Year: 1878

CONDITION OF FRCIr TREKs.-Not one-tenth
to pay for the investment in growing them, all
because Of want Of care in the orchard, and
still we are credlting ourselves with being in
the front rank as fruit-growers. Let us look
to our trees.


APPLES TO EuRoPE.-The shipment OF Michi-
gan apples to European markets this season
direct line OF steamers from our lake porte, SO
that packages may be placed aboard carefully,
not to be disturbed until in London and Liver
pool. This undoubtedly will come with the
development of the Western traffic with foreign
ports Certainly there are many obstacles IN
the way, as the opening OF wider canals at
Niagara and on the ST. Lawrence; but these
will be overcome whenever the necessity is felt.
Until then, with the long railroad rule at this
end Of the route, we need not expect any
marked success in selling Michigan apples
abroad.


REMOVING BLOSSOMS.


The advantage OF picking off the blossoms as
SOON as they begin to fade, in order to keep
plants in flower and prevent the exhaustion
consequent on seed-bearing, has been often
urged. A correspondent Of the London Gar
den speaks OF having had continuous blooming
sweet peas in perfection till frost cut them
down, and he attributes this satisfactory result
mainly to cutting off the seed-pods regularly
once week, and secondly TO giving the root.
good soaking with manure water.


sIRAININa AND RESTRAINING THE WIND.


A tight board fence is not just the thing for
protection IN all cases. 1t is often better to
have hedge or pile Of boughs to protect choice
shrubs, so as to strain the wind and modify IT.
Mr.. Jonathan Perrien relates an instance where
he erected tight board fence as protection
to his hot-bed. The wind curved over it,
striking about the middle Of the sash and thus
cooling of the plants sufficiently directly un-
derneath as to freeze them.


BIPENINa PEARS.


Rusticus, writing from Montgomery county,
Pa, in the Fruit Recorder says: There is
more trouble in the management Of pears than
apples. Mine are rpened in the cellar, which
is well adapted for the purpose, which all cellars
are not. The requisites are 4 cool temperature,
to prevent any tendency to premature decay,
then dry temperature and uniform one with
free ventilation. I have benches erected around
the cellar about four feet from the door, on
which sawdust is spread. On these the pears
are laid and covered with some pieces OF old
carpet. Pears are removed as fast as they be-
come yellow and fit for market, even il not
this to their being fully ripe. AS cool weather
advances in the fall sometimes remove some
to warmer temperature, up stairs for few
days, but this is not often required


THE BURDocK BEATEN.


For years we have been troubled with bur-
docks, and, notwithstanding repeated moving
during the summer, they would form seed in
the fall. After many experiments a certain
and speedy remedy for the pests has been die
covered ia kerosene oil. II small quantity be
poured into the hearts of the plants, directly
after cutting, they will disappear entirely, roots
and stalk, leaving no trace OF their former
existence save small hole in earth where they
stood. This may be styled by General Noble
crude idea, but refined or crude oil will &C
compllsh the purpose equally as well. Rural
New Yorker


STICK TO YOUR FARM.


Trade in manufactured goods is playing some
queer pranks nowadays. A man or Q company
may work hard, expending much time and
money in perfecting some article Of general
use, and suddenly find that elsewhere some
one has been at the same work and can sell the
results for less money. A few years ago
England was the only country which manu-
fsctured cotton prints for export, while the
idea Of any one competing with her in her home
markets was laughed at as a bit Of insanity;
but day American prints are being worn by
operatives in English cotton mills having been
found to be prettier, better, and cheaper. Now
we hear that agents OF German cutters have
been to Sheffield, heretofore the acknowledged
center of the cutlery trade OF the world, and
sold their goods at prices which the home
manufacturers could not underbid. Sheffield
will continue to make knives and scissors and
no American will be foolish enough to hope
that the English print works will be closed. but
the illustrations which we have given OF the
fluctuations OF trade will show the American
farmer that businesses which he mournfully
considers more profitable than his own are
subject to drawbacks and dangers which the
agriculturalist never knows. Breadstuffs and
food materials Of every kind are always in de-
maud. and have toerably uniform value the
world over. No competition, no new farming
community that may be developed, can ever
affilct farmers with lockout" such as work
ers in the trades are constantly experiencing,
nor in tremendous failures like those which are
constantly startling the commercial world. The
| ovarstocLad manufacturer cannot eat his an