St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-06-15
Planting Orange Seed.

Lack of ready information upon tnls
important subject has been the cause OIL
much annoyance and loss to those WHO
have not yet learned by experience.
Seeds obtained from 'fCulls, ETC., 1rom
our own groves will answer every PURPOSE
to raise stock upon which to Duo' no
most material difference is that THESE arc
apt to produce an inferior fruit 1roA JIG
effects of the hybridization by bees etc. OF
the different members of the citrus 1alniiy
which are generally planted close togetner.
If seeding trees are to DO raiseo io1
planting in groves, it is better to procure
Tahiti seed, which may be obtained by the
purchase of damaged oranges from com
mission men. The seed may be taken out
either by allowing the oranges to decay
and then washing the pulps through
sieve, or the fruit, if sound, may be partly
cut through laterally, then torn apart anu
the seeds forced out with the thumbs.
The seed must not be allowed to dry,
but should be kept in a bucket of water
or they may be drained off and mixed with
little sand to prevent adherence Ihey
should then be put away in moist sand.
The seed may be extracted for use by shak-
ing the sand through & sieve. The only
reliable test of good seed is its plumpness.
Planting should be done in April or
Nav, as soon as practicable after the re-
| moyal of the seed from the orange. Ihey
are sometimes planted in boxes, one nun
bred to the box, at regular intervals. Ihese
boxes may be set in uniform rows at d
| slight elevation from the ground tna1
drainage and circulation Of the air may pc
| perfect method in more common use IS
to SOW the seed thickly broadcast in long
narrow beds or frames. These should
| aofh IN
devastations by moles, gophers, etc. The
seed are covered by earth to depth OF an
| inch to an inch and half The soil USED
should be as near humus as possible,
light and warm with plenty of sand In IT,
| A thin coating of fine charcoal, ETC., Is
sometimes put on the surface to prevent
baking or the forming of fungus. Inc
:. beds or boxes must be kept continuously
moist but soggy or sour soil is fatal.
| It is good plan to build over the seed
beds frames of laths placed at intervals OF
one half inch. On extra warm, sun-shlny
DAYS this should be supplemented by
covering of thin cotton to prevent too
rapid evaporation, and to Protect the ten
der plants from the scorching rays of the
sun.--Fyorist and Gardener.
The Disseminated Rope.
A beautiful yacht was riding at anchor
near a rocky shore The day was wet
and stormy and every now and again the
sea broke over the bows of the yacht as
she rose and fell with the waves; but her
anchor had firm hold and the rope was
strong so there seemed nothing to fear.
But away down at the bottom of the sea
where the anchor was with it's iron claw
buried deep and holding tight, the rope
began to talk to it,
sThis is very dull work" said the rope,
"holding on down here in this cold, miser-
able place where we see nobody and no.
body sees US. I'm tired of this.
s'But," said the anchor, ''this is where
we have our work to do, and we should
do it,"
s'Oh that's all very well" said the rope;
"but | want to see something. Now there's
nv cousin, the signal hayward, up in the
Yacht there, running up to the top of the
mast and having nice, bright easy
time of it. Everybody can see him
there and he can see everybody"
"That's where his work lies" said the
anchor, land he's there ready to do it the
moment he's needed"
, "Weu," said the rope, "theres some
: pleasure in doing it up there. But under
water here, amongst great, black, ugly
! seaweed, with only fish swimming over
head now and again-oh, I'm tired of it
GIVE been thinking about it all the
day and now I've made up my mind
, what to do AS soon as night comes on,
Pm going to give up this work and let go,
and coil myself on deck and have rest
And in the morning, before the sailors
: are astr, I'm going to fasten myself up
s between the bow and the masthead, where
I can see and be seen. There's where life
will be worth living"
"I'd advise you not, said the anchor,
s'the wind is blowing hard and the sea
overhead running pretty high, and we are
s both needed here"
= The rope, however, would take its own
d way So as the night came on, it let go,
/. and went up and coiled itself on the deck
= to take rest. But no sooner did it sepa-
!; rate from the anchor than the yacht, hav-
I ing nothing left now TO hold it, began to
8 drift towards the rocks, where at last ii
. struck with tremendous bump. The shock
: Weakened up the two sailors, but it was
|. too late. The yacht was already on the
d rocks, against which. the waves KEEP,
g humping and dashing it, and it was all
!, the men could do to save their own lives
y and get ashore.
n And so the beautiful little yacht became
r q perfect wreck, all because the anchor
rope gave up doing its duty Christian
s Leader.