The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-29

80 healthy and long lived as those
entering life on the new moon, that
sheep sheared during the first half OF
the moon would yield heavier
+, fieeces than If sheared In the third or
4 fourth quarters, that shingles should
only be put on In the dark Of the
moon or they would draw the nails
out; that a rail fence built in the old
moon would sink into the ground, and
many other surprising effects that
had escaped my observation.
The notion Is very wide spread that
plants which bear their edible part
above ground, such as grain, toma-
toes, cabbage, etc., should be planted
In the new moon; while Dubious plants
be put In the ground on the moons
decline.
In other states many believe that
the position OF the new moon Is sure
index of coming weather, as regards
rain; but we of Texas have learned
to place as little faith in the signs rs
we do in Dyrenforth's ability TO pro-
duce rain by the use of explosives.
1t is really too late In the century,
which will be known In history as
remarkable for scientific discoveries
and the wide dissemination of knowl.
edge through the press and other
wise, for intelligent, reading people
10 cling to such superstitions. Ifthey
were harmless errors 1t would not
matter, but when acted on they may
lead TO great loss and involve not
only the comfort but the happiness
and welfare of the lunatic's family.
| have known farmers delay plant
ing two weeks, waiting for 1.-The
sign" and when thar time came the
weather or conditions of the soil pre-
vented planting, and the crop was
finally planted three or four weeks
later than it should have been,
total or partial failure resulted
and was charged to planting
at the wrong stage of the
moon. Common sense, backed by
practical experience has proved that
planting by the moon Is simply an
evidence of lunacy in the planter.
The time to plant is when the soil Is
in proper condition and the season
gives promises of quick termination
without undue risk of frost. Some
risk must always be taken, but the
greatest is waiting tor "the sign"
CURING SEED CORN.
Waldo F. Brown writing in Home
and Farm tells how he cures corn for
planting by fire heat. He places 1t in
shelves or boxes through which the
heat can readily pass, above the
kitchen stove or some room where
there is fire every day. He says:
|
the value of fire. cured seed corn
and find that 1t Is not only surer to
grow, but 1t also starts much stronger
and gives more vigorous plant. IL
will come up and thrive under condi-
tions so unfavorable that corn tasen
from the crib would not In the ground.
/ have practised curing corn In this
way for many years and no matter
how unfavorable the spring, have not
once failed OF good stand. The
winter of 1880 and 1881 was very
cold one, and l surrounded the stove
pipe with seed corn and some OF the
ears came within six inches Of the pik Q.
One day the latter part Of the winter
my wife saw how close the ears came
to the pipe and got chair and felt OF
them and found them 80 hot as to be
Uncomfortable to the hand, and said
1.-the life must be cooked out
of this corn. / don't believe IL
will grow" 1 shelled off some
of the grain nearest the pipe and put
them in earth, and they came up in q
few days strong and vigorous. If q
farmer needs several bushels OF seed
corn, the best way to do Ia to make
lath trays and FIJI the smoke-house
beginning at the top and working
down. Then set stove In and fire uI
everyday until the room is too hot ia
8 ay in comfortably, and allow the
smoke to pass through the corn. The
more 1t gets smoked the better. 1t II
claimed that thorough smoking makes
it grow more vigorously.
HOW NATURE DOES 1T.
Nature invariably does two thing
when she tries to grow tree. Sh'
protects the bark from the hottest sun
shine and the roots from sever
changes of temperature. But thes'
points are almost invariably over
looked by man, says the Globe-Demo
crat. Observe amaple or elm or bircf
as it shoots up from the ground. IT.
| |
small twigs, unless removed by knife
or browsing. Any tree starting In al
open lot Is thus protected from thu
sun. Otherwise the extrem
heat will rupture cells an;
the bark will dry and split
AS far as possible there must be equa
development of cells on all sides OF tn
tree. The care of the roots is evel
more important. The feeding OF tn
tree is at unequal depths, but most Q
: it is near the surface. II the sun b
allowed to strike directly on the sol
the finer roots that do the f0raginI
are destroyed and extreme drouth
will affect the roots for foot In depth
What is worse the extreme change
: Of temperature will affect the tree an
suck it's life away. Nature guard
against this by laying down eacl
autumn o layer ofleaves to emulch he
3 forests or solitary pets.