The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-08
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Hi
Agricultural Readers
THE PREVENTION OF THE APPLE scAp.

A bulletin from the Wisconsin Experiment
Station takes up the above subject and says:
"Orcbardists are familiar with the black or
blachish scabby appearance that so often dis
figures the surface of apples, particularly in
certain varieties and seasons. Although gcner-
ally present in greater or less degree this APP
pcaranco is not normal to the apple, but is duo
to n parasitic fungus. In apples barely affected
the scabs are chiefly found clustered together
on one side OF the fruit and in such cases this
side is always less developed than tho other,
showing that the fungus in drawing its nour-
ishment from the fruit has prevented the latter
from attaining its normal size. The same fun
gus parasite that causes the scab On the fruit
also affects the leaves and new growth of the
tree. Tho real damage it accomplishes there
fore. is not confined to tho Disagreement and
reduced size of the fruit. BY interfering with
the normal functions OF the leaves assimilation
is restricted, and the vitality of the whole tree
is impaired, thus not only diminishing the
present crop, but injuring the prospect for
future ones rs well.
To prevent the scab il is recommended to use
n solution composed Of one ounce of carbonate
OF copper dissolved in one quart Of aqua am
monia strength p iIaumo), diluted with 100
quarts of water. one and one half gallons of
the diluted solution are sufficient to thorough
ly spray n tree Of medium size, and two gallons
for one Of larger size. IL follows, therefore.
that four ounces OF carbonate of copper and
one gallon of ammonia will mako 100 gallons
of the diluted solution, which is sufficient TO
spray so large or about as medium trees once.
The ammonia should be procured in a glass
or carthen vessel and be kept tightly corked
with . rubber stopper. To this add the precip-
itaed carbonate OF copper Mt the rate of ono
ounce Ia enc quart of ammonia, in which it
dis3eirGz, forming q very clear deep blue liquid.
When ready To commence the application, add
this solution to the water used for spraying Mt
the rate of one quart 10 % gallons of water.
The bottle containing the solution should be
kept tightly corkcd, otherwise the ammonia
will waste by evaporation. The number Of
applications it is necessary to make to secure
tho greatest benefit Is yet 10 be determined.
The adhesive power of the carbonate of copper
is very great, and il is possible that a smaller
number Of treatments than the seven made in
our experiment would have answered rs well.
Az least three or four treatments Is recommend.
ed, aud 70 is probable that one application, made
just after the leaves expand aud before the
flowers have opened. would add TO the efficiency
of the treatment, as the fungus commences its
growth quite early in the season. The liquid
Is best applied with a force pump fitted with
some kind of n spraying nozzle.
POISONOUS Plants on THE FARM.
Many diseases aud death of cattle aud fowl
come from poisonous plants or weeds and a
great deal of the strong milk aud unsavory
meat is duo TO the same cause. In the Spring
OF tho year the poisonous plants spring up with
the weeds. aud snt1ad rapidly. Even some Of
gI FulFgyatsI ulumIa -tRs4 ed q ala
conditions Of the mir become poisonous. The
little green putnfots which are exposed to the
light contain poisonous substances, which
would iujuro cows or fowl that ate them.
Pumpkin seeds likewise poison animals or
chickens when consumed in largo quantities.
Where animals aroafed on pumpkins daily a
portion Of the seeds should be removed.
But It IS in tito pasture and ncadowlands
where the wild poisbn0us weeds aud plants
grow. Where animals are pasturcd none OF
these should be allowed TO come up another
Spring. and the ftruger should make IL his duty
TO go around the fields aud pull up or cut down
any aud all OF the poisonous wild plants.
The poIfon sumacIi is probably the most com.
mon. This small bush Is found all over the
country and Is quite poisonous even to those
who come IA ordinary contact with it. louug
cattle and horses hRvn been known 20 eat the
leaves of the swamp sumach aud die in q short
lime from the effects. The only way 10 destroy
these bushes IS 10 dig them up by the roots
Several kinds of wild parsnips are poison
Gus, aud TO make sure that none of them are
included on the farm every one should be ex-
tfpaled. Even the garden parsnip when left
10 run wild becomes poisonous IN the course Of
time. All plants which look like the garden
pnrsnip should DO pulled up. The wild parsnip.
or cowbane. rs IL is called is considered very
poisonous 10 horned cattle.
May apple produces fruit that many people
a.t.N . 4 l.
This plant is found in rich woods aud In fence
corners. The same plant is known In different
sections of the country as mandrake wild
lemon, raccoou berry and hog apple IL should
never be allowed 10 grow a we'll kept farm
or pasture lot.
Fools parsley is found chiefly IN waste places
in New England. where 10 Is considered quite
poisonous 10 cattle. IL is sometimes mistaken
for ." sweet cicoly," aud people poisoned by eat.
ing its roots. 1t Is closely allied to the water
hemloek, and generally grows in wet places.
Poison ivy is known to all. IL is found creep.
Ing around trees aud fences and animals will
eat the leaves very frequently. Some people
aud animals are not affected by the plant,
while others are severely poisoned after touch
ing 1t. Datura, or thorn apple IS a coarse. uu-
slightly, poisonous weed that should be destroyed.
Other plants aud shrubs that poison domestic
animals are Indian tobacco, n small plant oe-
casionally met with in the fields; stnggerbus,
lambklil, or killcalf, shrub two or three feet
high; mountain laurel. well known for its
beautiful flowers; Magistrates, or bttcrsweets,
with black and red berries, aud pokeweed,
pigeon berry and gargct. This is used for
greens when yOnng, but it becomes poison
Gus when old.-Americdn CajtipdtOr.
CURE FOR collie
George ii. Hogan, writing to the agricultural
EpitOuist, says: As tho Spring approaches |
would like to have every farmer and breeder
OF fine stock know how to cure collie, or bowen,
In cattle. Instead of punctnrlng, rs recon-
mended by some, just get piece of an old
broom handle, or some round stick MS large aud
about IL 10 II inches long aud fastcn in tho
animals mouth so AS b. keep him working the
stick with his tongue and it will soon pump up
all the extra gas accumulated In the first
stomach. Had known this several years ago
] would have been several hundred dollars
better off in cattle TO day. / have been curing
cattle for the last fv years, and have not lost
a single case yet. IL is 80 simple yet good that
] want all horseItien TO know it.
NOTES.
Mary Zehrung, Tarlton, o., has good
many silkwOrm eggs which she would like To
trade OIL She isunable To attend to them aud
will exchange for flower bulbs or seeds
Too much narrowing OF the soil is seldom
INDUCED in, yet the free use of the harrow will
do moro to increase tho crops than any other
kind of work. I..s.
"A correspondent of the Massachusetts,
Honghman says that a quart of vinegar in half
a pail of water IL thoroughly sprinklcd over
the interior of IA henhouso, will free il from lice,