The silver star., 1898-07-07
Spray In Time.

spray IN Ilmes
Every fruit grower should own
spraying apparatus and should apply
Bordeaux mixture once before the
blossoms open, second time just az the
flowers are opening and again when
apples are about the size of peas and
a fourth and fifth spraying at intervals
Of about three weeks thereafter. says
a bulletin from the Oklahoma station.
This should prevent apple scab and
fungi that attack the foliage. The so
gallon formula for Bordeaux mixture
Is as follows: Water, so gallons; Blue
stone. 6 pounds, unslacked lime.
pounds; take one head out of . 90
gallon vinegar barrel and fll half full
OF water. Tie up 6 pounds OF blue
stone in piece of gunny sacking and
suspend Il from a stick across the top
Of the barrel, beneath the surface OF
the water. In another vessel slack 4
pounds of lime to smooth paste free
from Jumps and grit. When the
smooth paste is obtained add enough
water to make 25 gallons. This Is
called the milk of lime and must be
we'll stirred before using. 1t will be
found very convenient to cut 50-gal-
Ion barrel In two. making two 25-gal-
Ion tubs. Having a 50-gallon barrel
empty, each Of two persons should take
a bucket and into the barrel one should
pour the milk Of lime while the other
at the same time pours in the blue
stone solution. When all is mixed
thoroughly. steel knife blade should
be held in the solution for one minute
and then examined. II the steel takes
on copper color more lime must be
added. but II 1t does not the prepara-
tion Is ready for USE
Curing Glover on Racks.-In a Ger
man paper M. Maerckler gives a de-
scription Of the methods Of curing clo-
yer and alfalfa on racks instead Of in
the open field. This proves to be OF
great advantage in seasons where
there is much wet weather at haying
time. 1t is, of course, more expensive
than curing the same crops In the open
field, but perhaps this cost Is more
than overbalanced by the more nutri-
tive condition Of the crops. There Is
also an increased yield over field cur
ing, and this alone the author claims
will repay the extra cost. 1t Is doubt
full II this method will ever pay in this
country. In some of the northern
countries Of Europe 1t has for q long
time been a common practice to cure
hay on the tops OF the fences. though
unprotected from the weather.
Protection from Girdling. - Where
fruit trees are kept cultivated there is
little danger from their being girdled
by mice or rabbits II the ground IL free
from weeds or trash Of any kind. But
around the edges OF the orchard there
is often danger OF the pests coming In
from the outside and doing their work.
Mr.. 8. G. Rowell says In an exchange
that the greatest danger Is likely to
occur In orchards that are In sod or
near woodland. Old trees seldom are
attacked. but young ones should always
receive some protection. Where moth
ing but mice are feared the simplest
and easiest protection Is a bank OF
earth heaped up around the base OF
the tree to the height OF foot. II this
has been neglected a solid tramping of
the snow around the trunks will turn
the mice away.
Gardens In Alaska.-Nearly every
village has n number OF gardens In
which. in spite OF very Indifferent cul-
tivation between planting and harvest
potatoes. turnips. ruta-bagas. cabbages,
caulifiowers. peas. carrots. radishes,
lettuce. onions. etc. are grown. Some
form Of bedding the soil is practiced
nearly everywhere but the greatest evil
Is the tendency Of crowding through
planting too closely. Close planting
seems nearly always the rule, and II
results In such u complete shading Of
the ground that the suns rays rarely
or never strike the SOIL Poor drainage
Is often an accompaniment Of close
planting. and. with the rank growth
Of weeds II Is no wonder that meager
results are obtained.
Grasses In Alaska.-The southwest
ern region OF Alaska is characterised
by It's wealth Of grasses. many Of the
grasses common to the United States
being found there. In tho southeast.
ern part Of the territory common tim
othy and orchard grass do exceedingly
well. Nor are these the only fodder
plants. white clover is spreading ey.
erywhcre: red clover has apparently
not been given thorough trial. nj.
though here and there Il grows yigor.
ously. A native vctch 10 abundant in
pasture lands. nnd is said to be readily
eaten by stock.
In newly cleared countries the first
use that cnn be made Of the iand r.
for rasturage for dairy cows. The iapd
can be seeded before the stumps are
cleared. the stumps being allowed IN
rot ny the processes Of nature.