The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-23
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Chrysanthemum Culture.

Ciuo delivered an address ut the flower show
in Kansas City, taking ehrysanthemums as
his subject In brief he said '.The eul-
tivatiOn of the chrysanthemum. rs compared
with that~Of the rose, is Of the simplest de-
seriptiOn, requiring only rich soil, sunny
or a partially sunny position. and occasional
waterings in extreme droughts. To obtain
the big flowers the tops of the leading or
strongest growths should be removed by
pinching. after the shoots have grown four or
five inches long, and this should be continue
ed until the end of July, after which the en-
tire plant should be allowed to grow. The
flower buds begin to form about the end of Au-
gust or beginning Of September. lift desir-
able to have them flower in the house or con-
servatory they should be dug up carefully
about the first Of October, and placed in pots
according to the size of each plant For
the very largest plants, pots 10 or IL inches
IN diameter are required. The plants should
be well drenehed with water ut once and set
in some shady place for few days, after
which they can be exposed TO the full sun.
They must be protected before the appearance
of frost, but should not be subjected to arti-
fetal heat temperature of IS TO 90 degrees
Fahrenheit beingquite high enough. Where
they are intended TO flower Out-Of-dOOrs it is
best either to plant them at first in some
sheltered position, OF to dig carefully and
remove to such place after the middle Of
October. Many Of the varieties will endure
the severest Winter weather, provided they
are slightly protected. Where plants are
already in pots, simple way Of keeping
them is to place them in any cool, light cellar,
II t~EL ~.
weather is somewhat tempered. They begin
to grow again IN March.
In the ease of outdoor plants, after cut
ting them down mulch them over with their
own cutoff tops, some strawy litter or some
dry forest leaves, held in place by twigs or
litter. This mulehing may be removed be-
fore Spring opens, say, about the end Of
March
The most interesting part of chrysanthe-
mum culture to the amateur is the raising
of seedlings, in which there are surprises,
hopes and wonders. The young plants raised
from division, side sprouts and cuttings con-
tinue to be identical in kind with their par
ents, but in seedlings we never expect to find
anything closer than family likeness, or any
two alike. Indeed, from seed saved from any
one plant we may raise flowers Of the various
classes and all the eolOFs peculiar to the race,
and while some may be very good, others may
be very inferior
Firm and healthy shOrt-jointed shoots
should be selected for cuttings or sports
The cutting should be at least three inches long
and cut horizontally with a sharp knife.
From these sports the identical variety Of
the parent plant is produced. The pots to
receive the cuttings should be filed with
rather fine mixture of equal parts of sand,
leaf mold and loan, well drained, with
thin layer of sand on top. Water thoroughly
and then place in the house or frame prepared,
where they should be kept close and syTinged
lightly when dry until rooted, which viii be
usually indicated by the putting forth of the
leaves, when air may be admitted gradually
and more water applied. Grating is per-
formed simply to produce curio plants for
public surprise although the chrysanthe-
mum is belittled artistically by the ease of
its imitation in hideous paper flowers, it will
more and more deserve the title of the Star
eyed Daughter of the FALL"
Care of the Cows.
The skin of an animal is an active excreting
agent, and large quantity of foul matter is
.hus removed by it from the blood. All this
matter will dry on the skin, and if not re-
moved frequently it will cover it and clog the
numerous pores by which the exerement es-
;apes. This dried matter is most easily lOOs-
ened by the card made of fine wires and acting
like q comb, and a stiff brush then completes
The cleansing of the skin by removing these
Oosened scales. Besides, the skin is cOntin-
1ally changing scales of dried tissue loosen
ng in the form of dandruff, while new tissue
s formed under them. 1t is in this way that
in time the whole of the skin is renewed.
All this dead and impure matter acts rs a fer
ment on milk, and will cause it to sour or
take on an unpleasant Odor very quickly.
Thus it is not only necessary to keep the COWS
clean, but to remove this matter from the
skin before each milking by the use of card
and brush.
Thinning the Apples.
''Do not allow the trees to overbear, adj
vises Hon. n. F. Murray, Yice-President of
Missouri State Horticultural Society. Thin
put the fruit by hand picking Commence
when the fruit is the size of q marble Be
careful to first pick off all that is scabby,
wormy or illshaped and boil in water till
cooked thoroughly, to kill the larve of the
Goblin moth and all fungus grOwths. Then
thin enough more so that the fruit left will
have room and strength of tree enough to
mature it's fruit in it's normal size, color and
perfection. Pick when ripe, but do not leave
t on the trees until Overripe. Throw out all
he wormy and imperfect fruit and use it for
Tinegar or hog feed. Pack the sound and
perfect fruit in new, clean barrels of standard
ze and in the best style. If you say that all
his won't pay, / answer, Do not deceive
/ know that it will. P"
100000 MEN CURED.