Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-26
Farm End ORCHARD.
FERTILIZERS AND THEIR SPECIAL COM
POSITION AND COST.
Some Very Valuable Points on Pruning
Fruit Trees-The Dairy-General
Farm Notes of Interest.

Inc cost of fertilizers largely depends
upon the kind Of crop to which they are
applied, but the composition of the fertil-
izer itselfis also matter of consideration.
1t may be added that the soil requires a
special fertilizer for special purpose, and
to use any other than the kind needed is
to enter into an expense that may be
avoided. The needs of the soil are not
only for its own recuperation, but for the
crop it is to produce. The kind of work
to be done by the soil is the first consider
alton, and to provide the soil with the
proper material for its work is the next.
One may purchase and apply large
amount of fertilizer with no immediate
beneficial results, for the reason that the
soil is already provided with what IL has
received as an addition. What the essen
tial requirements of his soil may be the
farmer cannot learn from books, but must
observe for himself by carefully expert
menting as well as noting the results of
the growth and productions of his crop
from year to year.
MISTAKES MADE.
Because fertilizer is cheap does not
indicate it TO be the proper kind desired.
A fertilizer sells according to its proper
tion of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
potash contained. For the legumes and
also for grass crops, the price fertil-
izers, which contain, but little nitrogen.
and more than the average percentage of
potash, will sometimes give better results
than more costly fertilizers, for the rea-
son that they contain the proper kind of
plant food required, and in such cases the
farmer would make mistake if he pur-
chased kind containing the costly in
gradients, but it would not be economical
on the part of the farmer to purchase
potash fertilizer for his wheat simply be-
cause 1t can be procured for less, as his
crop would be but partially benefited
The crops that require nitrogen will not
thrive unless it is supplied, and no substi-
tute will be accepted by the plants. There
are instances in which only wood ashes
are necessary to complete the food of the
soil, and when this is the case the farmer
will secure as good results as from an APP
plication of several substances. The soil
should be fed With what it requires only,
and not given an excess of that which
will be stored up for the future instead of
benefting the crop.
MARKET PRICES UNIFORM.
As fertilizers differ, and are composed of
one or more sui stances that have of them
selves value, the farmer can never buy
any fertilizer at less cost than the value of
its ingredients, and the cost of bags and
labor Of handling must also be included
To buy intelligently the farmer should
know the proportions of each ingredient
in the fertilizer (which no reliable manu-
facturer will object to giving), compare
prices, and buy that which he believes
will give the best results for each partic-
ular crop.
HINTS ON PRUNING.
If the art is understood, it is possible to
have tree of almost any desired form and
always of handsome shape
Fall pruning makes the strongest trees
and vines, while spring pruning gives the
most fruitless, hence, for weak tree or
vine, prune in the fall, while for strong,
poorly bearing tree prune in the spring.
The right time is in the growing sea-
son, as then the wounds will heal most
readily.
As a general rule in pruning, study
symmetry. Do not cut away any more
healthy limbs than is necessary, but olsen
tangle them and cut away the smaller
sprouts, so as to admit all the light and
air possible. There is no quicker way of
spelling a tree than by an injudicious use
of the knife. Use the knife and shears TO
assist nature, when she gets into an un-
natural condition.
Clear away all suckers, scrape the
rough, dead bark from the trunk, but do
it gently, remembering that the new bark
under 1t is green and tender.
If you want your trees and vines to
grow well, you must treat them well, and
they will repay you hundred fold for all
the care you bestow upon them.-C CalIor-
MIA Farmer and Dealer
DAIRY HINTS.
Cover the COW with sheet while milk
ing to protect her against flies.
AS the dry, hot season advances, the
pastures grow short; supplement them
with ration of bran to the COWS once or
twice day. 1t will pay in milk and but
ter.
II there are no shade trees in the calf
lot, put up cheap shed.
The natural gait of dairy COW is a slow
walk, and to compel her to violate this
custom Is money out of the dairyman's
pocket.
Lay in good stock of patience before
beginning TO teach the young calf to
drink
Dry off the COW at least six weeks be-
fore the calf is expected, the needed rest
will largely benefit both; the time ap-
parently lost will be more than made up
by increased yield of milk and reinforced
ability to withstand the drain upon the
cows system that a continual flow pro.
duees. Her usefulness will extend over
more years and her yearly income viii be
greater.
Unless young stock be well cared for
and kept constantly growing and in thrifty
condition during the whole year, it is
poor capital and will inevitably entail
loss upon its owner California Fanaei
and Dealer.
FARM NOTES.
Lime is special fertilizer for peanuts
and viii assist them TO sill up" wher
everything else fails.
Grass that is cut by the lawn mower i.
excellent for the hens, and may be curec
and stored away for winter use for thai
purpose.
Where the ants had hills near peacl
trees they cleaned out the aphides, which
shows that the ant is sometimes friend Il
the farmers.
Blue grass pastures and lawns are greatly
benefited by the application of mixtur'
of sir-slacked lime and wood ashes, which
should be done by applying the lime in th'
fall and the ashes in the spring.
By the addition of grain, ground ant
mixed with cut food, much that is no
palatable to animals may be relished. l
is by balancing the ration with the gooc
food that the inferior kinds can be util
lied.
Good cider vinegar is not made from th