The record-union., 1891-06-17

that the essayist points out in detail, but
the following extract is so pertinent to
the objects aimed at by the Prairie
Farmer for more than half a century, in
it's horticultural department, that we
are glad to get such recognition from
so important an essay. The part
that particularly impressed us was as
follows: "a comfortable house sur
rounded with wellkept lawn, shrubs and
flowers, and kitchen garden with
abundance of vegetables and small fruits,
are essential for comfortable and econom-
ical living. Such surroundings tone up
the man, stimulate his ambition, max e
him enjoy and appreciate his home, in
spire him with Zest in his business, and
help secure success. The influence and
Importance of such surroundings are lit
tie considered and appreciated" One
thing of equal importance, that was omit
ted, is good orchard of fruits suitable
for the location; and last, but by no
means least, good shelter belts, heavy
enough to break the force of drying win
ter winds, particularly in the prairie and
exposed locations, these in part being
always composed of evergreens. If the
country homes were made pleasing, COM
Portable and attractive, there is no reason
to suppose that the great majority of
youths would so early sigh for city eX-
citement. And, with these attractions,
lnof6 WOUlO De cOISjdllG lOilglllS Dy
those who strayed away to get back to
the good old country home.-Prairie
Farmer.
DEPTH OF GOOD SOIL.
The opinions of farmers differ, though
not more widely than the facts on which
they are based, as to the depth that soil
may be profitably cultivated. In the best
soils plant food is found deeper than the
plow can ever go. This, however, is
tt,,o;,,I,, ,,iporol Noooto hi n ,,,at+ors, nol
lect near the surface. If they are deep, as
they sometimes are, the lower portions
are generally filed with stagnant water.
Some settlers on black muck soil in the
West thought they had secured land of
inexhaustible fertility, mainly because it
was black TO great depth. They found
after a while that, however deep their
muck beds, only the part that could be
thoroughly dried during the growing sea-
son was Of any use to them.
What such land needs most is thorough
drainage. AS soon as it gets this, how
ever, the muck bed becomes thinner, as
its carbon burns by exposure to sun and
air. Then comes the severest rtest. If
the original soil is deficient in mineral
plant food the lacking element must soon
be supplied. But whether poor or rich
in mineral plant food, supplies of potash
and phosphate will be needed. However
poor the vegetable matter may be, its de-
composition will liberate ammonia
enough to go long way toward supply
ing grain crops, provided phosphate is
furnished. But wherever the subsoil is
sandy, potash is also probably needed.
Wood ashes are nearly always beneficial
to muck lands, as the caustic potashsthey
contain hastens decomposition of vege-
table food, besides making phosphate also
more valuable. = Correspondent New
| York Tribune.
FARM NOTES.
Some men pay great deal of attention
to the branches of the fruit tree, and let
the roots take care of themselves. Both
require equal attention.
Don't pull too many stalks from the
rhubarb bed; let some of the leaves re-
main, for they are the lungs that supply
life and vigor to the roots.
If the fruit trees are too low to permit
of the cultivator use the hoe for cutting
out the grass under the trees. A fruit
tree standing in tall grass is an unsightly
object.
By selecting varieties. and using fertil-
! izer literally, Strawberries of enormous
| size may be grown. Tho kind of fertilizer
/ to be used depends partially on the kind
of SOIL and can only be determined by
experiment.
! A single row of raspberries will provide
sufficient fruit for a family if well ma
nured, out dozen rows that have re-
ceived no attention will fail to give even
a mess. The raspberry responds well tc
| good treatment.
Don't let the orchard ''go to grass
| Every spring or fall spade up the ground
! for radius of ten or fifteen feet around
the tree. This will keep down the grass
and allow the moisture from the surface
| to reach the roots.
! If fowls acquire the habit of flying over
| the fence do not pull out the flight feath.
ers, or clip them off with scissors OF
knife, as it Injuries their appearance. The
better way is to shear off about two
thirds of the webbed portion of four OF