The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-01-30
NOTES OF THE FARM.

upon SlOp as drinking water. Tney re
Quire pure water the same as do othel
animals, and when deprived of 1t wiz
not thrive.
When plants, roses, etc, are at al
effected with mildew, sprinkle the foil.
age with water, then dust on flour o.
sulphur quite thicl<ly and allow 1t to
stand for a few days, when it may be
rinscd Off, but is to be renewed If nee.
essary.
Fourteen Strawberries to the quart IL
the latest on record in small fruit cul.
ture, made by New England woman,
who has a fruit ranch I'm San Diego,
and who has achieved remarkable suc-
cess in fruit culture through careful
experimentation.
When watering plants or trees, re.
member that a superficial gprinklins
will start growth of new rootlets neat
the surface of the ground which a hot
sun may kill easily. Put on sufficient
water to thoroughly soak the ground
about the roots.
1t is estimated that 30,000,000 roses
and 100000 carnations are sold by
the New York florists every year, and
that the wholesale men get a profit Of
sl,5OO,OOO out of their business. Violets
rank third in popularity, and the lily Of
the valley runs a good fourth.
Onion sets intended for next winter
can be easily kept in good condition by
spre aiding them in thin layers on the
floor of the barn or garret. Should
they become frozen during the winter
do not disturb them, as handling them
is detrimental. 1t does not injuro them
to freeze If not thawed very suddenly.
Some crops, such as potatoes, that
have been but slightly attacked by dis
ease may communicate such disease to
the whole bin Of potatoes should the
spores of the fungi be carried on the
tuber. For that reason all roots should
be free of dirt or washed clean before
storing them away for winter.
1t is more and more generally admit
ted that the fall is the better time for
setting out fruit. trees. Less pressure
Of business enables nurserymen to get
them cut in better shape and to handle
them quicker, and the climate is less
nckle. If to he heeled in do not leave
them exposed to frosts and drying
winds.
\ writer in the Chicago Times-He
in air-tight bins. He says. and truly,
that less care is taken Of the corn crop
than of any other grain the farmer
raises. He also holds and endeavors
to prove that no other grain is injured
more by exposure to storm and other
misuse.
Farmers are disposed to defer until
spring much of the work that could be
done before that season arrives. On
the opening of warmer weather all the
work must be hurried and a dozen jobs
seem to be ready for the farmer to per-
form at the same time, which delays
planting to a later period than should
be the case.
The subsoillng idea was brought new
converts this year by the heavy rain
fall in Kansas. Instead of the subsoil-
ed lands being washed away, the water
readily found the immense reservoir
underneath, and the soil was not dis
turbed in its place; in fact, there was
greater loss to lands plowed in the
usual way.
The objection to seeding down an or
chard to grass is that it takes from the
soil the moisture needed by the ,rees,
and when allowed to grow close 10 the
trees seems to choke them. Glover
does not have this effect, nor does it
usually make a rank growth under the
trees. 1t rather tends to retain mCls-
ture by its shade.
If you are feeding any stock with the
idea of making a profitable gain of
flesh, see to it that they are well pro-
tected from storms and cold in the APP
p1 he ~ NVi ~
not feed them proftably, otherwise.
Nothing in the whole system Of stock
management has been more thoroughly
proved than this
The garden is left for the last work
on the farm, and where weeds have
grown up they remain until they die
down and cover the ground, making
the garden an unsightly plot. BY rak-
ing over the garden and burning the
refuse not only will the ground be
cleared and many weed seeds destroy
ed, but the harboring places of insects
will also be removed.
Any time after the fruit has matured.
the grape leaves will part easily from
the stem without injuring the bud,
which always lies at their base. 1t Is
better to prune for winter Us soon as
possible after the grapes are gathered.
This will allow the vines to be thrown
from their trellls to the ground, where
the last years buds for next years
shoots will be much safer than on
trellis exposed to the severest cold of
winter.
The seed largely influences the yield.
An Ohio farmer planted two kinds of
potatoes on soil of the same character,
and gave the several potatoes (only
few being used for eXperimenD the
same treatment. From one lot he pro-
cured fifteen pounds of tubers. of in
ferior quality, and from the other be
secured forty-five pounds, or three times
as much from one as the other. There
was no reason whatever for any differ
ence in the yields except that the seed
of the more prolific lot was better than