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Show FARM AND GARDEN. MATTERS OF INTEREST AGRICULTURISTS. Som TO llmH About fullira-liovt the Soil ami Yield Thereof Horticulture, auii te n liuii-cultur- e. -.? i ''r ',: i 4 i f, V t I'lcrv. s a e grovor tif fifteen years e;. per it ace I may be 11 aiae io give n'.v brother u truckers knv mis that won! J give thoni a speedy return for money invested, says a writer in American You Gardening. may but it resay, "Yes, quires experience to raise good marketable this incelery, and volves time, labor and expense." Years ago, before the advent of the sorts, I will admit that this was in a measure true, but since the introduction tif the Golden White Plume, and Giant Pascal (and right here I would say, there are nc better sorts), it requires but little more experience to grow a good crop of celery than it does to produce one of cabbage or beet. First begin properly by buying seed of some reliable seedman. Now select a plot of fine loamy soil; if black, all the better. Spade this to a depth of at least one foot, as early in the spring as the ground can be worked, then with a rake level off smoothly, and lay out beds two feet wide, but do not raise them more than can be helped. If the ground is not very rich, now is the time to make it so, by some good brand of superphosphate, say a peck to each rod of bed. This must be raked in to a depth of five or six inches, then again carefully rake the beds lengthwise. This done, draw marks crosswise. These must be very shallow, and eight inches apart; seed may now be sown quite thickly and covered by sifting fine earth over it so as just to hide the seeds. Firm down, either with light roller or otherwise. As celery seed requires a long time to germinate, the beds must be sprinkled once a day if the weather be dry. If this preliminary work has been well done, in about three weeks you will have a fine bed of plants, which may be thinned to about one inch apart in the row. All the attention now required will be to keep the beds free from weeds, and give water when dry until about the first of July, when the plantf? should be removed to the field. A swamp nuck is undoubtedly the best and most natural ground on which to grow celery. It should be well drained and made very rich, and be well fitted. The rows should be made four feet apart, and it is wel) to sink the rows an inch or two. Holes for receiving the plants should be set firmly and the soil, if dry, pressed with the feet; the plants must be watered until established. Nothing more need be done for six weeks except to keep all well cultivated and Tree from weeds; by that time the plants will have attained about one foot c.f growth, and banking must begin. This branch of celery culture has until recently been a slow and tedious operation. The push scraper is now uied by all progressive growers; this iB ft simple tool and easily made by tny one in a few minutes. Take a board six inches wide, fifteen inches of an inch thick, long, bore a hole in the center and insert a handle (a rake handle is just the ihing) sloping back at a convenient angle; now brace it and you have a push scraper. It now requires two men with "push scrapers" one each side of row; the earth should be push-t- d gently against the plants, this makes a banking of about six inches, and gets e no more dirt in the hearts than the handling, and is much more expeditious; besides, the plants are in tetter shape for banking properly, which can be done with hoe or spade, is the operator may see fit. The earth should be drawn nearly to the top of sorts plants, and if the have been used, this will be all tbe banking required, and in about three weeks there will be a fine crop of I) self-bleachi- steel-tooth- ed ap-nlyi- ng three-fourt- old-tim- celery. Giant Fir of Wiihlncton. tree that rivals in height and age the monarchs of the redwood forests in California has just been cut into sections out in the slate of Washington, says a writer in St. Paul's Pioneer Press. All the terms which have been invented to describe big trees could be applied to this mammoth without flattery or exaggeration. An idea of its size may be gained from the fact that if sawed into inch strip., the lumber made from the tree would sized freight fill ten of the largest if placed of wood, the and cars, strips end to end, would reach from the town where the tree now is New Whatcom, Wash. across the waters of the Facific Ocean to the land of Li Hung Chang. The total height of the tree, as it stood before being felled of was 463 feet, or about mile. To the point where the first A one-eleven- th cut was '.20 feet. At the the circumference w.u Jo mi 11 inches. to be S3 There w.u not th.vughout the tree the slight st la ali the indication of urir'ouuiiutvs. forests of Washington there is tot a tree, your:- - er old, which would make iiutr itimhcr than this. There is a way to tell ;he a..e of every tree, jj.-,t a there is to learn how many yars a horse had lived. With the tree the tha IToLktii is solved by studying number oi rings that are clearly dtj- cot niule when the saw has severed tua great mas of wood into sections. Thid test, applied to the Washington tree, fcLov.ed that it was at Uast 4i4 years since the day when it became u sapling in t he heart of the Cascade mountains. There are tierce storms iii the Cascades every winter. The wiim blows tremendously and the snow falla a good deal alter the same fashion that it does in the Rocky Mountains. But the big tree has gone alt through this weather for almost live centuries, and if man had only let it alone it would have been none the worse for wear. The men who own the tree in its present form have submitted to scientists the question regarding the changes which undoubtedly took place around it during the centuries that have intervened since it began to grow. Of course, it is impossible to examine in detail the forests of the Cascade Mountains, but so far as investigation has demonstrated the big tree was th oldest .a the state of Washington Scientists hold that the facts stated prove that there has been no material change in the earth's surface in the state of Washington and probably in the entire territory of the United States for at least 500 years. It Las been held by some that the surface of the earth in the far western sections of our country differed materially from what it is even with sc recent a period from the scientific point of view, as five centuries ago. Hence the big tree completely disproves the cherished theory. It is quite likely the wooded giant was a tiny sapling in the days when Columbus first discovered the West Indies. It has grown steadily and without opposition since that date. The tree was as straight as an arrow from ite base to the first limb, 220 feet, and curiously enough, the trunk maintained an equally stern position to the topmost point. Ti ATT? limb bci-- wi-e- ! 1. : j un- markets with California peaches at better prices. With Georgia, Michigan and Missouri producing such great quantities of peaches, nothing short of cooperation on the part of the peach growers of these sections will prevent great disaster in glutting markets. Ex. The Kan. rss apple king. Judge Wellhouse, who has the largest applo orchard in the a year rolls the clover down with a heavy roller provided with knives similar to those of a stalk cutter. The clover reseeds itself. Ex. The best preaching la not always pulpit. ' ' flavor. Many Missouri peaches last year were packed in California style boxes and sold ln somo done in tb : '1 in world, seeds his orchard to clover aa soon as they begin bearing, and twice e I New Orchards. Thovands of acrea of peach orchard! rrl come into bearing in Southern Missouri this year. The Ozark Mountain region will soon be one vast orchard. The peaches and apples Kansas Apple Orchard. -- V.'ithoMt p'-ie- ia-:- Budd. A Hulri of Aiietimi Sates of IlnlbH, invidious comparison tfct et the is glossy Mack Chicago horse market is the largest r.'ituh.-utthe Met'ed (3s. 8) nre of cHPTrRS FOR in the world to buy horses, eithei I N T F REST I N G n b'ack and v hite in win??, tail t pnvr. "e tales or at OUR F.URAL READ us. public auctions. k! s.ei.ks, kiid the balance of the annul is told in :r a guaran- 1'. ..::.(,. :.'.v mixed with white te, ,j ,.. pi eeiitatio!., and is tried by the TtiU w Meoef ill ai.d ;..,! kite Java is, as tne I'hivht! er befora being accepted, and 1 i'euof l!l tf ia; "are v. ite thru! mhtiut. mu,-- : be in all of l.u respects according to Hint aa to the Tl, haw a aill sin, !? comb. fctand- - the conditions of the sale. All kinds ili e kuii l'ouitr). ;rieht un the head in both male of vehu-lfand appliances are at hand alii e:uaie heir shanks and toes to show horses according to their sevare live fro: :n feathers, yellow in color, eral The Tow an,i ,r Iiri as drafters, drivers or either me?, a. :;yraan ith lh Lottoin of l'eet yellow. The F sales are void if the and all t .vintS tl") :.t ,;: i. staiulan weight tif cocks is 9',L saddUrs, animals fail to perform according to S: sdt to a hens, r, nuaie pounds; cockerels, the reeo:mne:nl. -a; .!,; and pullets, fiJ pounds. SIT!'- A horiD gold sound must be so 'n . i lamiiniques. Similarity in plumage acta in w i km) every particular, free from vices and of the American Dominique and i!tHk giving t.mv.s able to pass a perfect veterinary examin the stable, and barred Plymouth Rock has been the ination. Their of the former's popularity. tin ui water price give A horse sold serviccably sound must each feather color is grayish-whitin such a way that be a sound "horse for all useful virtually of crossed with parallel bars the vveiuht drunk regularly of his class. He must be perpurposes a of effect the producing by each cow can bluish-tinge- d fect in eyes, wind, not lame, not a color the being plumage, i,e aset mined, and the same throughout. The illustra- cribbcr, and be able to do as much work t li a t each cow tion so be on hand of liarred Plymouth Rock feath- as a perfectly sound horse. He can be xvi:i li' all rf)p ers will do equally well for the mark- serviceably sound and be a little roundmay have writes John ings of the feathers of the it, wants and when she Dominique. ing on the curb joint, but not curbed or Gould in Country Gentleman. We have They have rose combs, in both male branded. He cannot be scarred from been through a little experience of this and female, and bright yellow legs. fistula, or have a hip down, but may kind, and the quantity drunk by each Those who are partial to their color be slightly cut out at the knee, or cow was found out. It is an experof plumage will find the Dominique a puffvd a little about the ankles. He iment one will not care to follow up good bird to keep. They are good lay- cannot have scars or blemishes that more than a week, before the faucet at ers, hardy, mature early, and dress constitute deformities, or blemishes the big tank will he turned, and the well for the table. The standard and scars that deteriorate his value cows drink out of the basins again. The weight of cocks is SV pounds; hens, more than a trifle or that in any way trial was made with six cows, and it CVa pounds; cockerels, 7 pounds; and impair his usefulness for work. Car was fond that the average quantity pullets, 5Va pounds. bruises must be of a temporary nature. consumed daily varied with individual A horse sold to wind and work must cows from 70 to 140 pounds. One cow Horses I) er read Inc. be sound in wind, a good worker, not a drank this last quantity daily right The large majority of farmers who ribber or weaver, and everything elsa along, and some the smaller quantity, own horses seem to be quite anxious to goes with him. with an average of 90 pounds each. get rid of them, even at low prices. A horse sold for a worker only must Another thing we found was that some Where the farm is mortgaged, and the be a good worker, and all Imperfections i. drink very often, of the cows would horses can be spared better than anywith him. go e., their buckets would be frequently thing else on the farm, this Is all right, A horse negotiated at the halter is found empty, and others drank at long as it is better to lose the horse than the sold Just as he stands, all imperfeccow one wanted about er intervals; and home; but where it is not, we regard it hours supply at as very unwise and foolish, says the tions, blemishes and unsoundness go all her twenty-fou- r recomone time, and would only drink a little Kentucky Stock Farm. In a country with him. He is sold without towards night. As these cows were like ours, where one extreme follows mend, the title only is guaranteed. Whether the animal is sold to work being fed 50 pounds each of ensilage another, it is not wise to float with the or double, he must have all other single once that succulent current or follow the herd. From 1880 a day, it is seen at recommended by the auv qualities 1890 to we did any not food bred entirely too many important part play tioneer at the time of his sale. Any ia the economy of drinking water. It horses of all classes, and as a natural horse proving different from the recommend on which he is sold can be rejected, but the purchaser must examine and try the animal on the day it is sold, or within the required time specified by the rules and regulations governing sales adopted by the Horsa nut ' m: Commission Union at the Stock Yards. The prices quoted in the horse auction reports are for horses sold on ths block to the highest bidder. The sales made at retail are not published un less they are for extra choice animals that sold considerably Ubove the regular auction quotations, says Drovers' Journal. Domestic and foreign buyers carefully inspect all the arrivals as soon as reported, ana as many anVmits ae possible that will fill their orders are purchased privately, dealers pre-- r." V7a- TTjaJwjr-ferring this method, as it gives them more time to examine and try their purchases than can be accorded wheie horses are sold under the hammer at the speed of sixty to eighty offerings PAIR OF BIACK JAVA3. per hour. Horses sold at private retail generally command better prices than was also found that the desire of a cow onsequence we are now suffering a horses negotiated In the auction, alfor water was about an hour after eat- period of low prices. Our next predica though there are many exceptions to ing, but the evening thirst was never so aient, if all signs do not fail, will be a this rule, the spirit of the bidder cregreat as in the morning. With some great scarcity of horses. We base this ating competition, and buyers, relying of the cows there was some variation opinion upon the fact that everybody an each other's Judgment, bid the offe--I;s selling and that very few are breed in the quantity of water consumed a to up price above his retail value. daily, but with others it was as steady ing. We do not believe there are more There is no uniformity among shippers in quantity as standard measure. In than 10 per cent of the horses being as to methods in disposing of their conthat this there might be some variation in bred in the United States one shipper selling all the signments, results from some other herd not so there were six years ago. This can horses he can privately out of his load, aot possibly help but produce a great cared for; these cows being continuousand another shipper reserving all hl3 shortage, and this shortage in supply ly stabled at the time of the experithe auction, with the expeccan have but one effect namely, to in- horses for ment, while a herd that ran the better offerings will tation that more or less might show different re- crease the price. As It takes five years help sell the plain and medium kind. :o produce a colt, and as sults. In another thing I was conBuyers, however, prefer purchasing at vinced, that a cow did better that the time can not be abridged by any retail and for the superior advantage possible means, and as the breeding be- It gives them to find out the drank several times a day, and so conquality cf vinced was I of this, that a watering gan to fall off quite materially in 1893, their are willing to they purchases system for the cow stables was put in four years ago, the shortage is bound pay a higher price privately than they several years ago: and my opinion of to begin to manifest Itself inside of the would bid In the auction. The excep-tio- u their value has never changed, more next two years. The produce of mares to this rule is in those instances than a more thorough belief in their bred this season will not be four years where a prospective buyer has thorpromoting the mill: flow; and if our old, or ready for market, before 1902, oughly inspected and tried a home becohs wera to be tamed out every day and between this and that time fore he is put up under the hammer. we predict that there will be a much for exercise, I should net connect outwith to shortage of horses of all kinds It, hold but greater the door drinking A Berry Picking Army. A report been seen in this country for has than basin. In connecthis water manger from Sarcoxle, Mo., May 13, says the tion there is another point I think of many years. Breeder and Sportsman. strawberry picking season has opened importance, and that is in stabH waterhere with a great and picturesque The Sarcoxle ing there is uniformity of the temperaHens. Sitting hens never gathering of people. Sitting ture of the water, and the cow, being get fat. In fact, with eome of the per- Horticultural Association controlling a habituated to drinking water at say sistent sitters of the Asiatic breeds, farm of 1,400 acres In strawberries, ad52 degrees day after day as the water the to which they ex- vertised for 10,000 pickers. Their cirin my big stable tank indicates Is not pose themselves is, perhaps, better for culars were responded to by fully subjected to the eitreme temperature their future as egg producers than people, who are now besieging the drinking water, and high feeding would be. Still it is not hotels and lodging houses of Sarcoxle. ranges of air included, and she must do the bet- best to let this starvation go too far. The overflow has been so great that ter for this uniformity, with the shocKS The hen will not eat nor drink much, thousands were forced to sleep upon to the cow's systen eliminated. but If feed and drink are offered early the ground and prepare their meals In in the morning, some of both will oe hastily improvised dugouts or shanStandard Varlft1'' "t Chlckm. We never teed a sitting hen ties constructed of branches and leaves. taken. Javas. This variety is the oldest of but wheat, and do not give The line of campers extends for ten anything the American class, and at one time of that. It Is more impomuch miles along the shores of the Spring very was' considered the most profitable of rtant that the hen drink freely than river. Men representing almost every all breeds. At present they are not much. She will sometimes known avocation are liere. Some of eat she that raised extensively; lhe more modern drink if milk is offered to her at night. them have Been better days, but povor newer breeds have seemingly supWith wheat in the morning and milk has forced them to leave cities planted their favoritism. There is no at night, the hen will lose fat, but will erty have sought the field to keep and they siould be bo, as they reason why this to go to lay- soul and body together. and healthier ready be are practical and Pd general-purpos- e by the time her clutch of fowl3. In size they are about like the ing again i3 grown large enough to chickens It is a mistake for the beef breeder Plymouth Rocks, W differ in general care for themselves. Ex. think that he is benefitted by the to symmetry and ap?carance. They are imall amount of beef fat that is used do well In winter, and good layers and n making spurious butter. Ills beef for table purposes they make nice Every neighborhood has a farmer fiver-agthan the competes with himself in this way: 'at eating. They maure early, are good little more progressive it makes dairying unprofitable, and one who always has the best of Bitters and mothers, and are easily the dairymen Into raising Irives are the to persona There are three everything. These kept in confinementThis Increases the competition teeves. for stock, for improved to go varieties of Javas- Black. Mottled and whom beef In n raising, and consequently force th White. The Blac is more generally advice as to breeds, for lessons the 'own price. een than the otbers, though the Mot- - care of stock. V I.ihw. A few years ago the writer agreed with the popular opinion that the good old Lilac purple and white of the old homestead would be spoiled by any attempts to enlarge or double its flowers or modify in any way its peculiar fragrance. But the lover o the good old varieties must decide in fav of the best new sorts after careful examination. The foilage is better, they blossom profusely when much younger, the trusses of bloom are larger, the petals are larger and thicker, the fragrance is more delicate, and the doubling of the flowers of some of them give the rich expression and even the colors of the best Hyacinth. Of the single flowering sorts, well tested in Iowa, one of the best is Charles X. It is a strong grower, has good foliage, and its very large reddish purple trusses are delicately fragrant. Of the white single varieties Maria Legrayne is one of the best. It flowers wbs; very young and its pure white trusses are large, well formed, and very fragrant. Of the double varieties wg highly prize the following: President Carnot, trusses very large, flowers perfectly double with a peculiar mixed expression of light blue, piak and white. Pyramldalis has very large compounc clusters that divide into small trusses resembling the light blue hyacinth spike. Its fragrance is peculiarly fine. Madame Jule3 Finger, blooms very young, trusses very large, quite compact, flowers large, perfectly double. Leon Simon only differs from the above in the color of its flowers being darker in its purple and blue shades. Mons Maxime Cornu is mentioned last but in bush, leaves, great trusses of double flowers, and rich fragrance it is one of the best. The only purpose of theao notes is to draw attention to the remarkable advances made in improving this good old shrub. Prof. J. L excelled rf ,lte ears trfT1 vcry cn" ' fr..!i'.y rej resented at the shows. Tl tTl . t New froil that section are pronounced POULTRY T) A .. a The Old aul V e, blue-blac- k, . ''yi.rit yfek- - U-s'-J 4 -- ng to-d- ay out-doo- rs four-year-o- ld semi-starvati- 20,-0- out-do- or e, - - I 00 |