The National tribune., 1892-02-11
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
AgTiGhlHfaI Readers
A CHAPrrE OK cows.

this point than with higher feeding not accom-
panied by this simple pTecautiou. Expert
euccd daiTymen give IL rs their opinion that
any irregularity in tho times of giving COWS
their food is invariably followed by a marked
dimiuution in the quantity Of milk yielded,
and that this continues for some time oven
after regularity has been resumed. Without
steady adherence 10 the three great requisites
regular times Of giving cows their food. gentle
treatment and uninterrupted high feeding
/ while in full milk-it is very questionable ii a
dairy can DO made To yield profit. For purely
dairy purposes the Ayrshire cow deserves the
/ fret place. In consequence OF her small SYM
metTcal and compact body, combined with
] chest rather narrow than otherwise aud a ca
pacious stomach, there is little waste, compare
/ lively speaking. through the respiratory Sys-
I tenn. while NJ the same time there is very COM
4 pleie assimilation of the food, and thus she
/ converts large proportion of her fool into
\ milk. 50 remarkable j. this fact that all dairy
4 farmers who have any experience or this point
| agree in stating that an Ayrshire COW generally
gives \ larger return OF milk for the food con-
sumed than one OF any other breed. The absO-
\ lutte quantity may not be 80 great, but il is OBJ
tanned at less cost, and this IS the pOint upon
\ which the question Of profit depends. The
Jersey COW is remarkable for the richness Of
! her milk; so much so that two or three Of this
/ breed kept in large diaries very perceptiby i'm
prove the quality Of tho butter aud cheese.
/ Shorthorued cows are seldom good mixers un-
/ less the climate and food arc both very favor
! able and under most circumstances. they have
a greater tendency to produce fat than milk.
THE STRAWBERRY.
In tho cultivation of tho strawberry plant
/ FOR Fall and Winter management tho first thing
] for one TO determine is 10 make himself ac-
1 quaintcd with its structure and habits. When
! he has asccTtaiued what nature has designed il
! TO do aud what means she has furnished. then
/ only can he judge correctly Of the manner in
/ which il may be treated under its artificial
| circumstances Then, too, he may know how
\ far IL is practicable 10 alter its disposition in
! order TO render 1t more subservient to
his purposes. in applying so evident n
. truth TO the cultivation of the straw
/ berry, IL may DO stated that this plant
/ consists Of very short STEM seated Just
at the surface Of the ground, covered with
\ leaves and throwing out from its lower end
/ long, slender woody perennial roots. which
/ divide into a multitude Of branches. The stem
itself has soft center, with woody outside
| covered with the bark which bears the leaves.
/ Tho soft center is a very large pith; aud the
strawberry stem j., IN fact, not essentially diff
Y ferent from the branch Of tree. one year old
with all its joints so contracted as 10 touch
each other. The pith Is a great receptacle Of
/ orgauzahle matter; il is the source whence
( tire leaves and iFEitaTe fed in the Spring aud
early Summer Its starchy and gummy con-
/ tents may be observed at this time OF year by
. any one gho viii cnt IL across and touch il
/ with iodine; the gum viii then become brown.
the starch violet, aud the woody matter viii
I remain Of a clear yellow. The roots extend 20
"a considerable distances from the stem. branch
ing in all directions IN search Of food. and
/ Increasing IN number as tho stem increases
in age. Their object is to obtain unOT-
g9Hizcd food from the soil, especially water,
for which we know the strawberry 20 De greedy.
| When undisturhrd they live for "a long time.
and arc always ready to answer the demands
made upon them by The leaves and fruits
Such being the true nature Of this plant, IL
/ Is obyious that the roots should BE- preserved.
Digging between tho roots in Autumn OF Win
ter, rs is often praetiesl BY gardeners. with the
belief that the roots are only annual, is q mis-
taken idea If IL be asked what advantage
is gained by destmyng them, as necessarily
happens by digging among them, for thsy are
very long rooted, the only is answer - that
the soil near the strawberry plants become so
hard after a seasons gathering, that II is unfit
for their support. This may DO in some
places; but, If 80, 10 would DO better 20 loosen
the ground with forks rs soon as the crop is
gathered, when tho destruction Of a few roots
would be Of less consequence than to break it
mp and destroy large proportion Of the roots IN
Winter or late iH Autumn. The disadvantage
| Of disturbing these roots are serious as they
contain organizlbls matter in considerable
quantity. A soon as their growth is 70.
newcd in the Spring. they extend by the assist
| aucc Of that substance which enables them %
form their sp0ngcieis, aud to advance into the
earth In search Of water. etc, which they i'm
mcd!ateiy convey 20 the stem. while all the
| orgnizahle matter in that stem is expended
as nature intends in the nourishment Of new
leaves and frnit But IL the roots arc wholly
destroyed, the Orranizablc matter in the stem
must be directed downward for the formation
, Of more roots: and. Of course the supply in.
4 tended for the leaves and fruit is diminished
Ia proportion 10 the quantity Of roots which
the stem has 10 form. The strawberry stem
which Is designed 10 form leaves and fruit only
cannot have its power diverted to the formI'
ton Of roots without diminishing the vigOr 0
4 the leaves and fruit. In conclusion, 10 must
never be forgotten that plants. Ike animals
consist Of two essentially distinct parts: The
one the organized material Of their structure
the other the orgauiZable matter out OF which
additions are 70 be made to that structure.
THE PROPER TIME FOR PRUSING VINES.
As to the right time for pruning vines in New
England, We have mostly come TO the cOuclu
sion that early Winter is tho best Some prun,
soon after the falling Of tho leaves. in Tho
month Of November and the result Of variOu;
trials confirms the opinion that this IS better
than any other season for that purpose. Nc
good reason IS OlUrcd why the roots should be
| feghlicu 10 support lllc ia All the branches
through Winter and then 10 suffer a large part
Of them to be summarily shOrn oil in the Spring
The loss Of sap from the pTuned ends (Which we
call bleedincJ Is generally disastrous with US il
the work is delayed until February or March
as is sometimes recommended. Vines severely
/ pruned IN March in some eases have been
nearly ruined by profuse bleeding and theii
iruitiuness destroyed for years. ii the partial
loss OF the sap is detrimental! the analogy hold.
good in a greater degree. as !" the whole is
greater than its part" Respecting tho best
method Of pruning vines opinion is undergoing
a decided change. Tho practice in Europe oil
very close pruning has been followed in this
country by foreign viuc-dressors without duly
|, / considering the difference Of climate and the
character o. our vines. Ours are indigenous,
while the vines Of Europe were originally
brought from Asa FUIue =, 900 years ago and
have become dvarfcd v excessive pruning, 50
that they viii bear the loss of nearly all thCiI
tops with comparative impunity aud submit "a
be planted ia hill, about rs thick as our Indian
corn; but at last they show the certain effects
OF long Ill-uslgu Ia the fatal Oidnm or blight
Many dispute thu pronriety Of close pruning
American vines, for here the soil aud climate
charActU By extremes Of CxcessI We heat and
abundant moisture, arc adapted by Nature ioI
more vigorous aud cZteAded growth. In truth
: there would seem 10 b. 10 other fruit tree OF
vegetable which endure such au annual
amount Of amVutaton, dcilOratIOn, and dep!e.
! ton and still survive Or soniiuuc in any de.
, gree Of vigorous longevity. Various mode:
= OF pruning have been suggested by those who