The record-union., 1891-02-25
FARM AND ORCHARD.
The Matter of Making Expert
mentS on the Farm.
Tree-Planting in stiff subsoils-Hot-
Bed Management-Coo for Setting
Hens-SIating Fowls for Breeding
The Hollyhock-Farn Notes.

In many respects the planting of trees
in an orchard is different from orna-
mental tree-planting, and it is in some
respects dangerous to initiate the planting
out of small ornamental plantations on
lawns or parks. 1t is quite true that tree
planting is just tree-planting anywhere,
but the underlying conditions may be
such that very different methods must be
adopted to give successful results, and
these are not always obvious to the ordi-
nary observer. In orchard-planting, es-
pecially on a large scale, the elements of
economy and final success are the i'm
portant factors; in ornamental planting
present beauty must be maintained, even
if remote results have to be kept in abey-
ance. In places where the surface soil is
thin and the subsoil tenacious, digging
holes is to be avoided as far as possible.
During the last twenty-five years the fol-
lowing method has been practiced with
the most satisfactory results, and many
trees have thus been planted. 1t is a
matter of but secondary importance
whether the land is new or not, as far as
the plan itself is concerned. We prefer
wea-grubbed land that has been culti-
waited one or two years.
The piece of land to be planted is pre-
sumed to be thoroughly plowed and har-
rowed. Then stake off the land on the
two opposite sides at the distances apart at
which the trees are intended to stand and
far enough back from where the trees are
to stand to be used as turn row, and the
stakes to remain till the trees are set.
With tWo-horSe turning plow turn at
leaSt.tWo burrows away from the line OF
the trees, leaving full open dead furrow
in the line of the trees, then with q sub
soil plow or narrow mold board turning
plow, run up and down in the dead fur
row so as to completely break up the SUBJ
soil all along the line deeply as possible.
Set the stakes as before on the other two
edges, running the burrows in the same
manner. They will thus be at right
angles. When the trees are to be planted,
clean out with the spade and hoe at the
intersections of the burrows, set the trees
sighting in by the stakes each way in
the holes, firming the soil very thorough
ly among and above the roots, except the
last two or three inches on the top, which
should be left free to,admit the rain. By
this method the subsoil is made loose and
friable, and the bottom OF the furrow in
the subsoil acts as q drain, and will pre-
vent the stagnation OF water around the
roots.
If this preparation OF the ground can be
done in the winter, the freezing and
thawing on the opened up soil viii be a
great benefit. The planting can then be
done in the spring. After the planting
the burrows can again be thrown back,
and so much is done toward preparation
for a cultivating crop.
In cases where from any cause holes
must be dug into the hard-pan subsoil. ii
viii be found good plan to dig the hole
out from the edge on the low side of the
hole like small drain out to the level OF
4lNNl g %I,.I l. L. = i
level, dig a small cesspool in the sub
soil away from the tree hole, so as to pre-
vent any Superabounding rain-water re-
naming in the otherwise water-tight
hole.
In hot summer after wet spring we
have seen trees that started out well die
suddenly, and examination showed the
roots to be stewed or scalded, the bark
stripping off the wood on being touched.
Notifications of this plan can be made to
suit the several soils and conditions, but
1t is a leading idea to see that no stagnant
water can remain at the root of the tree
under any circumstances. = Coiaadn'S S
RurdJ World.
EXPERIMENTS ON THE FARM.
With the beginning of spring, and as
early as possible, the matter of making
experiments on the farm should receive
consideration on the part Of every farmer
The experiment stations are doing valu-
able work in giving facts and in educat-
ing the farmers to q knowledge of the
requirements Of crops. Dat all the work
that can be performed Jy the stations is
but an insignificant 4.vuor compared with
that which can be done by the farmers
themselves. The stations are limited to
certain climates and soils, and many of
them can only give their attention to a
few important subjects, but the farmer
can test for himself in many directions,
Il Fn,l-, .f,:., % l.,
only, and he is in no manner dependent
on the conditions that effect the farms of
his neighbors.
There are annually introduced upon the
market varieties OF all kinds of fruits and
vegetables, and the farmer is puzzled
more over the large number than from q
lack of knowledge Of those that are supe-
rior to the older kinds. To substitute
some new variety for one that has been
tried may largely affect the crop, either
by increasing production or entailing a
loss, and in no case can the results be
anticipated by comparison with crops
grown elsewhere, owing to the variations
of soils and other causes. The farmer
should never venture too largely with
new substitutes, but should test all seeds
and plants not onlyas to their advantages
as varieties but on different soils. differ
ent modes of cultivation and different
kinds of manureS and fertilizers He
a
rlety, for 1t is the key to success. No
matter how superior variety may be- il
demands certain methods of treatment
that are necessary to realization of all
the claims that may be made in its favor.
A single point gained by observation
may be the turning from loss to success
There is work abundant in the matter
of testing and feeding of stock. The in
dividual characteristics of the animals.
and even their physiological conditions,
cannot be studied too closely. A years
experiment may demonstrate that q mis-
take has been made in the selection O;
the breeds, and that certain changes will
be advantageous. But tests are not con-
elusive when made for a short period
only. Some animals are more profitable
at certain seasons than at others. and
some will give better results on green or
dry foods than may be apparent Tests
in feeding different foods, and for certain
results. as well as giving due considera-
ton to the breeding of each animal when
carefully conducted, viii give more valu-
able information to the farmer than can
be gained for him by experiments made
elsewhere at the experiment stations
Philadelphia Record.
HoT-BED MANAGEMENT.
The hot-bed should be made this month
or its usefulness Will be lessened, The
object of q hot-bed is to secure growth OF
tender plants in winter. in order that
they may be transplanted during mild
weather, thus avoiding the loss of time
required for termination and for pro-
curing an early supply of the desired
crop before the main or later crops arc
ready. Unless the hot-beds are properly
managed, however, no advantage will be