The record-union., 1895-01-10

seng-Farm Notes.
There is no better time for making
changes on the farm than at the beginning
OF the new year. 1t is not now matter
OF choice with the farmer whether he will
continue the methods in use on the farm
that have been practiced by others before
him, but necessity. Production at the
present day must be greater and the cost
less. competition exists as much among
farmers as among business mon, and
those VINO lose no opportunity to excel
thelr rivals are the ones who succeed.
More farmers are crushed to the wall by
other farmers than from causes outside of
the farm. The farmer who adheres to
systems OF the last decade is sure to fall
behind him who is keenly alive to pro-
gressiye methods. There Is more labor
performed on farms that yields no return
lhan III any other branch of business, be-
cause farmers do not always take advant-
age OF their opportunities, and enter the
markets with their goods handicapped
with greater cost for labor than those OF
other farmers who are more progressive
and who have produced articles at lower
cost and with larger yields proportion
ately to the acre OF land cultivated,
increasing the production of crops is
necessary as one OF the features of farm
ing, but the farmers should not stop there
Where they fail mostly is in not increas-
ing the productive capacity of their stock.
No manufacturer would think OF going on
the market 10 compete with rivals by the
use OF machines which produce but half
the quantity of goods with the same care
That IS performed by a better machine in
another establishment, yet the farmer
Goes this thing every day and complains
OF lack Of profit. The manufacturer in
VeSugates the merits OF ali machines and
selecLs the best for his purpose, but the
farmer takes his machines as he finds
then; that is. his animals are not kept
with the view of securing the greatest
production, for 1t may safely be said that
there are, unfortunately, great many
farmers who cannot even distinguish the
different breeds. Upon the pure breeds
must be established the foundation of
success in farming.
The farmer of the present era muat be
progressive. He has now to meet larger
production aided by improved impIe-
1nentS, and his competitors are reSOrling
to the best stock. He cannot longer
afford to farm as he has done. He will
go deeper in debt the longer ne ignores
the fact that the day of scrubs has passed
by. he cannot engage in dairying if his
milk and butter with the same number of
animals as he. Scientists may point out
to him all the adverse conditions of trade,
ana Legislatures may pass laws for his
benefit, but his real oppressors are those
who are more progressive and enterpris-
ing, and who can produce at loss cost
than he. When he awal1es to the fac. he
must join the front ranks he will begin TO
prosper, and the new year should mark
the beginning Of change.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN THE OPEN AIR
Besides the snowy sunflowers and as
terS, which can be had in almost endless
variety from August to November, we
ought not TO forget the chrysanlhemums.
which literally come in hosts, for until
one has grown these plants he has never
experienced the pleasure of having flow
ers III real abundance. The large rose
grower, OF course, secures fair crops, but
at best, the flowers are soon over, while
chrysanthemums from the same space
can be cut IN greater abundance, are more
lasting and OF infinitely greater variety of
form and coloring. Our professional
trends, who contribute to the horticult-
ural papers, keep US up to a high stand
ard IN the cultivation of these plants
which is quite correct from their point of
ann, which is, OF course, nothing less than
perfection. am glad to see, however, in
gardens that many chrysanthemums are
grown in q more natural way, to the evil
ldent enjoyment OF the growers, for there
IS no more beautiful object in the garden
at any season than a mass of well-groWn
chrysanthemumS in the usual keen
weather of late October. By well grown
l mean well-branched plants, with thrifty
leaves and judiciously disbudded. Of
course these plants should here have a
sheltered location, with some protection
ready when lrOStS appear. This is easily
arranged. especially Ii glass saSheS can be
made permanently overhead. The object
should be never TO give artificial heat till
actually necessary and then as little as
possible.
This certainly requires more care and
labor than the cultivation of plants in
the greenhouse, but the flowers seem TO
me much more enjoyable, and rejoicing
IN lie and vlgor quite their own. They
viii not be so large or perfect as the
monsters which appear at the shows, but
they arrange better and are more useful
and lasting as cut flowers. While the
OVergrown HOWerS on still stems only
seem Interesting to me as examples of
cultural skill, II Is quite unreasonable to
go TO the other extreme and not disbud
ones plants. Nature has endowed most
varieties of chrysanIhemums with en-
tirely too many buds. so that il all are
LETT 10 struggle with each other for the
needed food TO develop them. none will
be satisfactory. In selecting chrysanthe-
NUNS for outdoor exposure of this kind
one should try 10 secure the harder
kinds, like the ''old yellow" examples
OF which can be found in every old coun-
try garden. Select, also, the earliest
Towering kinds, and avoid those with
thick petals, which kinds are easily
frosted.
Then, with the chrysanthemums, one
should, of course, grow the cosmos, of
which / am glad to md improved strains
available. One from Henderson this year
Is very large lowered, rosy pink Of a
most satisfactory shade, and q great inn
provement on the old lilacs. Cosmos
grows too tall naturally, and should be
either cut or pegged down in the sum
lner, which will bring it into range of
three or four feet at Towering time, when
1t can be readily protected.
GINSENG.
Ginseng is a root worth almost its
weight in gold in China, and Secretary
Morton, in his last report, recommends
its cultivation in this country.
Formerly we shipped Sl,0OO,OO0 worth
OF ginseng to China every year, but the
supply has fallen off, ana Corea now
furnishes nearly all OF it.
The Chinese regard this plant as cure
for almost every disease. They believe
that the root possesses intelligence and
powers of locomotion, which enables it
TO run away to escape capture. They
also believe that it is guarded by the tiger,
the leopard, the wolf and the snake, ami
mails appointed by the gods to protect it.
\ root weighing three or four ounces
sells for 500. but the American article
commands only 81 pound. In Corea it
is cultivated under Government super
vision, but in this country the plant
grows wild in the mountain regions. The
Chinese say that the virtue OF the plant is
not in its material composition, but in