The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-11-04
HOW TO KILL BRUSH AND BRIARs.

HOW 10 ki'L BRUSH AND BRIARS.
: To farmers who live in timbered re-
,gon this question is an interesting prob.
lem. There is theory with some,
lwho ought to know, that there is day,
with the moon in right quarter aud the
sign of Zodiac in the right place, that a
tree or shrub should be out to kill it
root aud branch. All this sounds we'll
enough to them, but years of experience
has failed to verify such theories. A
,sapling may be cut in the winter that
will never sprout, and it may be cut in
the light of the moon in August, when
the sign is in the heart, and sprouts will
appear abundantly. We cut brush
every day in the year, aud some will die
no matter when they were cut, and some
will not die. Ii sproutng is done twice
year, say June and August, for two or
three years, no sprouts will appear the
next year unless it be saseafraS or post
oak runners.
The whole secret of killing, other
than grubbng, seems to be in sap pois-
oning. The sap must sour, which kills
the roots. Hence some practice cutting
the stumps a foot or more in heigth.
An experiment Of this kind showed a
decided gain, since the stumps rotted
out in four years time from cutting.
The killing OF briars, especially dew.
berries, battle all skill and industry.
AT one time i. seemed they were gone,
but when tho land was put down to
meadow they came up as strong and Wig.
orous as ever. Sassafras has been al
luded to; nobody ever killed one by
cutting it off at the ground. The same
is true of persimmon. They need very
differept treatment. When cut foot
or tw0 4 the ground sap poisoning is
more u md effective. American
Farmer.
WILD FLOWERS AND THEIR CULTURE.
People usually make too hard work of
,cultivating wild plants. They are apt to
attempt to initiate the natural conditions
under which they find the plants. This,
to a certain 1xtsnt, is wise, but in most
cases it is easily seasfied too far. The
problem is simpllfedlwhen we once come
to understand that wild plants grow
s where they are obliged to grow, rather
|fifban where they desire to grow. Be.
cause plant grows in the woods Is little
erson to expect that it may not grow
atally as we'll in the sun. And then,
is not necessary to wait until fall Of
hing to take up the wild plants. At
tery outing, whatever the time of year
f the ground is not frozen-I mean
go prepared to bring home roots. In
pse sultry July days I am bringing
Qne wild herbs, and next year ex.
eGt to see most of them bloom.
4 dig them up with comfortable ball
earth, cut the tops off nearly to the
ound, and keep them moist until get
pm home; then they are set in the
Fder, and if dry weather follows, q
t8 water given occasionally at sun.
Ed helps them to grow. do not pre-.
70 say that July il as good time
pril or October to move plants, but
must capture the good things as he
rs them. The native orchids, how.
x&ek usually require careful manage
zt, being among the most difficult of
l57Fe plants to colonize. Most of them
5ire complete or partial shsdesand a
i subsoil.
Ey<fs water supply is at hand, a moist
nnder trees or about buildings, where
is some protection from wind, can
made, AMI clumps Of many species
Be removed with safety. 1t is best
semovo them in summer, when the
ering season is past. - American
3ening.