The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-05

and IN promoting economy ard feeding
stock. In preserving heat, 10 saw e manures
and in anticipating next seasons lao rs by
procu ing in good time his sseds. get.ing in
good order the tools and implements ueces-
sary, and everything else tGat will tend TO
facilitate the early farm operatio IS. And
then, too, what a time for thought and
reading in the seasJn of winter. Many
CO tend that the labors of the farmer dur
ing the working seasons are too arduous
and exheusting for mental actiyity-fur
study and profound, continued thought.
This is probably tTueOf sorne kiAdsOf laOor,
but there is much ofothe labor now per-
formed by farmers throu=h the aid of
machinery that is not veryiexhausting, a ID
affords only moderate exercise V hich is con-
ducive to thought. while the farmer
should employ portion ct The liter season
in reading and study SO as to keep abreast
of the progress Of the age in respect to his
calling, espec ally, still he should not for
get to direct his intellect to planting and
contrlving for his business SO that every
thing will be in apple-pie order for the
labor Of the coming var.
A recent writer remarks that in view OF
the progress and developments in agricult-
ure it has now become absolutely necessary
for the intelligent farmer to keep himself
posted thoroughly therein.
We know that the cost of well-supplied
agricultural library, or even of the larger
publications separately, is an impeachment if
not a barrier in the way of great many,
but, happily for all, many valuable periodi-
Gals are published weekly aud monthly in
all sections of the country especially de-
voted to the Interests of the farmers and
gardeners, aud at such modera rates that
few, if any, engaged in tue cultivation of
| the soil can honestly declare their inability
TO meet the small outlay necessary to secure
the decided benefits that SUCH jour. ais bring
| to them so eng Agei.
A farmer or gardener who reads critic
ally and with due discrimination cannot
fail to be helped by a practical journal de-
voted to his interests. If he allows it to be
so he Is bound to be helped by a timely sug-
gestion here and t-ere that will be worth 10
MIN ten times the price that he pays FIR his
paper. 1t must depend uuon the recipient
whether he will allow himself to be helped
by carrying into effect the suggestions
adapted to his circums. ances.
Many believe that commercial fertilizers
are only stimulants. says Prof. Jordan.
Nothing can be more absurd than such
notion. Such fertilizers furnish true plant
manure ever hauled into the field.
There are some obvious reasons why this
statemenC can be confidently made:
l. The compounds in farm manures that
feed plants B, the same comp unds that
| commercial fertilizers furnish to the soil
Does it make any difIere ce to the plant
| whether it gets phosphate of lime or potash
from commercial fertilizer or from stable
manuref
y PIaufs have haar o,-orr, 70 ,,a.eoo4;or
in water solutions and In the most barren
| quartZ sand by the use of compounds tina
enter into commercial fertilizers, thee COM
pounds being the only sources of food the
plants had. Can child grow on alcohoI
alones aud can plant feed on that which IS
| only stimulant to the soig Stlll further, the
analysis of plant tissue shows that a COM
| plete commercial fertilizer is capable of
furnishing all the more important SUBJ
stances found there excepting what the
| plant takes from the air.
The late DR.. George Wood, President of
| the American Philosophical Society, noticed
that his peach trees after producing a few
crops stopped bearing and died in a few
years. Believing that their ath resulted
| from the borers near the root of the tree he
| put into operation a plan for their destruc-
| ton. He dug holes five or six Inches deep
at the base OF the tree, scooped away all
the borers that could be found, and then
| filled up tue holes with unleached wood
ashes which, of course, was very rich in
| potash. This was done during the winter,
a d the result next spring was astonishing.
! The trees appea, ed to nave been restored 10
all their early vigor and freshness-put
forth bright green leaves and blossomed
freely AID bore heavy crop of fruit.
This is an excellent plan, and the most
practical one to be followed in the orchard
for the destruction Of The borers. While
the trees are still young, the soil should be
| drawn away from the stem almost down to
the roots, and this should be done as early
in the winter as practicable, so as to get the
benefit of The frLsys aud freezes. In January
or Febr, y bank tue ashes about the
stems, packing them into a cone six or
Gig It inches high. Later on throw the
soil back to the trees, filing up the holes
entirely. This is practical and profitable
work in the orchard. and should be more
generally followed by those who are at
tempting fruit growing. The borer must
| DO cilcumvented if success would be ST.
| scured.