The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-25
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Effect of Manure on Soil.

Oh manure on SOIL.
Barnyard manure or stable manure pos
sesses certain valuable qualities arising from
the large quantity of vegetable matter which
it contains. This vegetable matter is bene-
fetal in many Ways says the american Agri-
euitarist IL supplies stock a vegetable
mold. or humus, that is often lacking in light
soils. Tits humus absorbs moisture and
heat, and retains the nitrates set free in the
soil. This valuable adjunct to the proper
state of fertility is too often overlooked by
the advocates of exclusive chemical fer
tilizers. The mechanical effect of manure is
also of great consequence, "a it lightens very
heavy soils by making them open, porous
and easy of cultivation, while it supplies
moisture aud body" to lands that are
naturally of too light nature.
Manure also promotes a quick fermenta-
ton that is eongenial to all plants, one Of the
results of which is the conversion of nitrogen
from a raw state to nitrates that are suitable
for plant consumption. On this account it
is used with benefit in conjunction with
other nitrogen supplies, especially as it also,
In measure, fixes and retains this soluble
nitrogen and thus prevents waste. Manure
is full of various germs or bacteria, without
which fermentation cannot go on. And while
We do not as yet know all about the action of
bacteria in the soil, ii is quite evident that
under many circumstances manure may
supply Just the microbes needed to set up
lamentations in the soil that serve a useful
purpose. Only in this way can certain beue-
fetal actions of manure be accounted for.
When used with other quick-actiug fer
tiliZers, manure keeps land in good heat,
moist, mellow and friable, and in condition
admirably suited TO the best development of
plant roots. In addition to these peculiari-
ties the plant food which manure contains
is of great consequence, especially as this
may come in at the last of the season, when
the more available plant food of the chemi-
Gals may have been consumed. The lasting
quality of manure, which may make it I'M
desirable, as an exclusive dependence, be-
comes a matter of importance when used
with other quck-aeting fertilizers.
Salad Plants.
The Vermont Station has issued bulle-
tin devoted to salad plants. Many of these
come under the head of what we call
green's All farmers should have plenty
of them-quickly grown, tender. and fresh
picked. Probably the best salad plants for
general culture in this country are garden
cress, white mustard, and corn salad, in the
order named. Garden cress and white mus
tard are often grown together in very large
quantities for the market of London; and
when served together they form the most
popular English salad dish. 1t is said that
some of the London market-gardeners Use
as much as 500 pounds of garden eress seed
in single season.
Garden creSs may be sown in any soil at
any season, between severe frosts, and will
give plants fit for the salad-bowl within three
or four weeks. AS it runs to seed quickly,
successional sowing are necessary, at inter-
walls of 10 to IA days. In the hottest season
garden cress should be grown in half-shady
places; ia Winter it may be grown in green
house, hotbed, or a sunny window in boxes
Cress is ready to eat when the leaves are
three inches long.
Garden cress has fresh, pungent, pep
perry, aromatic taste, much more appetizing
than radishes or lettuce, and it is more
crisp than most salad plants. The finely
fringed leaves resemble parsley, and make
pretty furnishings for meat dishes. French
seedsmen quote five varieties of garden cress,
but American seed eatalogs quote but one.
Upland creSs and water cress are of differ
ent family of plants, and are both inferior to
garden cress, though they both find ready
sale, and may be grown for home use for va
riety's sake.
White mustard is more generally grown
and known than garden cress and stands
next to cress in merit. The two make a
good mixture. Like cress, it is sufficiently
hardy to bear some frost without injury.
Corn salad is less generally known than
either cress or mustard, but it is an excel
lent salad plant, though so mild as to be al
most insipid. Still, it is better than lettuce.
Varieties of Chestnuts.
The largest and most reliable Japan Chest
nut is the Japan Giant though it is not so
early as Alpha, Reliance, Superb, and others.
The Paragon is one of the best Spanish sorts,
being of good size, heavy bearer, and quite
early. The Numbo, Ridgely and Comfort
are also valuable varieties, being Of good
size and quite sweet. All the above-named
varieties can be grated in the 2O-year-old
trees with good success if the CRATER under
stands his business. Chestnuts are not so
easy to graft as apples and pears, and more
care should be taken.
Wants odder-Cutter.
John Sweesy, Co. ID, 19Sth Pa, Elizabeth
vile, Pa, would like some comrade to tell,
by mail, where he can get good hand-power
fOdder-cutter; one that will crush the stalks.
Farm Notes.
The industry of growing vegetables, as
lettuce, radishes, etc., under glass, is proving
profitable.
A fair-sized dollhouse for growing vege-
tables can be built at moderate cost.
Do not expect an orchard to bear year
after year the first grade of fruit without
liberal fertilizing.
If properly stored in cool place, the loss
from shrinkage and the rotting of fruit will
be comparatively small. With the planting
of orchards, therefore, of any size, there
should also be the erection of cold storage
house, on plan either simple or elaborate,
as can be afforded.