The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-03-24
Notes Of Various Interesting ard
Timely Matters.

Notes Of Various Interesting ard
Timely Matters.
The Chinese artiehoke (staohys tu-
berIiieOj which Is recommended by the
Country Gentleman, Albany n. y, as
being very prolific, yielding as much
as 800 bushels Of tubers per acre, has
not been extensively distributed in
this country, and some allowance must
be made Of the claims i'm favor of the
new varieties as soil and climate are to
be considered. No doubt ifali that has
been stated in its behalf is true il will
prove valuable acquisition, but heavy
yields can only be secured when the
soil is rich. The common artichoke
yields largely if given cultivation. One
difficulty with artichokes is that after
being established they are not easily
eradieated, the fields being gi ven up tO
hogs, which root up the tubers, to
which they are very partial.
Carbon bisulphide, a liquid, is very
volatile, and for that reason it Is used
in grain bins for destroying insects in
furious 10 grain. The gas is heavier
than the air and goes downward, pene-
trating every portion Of the bin. One
pound OF the bis'Ilphide placed IL shall
low pans in a tight bin is sufficient for
lOJ bushels of grain. The cost, if
bought in 50-pound cans, is about 10
cents per pound. Being highly in
fiammable fire must be kept away from
it, lighted pipe or cigar being sufli-
cient to ignite il. Il Is not injurious To
the grain.
The farmer who plants his crops this
season should not be governed by the
prices or abundance OF last year. When
an article is below the demand one
year the supply may be above the de-
mand the next year. IL is good rule
to plant the kind Of crops that others
are dIscarding, as you will have less
competition the following year 1t is
unwise also 10 depend on a single crop,
as drought or wet weather may dimin-
ish the yield.
Currants and gooseberries are not diff
fieult to grow compared with some
fruits, and they always bring good
prices because less abu nd9 Mt than 9TH
er kinds. Currants can be left on the
bushes one or two weeks after ripening,
which permits Of picking raspberries
before harvesting the currants. The
bushes are attacked by insect enemies,
which can easily be kept in check with
careful attention, and when full crop
is secured there is a good profit there
from.
Date palms from the seeds, pine
apples from the crowns of the fruit
and other tropical plants can be grown
but will die when frost approaches.
They are ornamental novelties.
Asparagus will soon be ready for the
table. In this section it is grown By
level culture. a better plan is to throw
a furrow over the bed with plOw from
each side, making a mound two feet
high, which permits Of avoiding stOOp-
ing low when cutting and also because
the heavy covering Of earth prevents
loss Of moisture. The tops will grow
through any depth of covering.
Egg plant, tomatoes and pepers
should be in every garden, but 10 have
them bear early they should be now
well under way in hotbeds, or few
may be grown in a box in the window
Of the dwelling house. Z = plants are
very tender, and should not be put too
soon, as the potato beetle prefers them
to all other foods, eating the whole
plant, including the fruit. Tomatoes
and pepers are also tender, but are more
easily grown than egg plant.
IL there are farmers who have never
grown eauliilOwer they should do 50
and Iii over what a luxury they have
been neglecting, and which will 50
little compared with its values.
A Missouri fruit farm contains lOj-
900 peach trees, ,000 of apple, 800 OF
pear, 800 of plum, 800 of cherry and
10 acres of berries. The owner states
that fruit pays better than general
farming and he has therefore, entered
into the business largely.
Take a little more pains with the
garden this year than ever before and
learn TO know what real luxury u
good garden planted with a large Va
riety of vegetables is. Too many far
mers do not know this.
"I vas run over by a lumber wagon.
Did not expect TO live. Was terribly
bloated. My friends bathed me with
DIR. Thomas Ecleetrie Oil, and | was
c,,rad W. bax.o erraaf faith in rrbo,,,