The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-08
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

Preparing Plants for Winter blooming.
Those who have small conseryatories TO
fill with plants for the Winter, and those
who have but the window of a room, should
have most Of the plants well in hand before
the nights get too cold to leave the plants
out of doors. OF late years more attention
has been given to palms and other foliage
plants than heretofore says Joseph Meehan,
in the Country Gentleman, and they well de-
serve it; for, beside their evergreen, tropi-
cal-lookiDg foliage, contrasting nicely with
Towering plants. many of them are excellent
house plants. Among them the Areea Iates-
Gems occupies a prominent place, doing well
universally and being not over particular to
have the best Of treatment. PandaRus utilus,
Kentia JelmOreaRd and Cocos lceddetiaRa ara
also useful Where are such other good
plants as the various Dracenas, Araacaria
erccisa, the Norfolk Island pine; FTcus elias
fica, india rubber plant; Magnolia graadi-
fora evergreen magnolia; AspidiStra lurida
and its variegated-le aved variety. Some
broad-leaved eyeTgreens, such as sweet bay,
Portugal laurel, PhotiRia serrulotd and EH-
oaymus jqp0Hie4s could very well be added
to the collection.
Plants for Winter blooming are best grown
in pots throughout the season. They are
then nicely established by Fall, and getting
a shift into a larger pot shortly before they
are taken indoors, they give bloom from the
first. Among the many sorts available for
the purpose are the following: Begonias,
Chinese primroses, fuehsias genistas Jas
mines, salvias, roses, justicias, Cypripedium
insigne, ADDITIONS. cinerarias, callas, daphnes,
heliotropes, libonias, hyacinths, carnations,
institutions, geraniums, and Impafieas SUI
taai. To add TO this list are the several sorts
of English daisies and primroses, pansies and
forget-me-nots, which are so hardy that they
can be kept outside in a cold frame, and be
brought in from time to time as required.
Indian azaleas are greatly priced for in
doors. Their time of Towering, when win
tered in cool room, IL toward Spring; but
kept warmer, they can be had a month or so
earlier. In many cities florists make feat
ure of having them in flower for Easter.
If any of the plants named are growing in
the open ground, they should be potted at
once, lifting them with some ball, and plac-
ing them in building protected from strong
light and from wind, for few days, until
they recover. 1t is better not to cut the
tops of, if the plants can be saved without
it, as it throws the Towering period so far
behind. Take all plants indoors before the
cold nights check their growth. When the
mercury runs down to 45' night after night,
it is time the plants were in.
In regard to watering plants indoors, when
first taken in, and before artificial heat is ap-
piled, but little is required beyond what
Swinging affords; but later on it will be-
found hard to give them too much, so rapidly
do the leaves transpire and evaporation from
the pots take place.
Care of the Working Horse.
Take the harness off the horses at noon;
remove the collars, so that he shoulders mxy
become cool. Brush them thoroughly, ana
| wipe the collars clean before replacing them.
If you would give your horses the full benefit
of the nights rest, give them a good cleaning
up every evening. They will feel and res,
better by having the sweat and dust all
| rubbed off. The cleaner the horses shoulders
are kept the less liable they are to become
| sore. In very many cases it is dirt under
| the collars that Injuries the shoulders. 1t is
| easier to prevent than cure.
Lice on Late Cabbage.
L
these pests, and if the fight is begun early no
harm will result to the cabbage head Some
] growers use one pound of quassia chips boiled
a few minutes in one gallon of water, and
then dissolve one pound of whale-oiI soap in
| one gallon of hot water; mix the two and
add cold water to make Ia gallons in all.
Apply this to the plants with spray or with
a brush broom dipped in the solution, aim
ing to throw the dose into the center of the
plant. -
| Hog Cholera.
| In some localities in the Middle States
hog cholera is again seriously prevalent. The
loss is a great hardship this year, as farmers
find it difficult to meet obligations, with the
best of luck. 1t is of great importance to
keep the animals in clean, comfortable quar-
tiers, providing them with pure water and
wholesome food. Some condiment, such as
wood charcoal, ordinary bituminous coal,
salt and sulphur, should be kept before them
all the time. A number of breeders report
that where hogs ran in orchards with plenty
OF shade and apples, not sick animal was
noticed. Hogs equally as vigorous, turned
into lot of stubble field or pasture with a
corn diet and no shade, quickly suecumbed.
Pumpkins make an excellent addition to the
Fall ration. Apples are so plentiful in many
States that these can be fed quite literally.
| Farm Notes.
Clean up the farm generally. DESTROY
briars and weeds that have grown in the
fence-cOrners.
Gather and save carefully all seeds as they
ripeu. Save none that are doubtful or from
poor specimens.
Rye should be sown early if good crop ID
expected. Give it a good bed of rich, sandy
loam; one bushel of pure seed per acre.
Take especial care of the weaned colts
calves, pigs and lambs. Everything de.
ponds on the treatment Of young animals the
first year.
Mich cows should be well fed, night and
morning on cut food, either dry or green
and have two quarts of bran or millfeed ta
keep flow Of milk during the months o.
October and November.
The following is recommended as a tor
dressing for meadows Two bushels of re.
fuse salt, two of plaster, and four bushels Of
fine ground bOnedust, well mixed togethe,
and sown broadcast over the meadows. Del
acre. If there are thin places SOW grass seed
on them, harrow well, and give a double
dressing of manure. After narrowing. roll,
Keep the stock off, or Craze your meadows
but little if you wish good yield of grass
next year.