The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-17
Prof. Massey's Views
FROM THE PROG IAFtNIh

MI. OOCS SAY NCIS
vines, as Il rule, are injurious to trees.
But there is one that does no hacm
and clothes the tree with beauty IN
winter. This is the evergreen Eng
Ish ivy. There are old
trees near me hat are covered Win
wv and have heen SO covered TOT
many wears. and yet both tree and
Ivy thrive. Now that the leaves are
off the trees, the ivy makes q fne
show. But climbers like wistaria and
honeysuckle should never be allowed
on a tree.
Grape cuttings made now should be
,ut close under the lower bud ana
about an inch above the upper one.
Three buds are enough. Tie the cut
tinxs in bundles and bury them in the
ground upside down. l do not know
why, but varieties that do not root
readily will root well if buried IN TINS
way and set in the ows in the spring.
In setting the cuttings IN sprIns SET
them so that the top bud will be just
above the ground. If the soil IS
ciayey, 1t will be better TO put some
sand in the bottom Of the trench IN
which to set the cuttings.
Cuttings of all hardy shrubs, such
ss the spireas, forsythias, deutzias,
etc. can be treated in the same way
as graz pc cuttings, and set out to
root in the spring. Cuttings OF the
Leconte pear, too, treated in this way
Will root easily. Cuttings OF the hardy
roses. such as the RemontantE, the
crimson Rambler and others can also
be treated in this way n will grow
readily IN spring. Cuttings of figs,
too. made from the past seasons
growth should be made now II
buried deeply in the earth till spring,
the set for roofing.
a subscriber asks: IF seed corn
is treated with carbon bisulfide will it
injure the termination. and will it
jrjure grain for food? Feeding sixty
eight steers, ] would like to know
il phosphate and potash are %sprinkled
III the manure Of the shed where they
feed, will it hurt their feet?" The
fumes Of the carbon bisulphide 0 0
pass off and 10 damage is done to the
grain for seed or food. There will be
TO danger in using acid phosphate In
the manure, but whether potash would
hurt the ~cattle's feet Or not, I am
unable to say, and would hardly ad-
wise it.
Mr.. Maxson found that an ad sold
his pears. and every farmer could
soon get a regular ciientage if he
~ NAoto AANU i'O AIhS ~ "IAC aIA1A
stated the price at which he will de-
Jiver these things. If an ad sold
pears. 1t will sell peppers turnips,
cabbases n anything else that peo-
pie IN the towns want. There is no
better way to get a customer han
through printers ink in the papers
Then, too, a s~ign-board on the road
leading to your place can be constant
~ stating what you have for sale.
Hiding ones light under h bushel
never sells products.
What per cen of potash is con
tanned in wood ashes: ! can get
some from a nearby brick kiln 70
half a cent a bushel." No one car
possibly say how large a percentage
Of potash may be in my certain 10
Of wood ashes without q chemica
ANALYSIS The amount will vary will
the kind Of wood from which the.
come, and the way they have beel
kept. Ashes from pine wood are yer,
low in potash. Ashes Of hardwood
like oak and hickory have a mucl
larger percentage of potash. Blu
even these will have lost a good dea'
II left exposed to the rains. tn
brick Kiln probably burns pine O.
and ashes are left outside. 1t woul
hardly be safe to estimate them a
more than 2 per cent in potash. o
hardwood ashes may contain from
10 10 per cent, or more Of potash
Then there is usually about SIS pc
cent OF lime and q small %percentaE
Of phosphoric acid. But at the prye
YOU name il will probably pay to US
The ashes up to a ton an acre.
Please tell how to make a Ere
heated hOtbed, and how many houl
a day the fire needs to be kept up:
To make a fire-heated bed it will /
necessary to make an excavation tt
SIZE OF the bed and build a furnat
like those used in tobacco barns, ope1
ing under a shed outside. The f,ue
run straight through the excavation
The sides are enclosed and q fran
above the ground mad to receive u
usual 3x6-fOot hOtbed sashes. A 1hu,
Se made a foot above the fiue on whit
u place the soil. for if the nue
run through the soil, ii would mai
a hot and dry streak. and Nnu nv