The Opelousas courier., 1892-12-31
HOW 70 KILL BRUSH AND BRrARs.

To farmers who live in timbered re-
gion this question is az interesting prob
lem. There is a theory with some,
who ought to know, that there is a day,
with the moon in right quarter and the
sign of Zodiac in the right place, that a
tree or shrub should be cut to kill it
root aud branch. All this sounds well
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, and some will die
no matter when they were cut, and some
will not die. If ~sprouting is done twice
q year, say June and August, for two or
three years, no sprouts will appear the
next year unless it be sassafras or post
oak runners.
The whole secret of killing, other
than grubbing, 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 q
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 il seemed they were gone,
but when the land was put down TO
meadow they came up as strong and VIC.
,orous as ever. Sassafras has been al
'luded to; nobody ever killed one BY
cutting it off at the ground. The same
lis true of p~ersimmon. They need very
different treatment. When cut a foot
or two from the ground sap poisoning is
more possible and 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 d certain extent, is wise, but in most
cases ii is easily carried too far. The
problem Is simpllfed when we once come
to understand that wild plants grow
where they are obliged 10 grow, rather
than where they desire to grow. Be
cause d plant grows in the woods Is little
reason to expect that it may not grow
equally as well In the sun. And then,
ii IS not necessary to wait until fall o.
spring to take up the wild plants. At
every outing, whatever the time Of year
If the ground is not frozen-I mean
to go prepared to bring home roots. In
these sultry July days ! an bringing
home wild herbs, and next year / ex-
pect to see most of them bloom.
dig them up with q comfortable ball
Of earth, cut the tops Off nearly to the
ground, and keep them moist until I get
them home; then they are set in the
border, and il dry weather follows, .
lItth water given occasionally at sun
fiown helps Them to grow. do not pre-
tend to say that July il as good ! time
ss April Or October to love plants, but
one must capture the good things as ne
nnds them. The native orchids, how
ever, usually require careful manage
tnsnt, being among the most difficult OF
native plants to ~colonize. Most OF them
require complete Of partial shade and q
moist subsoil.
IL water supply s at hand, . moist
plat under trees or about buildings, where
there y some protection from wind, can
ee made, and clunps Of many species
San be removed with safety. It ID best
@ ssuaovo them Id summer, when che
aQRsring season j. past. AEasricsn