The National tribune., 1896-02-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions FOR Our
Agricultural Readers



this country. so far as I know, to discover
the particular needs Of the ounce in matters
of food; but the same general principles
which apply TO other tree fruits will no
doubt apply to this Is is now held that the
controlling factors in orchard fertilizers should
be potash and phosphoric acid rather than
nitrogen; this last element induces growth,
and the trees themselves may be supposed to
register the needs in this direction. Trees
which are yellow and stunted need either
moisture or nitrogen, or both--proviCIing they
are not attacked by insect or ftIngous enemies
and these can be supplied.
cit is generally agreed in New York State
that the best soil for ounces is a heavy clay
loan; that is, a clay soil which has become
friable by good cultivation, fertilizing and
draining. While the land should be well
drained, il should nevertheless retain moist
ure more readily than is necessary for most
other orchard fruits. Ounces often thrive
upon light lands, but they are rarely as pro-
ductive and long-lved as upon the heavier
lands which / have described According to
Mech, in selecting soils the first choice
should be a strong loan, with enough sand
in its composition to make it work easy.
- The ounce tree should have a trunk 20
inches or less high. The pruning is essentially
the same as that demanded by the apple. ex-
eept that it is generally found to he advisable
to sborten-in the annual growth somewhat
each Winter"
Pruning Gooseberry Vines.
GoosebeFries require rather hard pruning
for the first year or two. Thin out any sur
plus shoots, and shorten the remainder by at
least half their length. In cutting. they
require exactly contrary treatment to that Of
the standard trees in this respect Cut be-
hind the upright bud, the object here being
TO lead the branches as upright az possible,
and to keep them from dropping to the ground,
this being the general tendency with the
most prolific gooseberries, the weight of the
fruit soon bringing the branches down.
Subsequently allow the main branches TO ex-
tend, but keep them good distance apart.
Shorten all side growth to within two OF
three eyes of the main branch. to encourage
the formation of spurs; but as the main
branches extend, allow some side growths to
remain, and also extend, where space will
allow. Always keep the tree sufficiently
open to permit the hand to pass freely TO the
center for gathering and pruning purposes.
steriIizins Milk Jars.
The Country Gentleman gives the following
process in answer to an inquirer as to the best
method of destroying germs in the family
milk jar that passes back and forth so freely,
and, it must be added. from family to family
to an unknown extent. The correspondent
had asked if he should boil or bake - the
jars. There is a tendency to slur this most
important work, so much so that one is some
times tempted to denOunce the otherwise
IDEAL system of selling milk in glass jars, and
sticking to the cans Jars should
be washed first In cold or luke-warm water;
then in fairly hot water, in which little sal
soda has been dissolved, and finally rinsed in
fairly hot water, say, 150o. This is the clean
ing of the bottles; some may eonsidert the sal
soda washing unnecessary, but we believe it is
safest.
1--WE next come TO the sterilizing. boiler
large to hold all the bottles must
be provided, and when clean they are placed
in the water, which must not be too warm.
Cover the boiler and keep the water boiling
for not less than 10minute5, and be not afraid
hat they be overdone by boiling longer Do
not burn your fingers by picking the bottles
)ut of the boiling water, but leave them in
till cooled down to 1909, then take them out
md set them bottom up in the rack OF basket,
WHICH,. VI COuEccs uftlSG UC PCIlCCblY
The object is to prevent the bottles becoming
brittle by sudden cooling. By baking it is
possible to obtain higher temperature and ab-
oiute sterilization, but, take it all in ALL we
,elieve the boiling will be found more prac-
zeal and be sufficient for all purposes"
Wax for Grating
Equal parts of resin, beeswax and tallow
make excellent wax for grating. These are
Melted together, then poured into warm
water and kneaded and pulled with the
,ands until the mixture is tough Some
lines it is desirable to dissolve this mixture
n alcohol, and use it in o liquid form, paint
ng il over the CRAFTS with brush.
1t is very convenient to melt some of this
wax, and dip strips of cotton cloth il it;
hen, when they are cold, wrapping these
round the union of the graft and cion. The
trips will adhere closely and will support
be graft better than the mere wax which
Fill at times soften in the sunshine ON warm
ays, AMI thus permit the gratis to loosen in
he wind.
Straight POst-and-Rail Fence.
Farmers whose rail fences are becoming
iIapidated can, with some labor and but
title cost, make them better than ever by
aking down the worm fence and using the
est rails 10 make one IN StralSD6 line. IL
7il1 need stakes on each side at the ends of
ach rail driven into the ground, and fastened
nth one or more wires near the top. IL
My cattle and horses are to be kept in or
MT by the fence the bottom rails can be laid
2 to 10 inches from the ground. In this
osition the rails will last longer than if
esting on the ground or on fiat stone near
!. Five or six rails, we'll secured by stout
takes will make a fence that will keep
lost kinds of stock from getting over il,
hough it is best always to be sure. A
arbed wire ct the top will prevent MOST
took from making the attempt. The
rouble with wire fences is that when strung
II posts without rails, an animal that is
having or running cannot see the wires
ntil it becomes entaEgTed in them, and
hen its efforts to escape only make matters
oTse.
About the Farm.
Mich cows drink 80 per cent. more water
IAN those not in milk. At the Geneva Ex-
sriment Station the Jerseys drank the most,
"a pounds of water to one of milk produced;
lie Guernseys next and Shorthorns, DevOns,
olsteins and Ayreshires after them in dimin-
hing order.