut it up, which was just 80 days from
/ time of planting. When L cut it up. ears
/ would hang down II to IA inches long and from
one to two to a stalk 1t is acknowledged by
| all the farmers Of this neighborhood who saw
| it, to be the largest corn that they ever saw
| grown Then the next thing / husked it, aud
selected the largest and best ears for seed, and
! then brought it in the house and stacked it VI
| from the cold weather, and when perfectly dry
| / shelled it. Some ears made quart of shell
ed corn. The grains are pure white, deep anC
wide; cob small. Seventy ears weighed 81!
pounds, of which the cobs alone weighed only
| seven pounds. 1t makes a superior quality o
| meal. / have none to sell by the peck o.
| bUshel. Having small quantity on hand
and being anxious to hear from other GOOD
| farmers next Fall, | will send a start to an!
brother farmer sending 10 cents in a letter t
pay postage and packing. Plant three grain
in hill and plow well.-W. l.. FRoss, Don
nelsville, o.
NOTES.
Plants kept in rooms should be set in tn
sink or bath-tub at least once week, and vel
sprinkled with water slightly warmed. The.
breathe, perspire, and feed through their foil
age, and dust retards or hinderS these func
tons.
There is curious law in vogue in Switzer
land which compes every newly married cou
pie to plant trees shortly after the marriag
ceremony. The trees ordered to be planted o.
wedding days are the pine and weeping vii
low. On natal days the suggestive birch tire
is selected
Some growers know how to overcome tn
difficulties in making cuttings of hard woode
varieties like Delaware strike by treatin
them after the fashion of apple root graftS
The cions or cuttings are made with two Q
three buds and fastened with waxed string t
two-inCh pieces of roots, taken from young
thrifty Concord or other hardy vines. Tn
grated cuttings are to be placed in sand in th
cellar until Spring, and then planted like othe
cuttings.