The National tribune., 1894-06-28
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our AgricuI-
turaI Readers.
Celery.

Some Practical Suggestions for Our AgricuI-
turaI Readers.
Celery.
As we set the plants In open ground, name
ly, in lows 10 inches apart one way by FIVE
inches apart the other, there are nearly 800
plants to the square yard, and when these
are in full growth, Is to "a inches high,
they consume an incredible amount of food
and water, says correspondent of american
Gardening. Moderate rainfalls at that time
do not supply half enough. The ground
wants to be flooded several times a week.
But when you can turn on ali the water
that is needed, either by sub-irrigation or
by soaking from the surface there being
little danger of applying too much), the
growth will astOnish the beholder. White
Plume or Golden Self-blanchiDg thus man
aged will bleach fairly well without bank
ing We usually iuclose the path by line
of boards set up tightly against the outer
rows, for fear that they would not bleach so
well without this attempt at banking up.
The aim must be to induce q quick and
strong growth, which results in stalks of
brittleness and good flavor. It is so easy to
grow a great lot of celery in this way, that
we are rather extraysgant in its use. We
throw all the coarse outer stalks away, and
simply feast on the tender hearts. With
celery that has been grown and blanched in
the old, laboriCus way, the grower cannot
afford to be so wastefnl.
For celery to be stored for Winter and
Spring use, both in the home and the market
garden, In which case thorough blanching is
neither needed nor desirable, the new culture
also has decided advantages. It saves space
and handling. The late Fall rains are
usually more copious, and artificial water
ing may often be entirely omitted. Giant
Pascal and New Rose are our favorite varie-
ties for the late crop.
For the Summer celery we want good
plants of self-blanching sorts for setting in
open ground in May.
EarIy-Cut Hay for Sheep.
Sheep do not like late-cut hay, nor coarse
strawed hay of any kind. Dry grain of any
kind is not substitute for grass. Farmers
raising and growing early lambs must MAIN
tain the thrift and condition of the dams,
as well as cater to the peeul ar wants of the
lambs The sweet grasses and eloYers are
the best known feeds for both the sheep and
their lambs. For Winter feed the nearer
the feeder can get to Summer grass the
better. Good corn ensilage is a desirable
substitute in part Next comes early-eut
hay. For this purpose select a field of fine
grass and cut extremely early, then later on
cut second crop from the same field. There
will then be no loss of growth from early
cutting, and both crops viii be palatable to
the sheep, and will be nearly as good feed
as the grass itself Such fodder will not
have so high percentage of nutrition as
where the grass has matured its growth.
The sheep and lambs, however, will eat
more of it, while at the same time it better
meets their critical wants in the Winter
feeding season. The farmer, therefore can
better sacrifice a measure of quantity to
secure needed quality. This Winter rails
ing of lambs is a particular kind of busi-
ness, and one has to provide for it before
hand in order to go into it on any consider
able scale, and at the same time reach full
success.-laiRe Farmer.
Protecting the Grapes.
Bagging grapes as protection against in
sects and birds is no longer an experiment.
The bagging, however, should be commenced
before the attacks of the insects are notice
able, and not after the fruit has been injured.
Besides protecting the grapes the bags retard
the ripening and sometimes prOlong the
season several weeks. The twO-pOund ma
Mia bags are most generally used.
Farm Notes.
On the growth of the small fruit canes
this month depends the value of next years
crop. The vines should be cultivated often,
and liberal amount of mulch placed around
them.
Pears always find ready sale at good
prices.
The best turnips are raised in o cool eli-
mate. Those raised in the warm climates
are generally pithy.