The record-union., 1892-02-09

juTed.
The trees selected were treated as fol-
lows: The main branches were short
ened about one-third their length, drawn
together closely and fastened with strong
twlne. Theearth was removed from the
roots on the side opposite to that the tree
was to be inclined. Each tree was then
drawn carefully over until it lay pros
trate on the ground, where it was secure
ly fastened with twine tied to stakes
driven into the ground. Sufficient earth
was thrown over the exposed roots to
protect them from the weather. The
whole tree was then covered with straw
to the depth of about one inch, which was
kept III place with twine. Two of the
trees were SO covered that they could be
opened.
self-regulating maximum and mini
mum thermometer was placed inside
with each tree. one of these trees was
supplied with an arrangement for ventil-
allon, and was opened regularly in the
morning and closed at night. The other
tree was opened once a day, and then
only long enough to read the thermome-
ters. The two remaining trees were not
opened from the time they were, covered
until they were uncovered in the spring.
The trees, when uncovered in the
spring, showed the buds on the trees not
opened to be a little in advance OF those
on the tree regularly opened; but when
compared with the buds on trees not pro-
tected, the unprotected buds were more
advanced than any of those covered.
The effect Of covering trees, as shown
by this experiment, is:
l. Trees covered during cold weather
are subject to less variation OF tempera-
| ture than when unprotected. This is
more marked when the change is sudden
and of short duration.
2. In cold weather the trees are warmer
and in warm weather are colder than the
outside atmosphere, and for the reason
that the difference between the fruit
buds being killed or injured is often
a question of but few degrees of tenn
| perature, the subject of covering the
trees to protect the fruit buds is an inn
portant one and worthy Of careful study.
). No perceptibe injury was done to
the trees or crop in laying the trees down.
They blossomed as full and set their fruit
as well as trees not treated. They also
held and ripened their fruit and made as
healthy growth as the other trees.
The cost of labor required to cover a
! peach tree of average size should not eX-
ceed ten to fifteen cents: TO this must be
| added the cost of material used for cover
/ ing.
! If two or three inches of covering, in
stead Of about an inch, had been used
the variation OF the inside temperature
would probably have been Iess.-Mis-
souri, Experiment station Bulletin No. is.
GROWING STRAWBERRIES.
Much has been written in regard to
strawberry culture i'll a commercial way
but comparatively little that would lead
farmers to think how easily and cheaply
they can be grown for home use. Straw
berries can be grown on the farm as
easily and cheaply as potatoes.
The average yield of potatoes per acre
NE-jni ln
yield Of strawberries is bD0 quarts The
pistillate varieties being the most pro-
ductive, it is usual to plant largely of
them, and by setting q perfect towering
variety every third or fourth row, they
become fertilized sufficiently 10 yield
| their full crop. [ should advise spring
planting, although fair yield may be
had from August set plants.
The ground in which they are to be
planted should be well enriched and fitted
as for potatoes. Rows should be marked
three or three and a half feet apart, the
latter preferable. Plants should be set at
least eighteen inches in the row. If the
ground is not Weedy, horse cultivation is
all that Will be necessary through the
season. After the ground becomes frozen
late IN winter a top dressing of marsh hay
or straw free from weeds should be placed
over them, not as protection against
cold, but TO prevent the alternate thaw-
ing and freezing by which the roots are
heaved up and destroyed.
After spring has opened, the material
may be raked off from the plants, leaving
it between the rows to act as q mulch to
keep down the weeds, retain moisture
and protect the fruit from contact with
the soil. If the beds have been we'll taken
care of they will fruit two years in salts
factory manner, but if allowed to become
foul with weeds it is cheaper to make a
n
been under cultivation for at least two
years previous 10 setting the plants, for
sod contains white grubs that are very
destructive to young plants. / should
recommend for a kitchen garden the fol-
lowing varieties: Bombay and Haverland
for early; Burts Seeding and Daisy for
medium; Crawford and Middleford for
| late. These planted in the order named
will give each alternate row of pistillate
varieties, insuring perfect pollenation.
While / consider these varieties the
best Of the newer kinds for the purposes
named, there are several Of the older va
rieties that will give good satisfaction. as
Bidwell, Charles Downing, Crescent.
Cumberland, and ON heavy soil none are
better than theISharpless.--C. Z. HUM in
the New York Experiment Station Bull
letin.
PUBLIC TESTS OF COWS.
a comparison of the records of some of
the famous COWS will no doubt be useful
to some as demonstrating what is possible
with COWS as butter producers. There is
a strong rivalry between the Holsteins
and the Jerseys in the production of but
ter, and each breed has its admirers. The
| HolSteinS possess the advantage Of large
size, the steers of that breed connecting
successfully with the short-h horns and
Herefords as beef producers at the fat
stock shows, which places them in the
l. I, l,,s,t
ter and milk combined, thus emitting
them to the distinction of an "all-purpose
breed" /" If such an attainment is possible.
The Jerseys are small, and are famous as
butter producers, but cannot compete
with the Holsteins in the production of
milk.
While some of the Jersey cows have
reached high positions as record breakers
when the tests were conducted under the
auspices OF interested parties, and which,
perhaps, are correct, yet the public tests
have been favorable to the Holsteins At
the test made at the great Madison Square
Garden show, in New York. one OF the
Holsteins produced pounds and Z!
ounces of butter in a hours. and another
Holstein produced a fraction over 2
pounds of butter in the same time. The
highest yield for the Jerseys was pound
and I44 ounces. These records are not
the highest, but they are the faireSt. be-
cause the tests made were in public, and
with the two breeds in competition, both
being treated alike.
1t is safe to assert that but few are aware
of the richness of milk from some cows.
1t is reported that III the test of the Jersey
COW, "Landseer's Fancy" she made two
pounds and ten and three-fourths ounces
of butter from nine pounds and four and
a half ounces of milk. AS a quart of
milk is about two pounds, her yield was
a pound of butter from about one and