Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-08-30

Agricultural.

IN the field and allow them 10 70 seed In
the fence corners. As rule the garden M
this season Is the hot-bed of weeds
The toad Is valuable assistant to the
farmer in keeping down insects. but il
sometimes destroys ichneunon flies and
carniverous beetles, which are friends TO
the farmer.
Trees for the garden should be well cut
back. For the field they should be cut
back in manner to allow for horse cult
walton when the trees begin to bear. Cut
ting back the peach the first two years
makes the tree very stocky and compact.
All insects are not enemies Some Of
them are the best friends the farmers have.
Spiders, wasps dragon flies and other in
sects that are injurious There are also
other numerous parasites that greatly as
sist in destroying insects.
The coleus bed will thicken and thrive
better if frequently cut back and trimmed.
The cuttings can be used for new beds
Simply stick the ends of the cuttings in
the ground. keep them moderately moist
and they viii take root and grow in a few
days
\ small amount of crude carbolic acid
(about a tablespoonful in gallon of soap
suds) poured in the sink hole will destroy
foul odors and also prevent the propagation
of flies, as the acid destroys the marrots.
The soap p-suds assist in preserving the am
monia of the sink.
A dozen cucumber vines will produce nm
enormous crop of pickles if looked over
daily and the small cucumbers picked off.
Ihey grow so rapidly, that delay of one
day VIII sometimes render them too large
Tor USE lfpicked over carefully the vines
will continue to bear until frost.
DO not attempt to save the seed of pump
klns, melons squashes unless the vines for
that purpose are grown at distance from
all other varieties of the same family. The
pollen of such plants is carried quite a
distance by the winds, and also by insects.
Two or more varieties will fertilize the
blossoms of each.
1t Is reported that persons are using paris
green on cabbage as a remedy for the cab
bage worm. 1t is dangerous to do 30. The
leaves OF cabbages, during growth, cover
the poison, and there may be danger when
the cabbages are used in proper precau-
tions not being taken to thoroughly wash
them. If the growers use the poison the
ales will fall off. owing to the distrust
created
Corn in the glazing stage makes the best
fodder. If cut when the ear il hard the
stalk Is then Ito certain extentl woody.
and If cut very young before the ears are
formed, the stalk abounds in water and il
lacking in nutrition. When the ear il about
filled and beginning to glaze the cutting of
the corn at that stage arrests the nutritive
elements in the stalks, and the fodder is
then equal to hay, being fed to stock with
the ears on the stalk or cut up in the cut
ter,
DRAINING THE Farm The necessity
for thorough drainage il made more appar-
ent at this season than during any prev
ious time, as the continued rains do not al
low the ground to dry and become warm.
To economize by not providing outlets for
surplus water is to entail a loss In the
crops. While all crops require moisture
and are benefited by it, too much mois-
ture is injurious. Drainage does not de-
prive the plants of moisture, but permits
of surplus water passing Off This can be
done by open bitches, by blind" bitches
(di.ined by covering the bitches by boards,
over which earth is thrown) stone bitches
or drain tile Qaid under ground). The
tile drainage is the best, as the supply is
carried off rapidly, and no bitches are i'm
the way of cultivation.
When the tiles are properly laid, and
empty into natural stream or other water
course it drains the land downward, in the
same manner that lighs sandy lands are
drained. While much of the surplus water
may flow off the surface, the ground be-
comes thoroughly saturated when there in
abundant rain, the result being that until
the water sinks down the soil remains cold
and plants do not grow rapidly. Much Of
the water in the soil finds its way to the
surface by capillary attraction and evapor-
ates, at the expense of great loss Of the
warmth Of the soil. When the water il
carried off from below that nearest the
surface follows it down, and in 80 doing
can create a vacuum in the soil, which il
filled by particles Of air, due to atmospher-
ic pressure. As the air enters 1t not only
warns the soil but assists i'm retaining
warmth that is absorbed by the soil itself
from the direct rays of the sun. In this
manner the roots of the plants are invigor-
ated, the soil becomes more porous, and
the air and moisture exert beneficial in
fuence on the growing plants.
Drainage mitigates the effects OF drought
by permitting the roots Of plants to extend
deeper into the soil. As the excess of
moisture is carried off and the subsoil dries,
larger field is open to the action of the
roots, and they at once 60 as far down as
possible. During the dry season the plants
find moisture below and endure the drought
much better than do those plants growing
on an undrained soil. The soil being warm
ed as well as disintegrated to a great depth
by action of air, heat and frost IL Is in finer
condition, permits of n supply Of moisture
to plants during the drought by capillary
attraction and the surface soil il less liable
to bake and become hard. Hence draining
is beneficial during both wet and dry sea
sons.
All plants and tees consume water in
large quantities Sir John Laws discover
ed that an acre of barley viii take up 1,
094 tons of water in two days. Trees and
plants are composed more largely of water
than any other substance The branch of
a tree will lose nine tenths Of its weight
by drying.
Says the Horsemdn: Watch the black
smith and do not allow him to burn the
hoof with n hot shoe because il IL easier TO
do this than to trim or file the hoof smooth.
Burning ruins the wall of the hoof so that il
will not retain the shoe so long, besides
rendering it so brittle that heavy strain
on it will cause it TO break; and If the shoe
comes off on the road the hoof il likely to
60 pieces before you can reach the shop.
4 sHa tra