Evening star., 1915-12-26
All Around the Place.

All Around the Place.
Fall or winter pruning of grape
vines in the home garden, as well as
on the commercial plantation, may be
done at any time during mild weather
while the vines are in a dormant con-
dition. In general, the period from
November to March gives the most
satisfactory results, but the work
should in all cases be done at least a
week or ten days before the vines are
likely to start into growth.
In the colder sections of the coun-
try. wherever varieties not hardy
enough to withstand severe winters
are grown, the vines must be artif1-
cially protected. Under such circum-
stances the vines should be pruned as
soon they become dormant The
system of pruning should be such as to
easily admit of laying down the stalk
and canes for next seasons fruit pro-
duction. The next step is to cover
in such way as to protect them from
severe or repeated freezing and thaw-
ing, and to leave them so covered until
just before the season for growth the
following spring.
The vine normally produces its fruit
on shoots of the current season 8
growth, which in turn grow from buds
developed the previous season. All
pruning must therefore, be based on
this characteristic of the plant. After
determining the system of pruning
best suited to the conditions. species
handled, during its early life, as to
develop a general framework of the
type desired.
the planting of the vines is determined
by the character of the growth made
by the plants. If the growth has been
short and weak all the wood except
the strongest shoot should be removed
and this should be cut back to two or
three buds. If strong growth has
been made and there is one straight
we'll ripened shoot, all other growth
should be removed, and this cane cut
back to the height at which it is in
tended to head the vine. This will con-
centrate all the force and growth of
the plant into the cane which is to
become the trunk of the vine. From
this only such shoots should be allow
ed to grow as are needed for shaping
the vine for the following, Its first,
fruiting season. After this frame
work has been established. the fruit
bearing part OF the plant should be SO
pruned that 1t will be renewed from
year to year and SO adjusted to the
variety and the food supply as never
to allow the plant to overbear. but AT
the same time to induce 1t to bear its
full capacity. Under such treatment
the body of the plant will gradually
become stronger and its fruiting ca
pacity will increase correspondingly.
The manner of renewing the bearing
wood of a vine depends in large
measure on the species to which the
variety belongs and the kind or trellis
used for training it.
Not only do different countries have
different methods of pruning and train
ing but methods often vary in the sew
eral districts of the same country
Those interested in the methods of
try will find them illustrated and
described in Farmers Bulletin No. All,
entitled Grape Propagation. Pruning
and Training" which can - had free
on application to the department.
Cows will do very well when fed
nothing but alfalfa hay and ground
these feeds supplemented with some
succulent food like roots or silage or
pasture.
II is well to take a small portion of
tks alfalfa hay. chop it fine. moisten
II from twelve to twenty-four hours
before feeding. and then mix II with
becomes lightened and the moistening
OF the crop and alfalfa hay adds a
little variety 10 the ration.
cottonseed meal may be fed at the
rate of ore pound to each animal, but
II is not necessary. as the alfalfa hay
needs Oil meal would be better
feed to use. IL it could be purchased
at the same or even at little higher
price Oil meal is splendid feed to
use when animals are receiving no sue
culence.
The cold weather prevents the dairy
barn from smelling as loudly as 1t
does in summer. but the filth is there
lust the same, and needs nothing more
than heat to set IL to producing bad
germs by the million.
Not only raise the heifer calves from
the best cows. but raise them well.
Heredity is important in many lines of
that the eye of the master fattens
the cattle
1t Is not necessary 70 build a real
house" TO provide smokeless facilities
for home curing. A bottomiess barrel
may be made to serve the purpose.
Dig little trench into a hillside.
making a fire box a foot wide and
with a piece OF sheet iron, leaving a
smoke hole ct the upper end. Place
the bottomless barrel over this smoke
hole. chimney fashion. lay a stick
across the top of the barrel to hang
the meat on. put cover on the barrel
so as TO keep rain out without cut
tlnR on tbe dT3It. get a little piece
Of tin or sheet iron TO serve as door
to the furnace. and the smokehouse is
made.
Start a good roads -to-town" move
ment in your neighborhood. and II will
not be long before the farm is set
down from ten minutes to an hour
nearer market
More than 5000. .000. 900 has been spent
by the various states on 81 600 miles OF
state highways. About 11.000 miles
have been built within the last two
years. Only seven states have no form
Of state highway department.
Many mixers object to brushing 8
cows sides and washing the udder be.
cause IT requires ten minutes time
Such men have no business handling
cows
In addition to high food value, silags
supplies succulence. which makes 1,
easily digestible and keeps the sys
TENS of the cows toned up, This tend.
to provide June conditions In the dairy
in January and results In . full mill