NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



273 



FRUIT GATHERERS. 



The upper cut represents an implement made of tin 

 or sheet iion. It is composed of a cup attached to a 

 handle, ^vith teeth on one side the cup, between 

 •which the stem of the fruit is received, when it is 

 forced from the tree, and falls into the vessel pre- 

 pared for its reception. In this way, fruit may be 

 gathered from high and extended limbs without 

 bruising, to wliich it is hable in falling from the tree. 



The lower cut represents an implement composed 

 of two cups of tin or other hght material, of suffi- 

 cient size to receive a large apple, attached to iron 

 arms, which are fixed at the end of a light pole. A 

 string passes along the pole, and is fastened to one of 

 the arms, and when it is drawn by the operator, they 

 close upon the fruit, which may be easily taken from 

 an J' part of the highest tree without the least injury. 



PRUNING SAAV AND CHISEL. 



This implement is very convenient for pruning 

 trees of elevated or high branches. The blade of 

 the saw is about a foot long, with one end attached 

 to the blade of a chisel, and the other to a projec- 

 tion from the socket. The chisel is several inches 

 wide, very thin, and of the best material. This 

 combined implement is attached to a pole of suitable 

 length, so that a person can stand on the ground and 

 trim his trees with convenience. 



USES OF SEA MUCK. 



The Agriculturist for July, in an article on ma- 

 nures, speaks thus of the beds of sea muck formed 

 or forming on the shores of this country : — 



There is enough of these deposits, in New Jersey, 

 to fertilize no inconsiderable portion of its hungry 

 and impoverished uplands. The same is true of 

 most of our sea-wasned coasts. Millions of wealth 

 lie buried in every marsh and stagnant pool, which 

 need-5 but half the capital and energy devoted to the 

 exhumation of California gold, to develop equal 

 wealth, and with far more certainty. 



There arc various ways of compounding and ap- 

 plying sea or swamp muck to the soil. The simplest 

 way, and one as generally profitable as any other, 

 unless other fertilizing matters can bo made by the 

 addition, is by throwing it up in heaps for partial 

 drainage and decomposition before applying ; or if 

 the land be a hungry, silicious (sandy or gravelly) 

 soil, apply it as soon as taken out of its bod, when 

 sufficiently dried for economical removal. The sand 

 will seize upon this new food with great avidity, and 

 will rapidly decompose and convert it into vegetable 

 manure. The salt in all such as is exposed to the 

 ocean tides will add materially to its value for ma- 

 nure. 



If the application is to be made to clays or adhe- 

 sive lands, then the muck should first undergo par- 

 tial decom]iosition. To effect this, several modes 

 may be adojjted. It may be most advantageously 

 thrown into the cattlc-yard& and pens, or privies, to 



absorb and become incorporated with the urine and 

 droppings ; or it may receive the wash of the house, 

 the road-side, the offal from slaughter-houses, mclt- 

 ers' shops, tanneries, woollen manufactories, and the 

 like. In this way, it becomes decomposed and every 

 way fitted for the greatest utility ; but it also acts ^s 

 an absorbent, or a strong box to hoard those soluble or 

 volatile matters that would escape into adjacent riv- 

 ulets, or evaporate in the air. The value of tliis m.a- 

 terial, when applied in this way, is incalculable, and 

 it should always be used to the firUest extent of its 

 useful agency. 



Eut when at remote distances from the cattle- 

 yards, or it is wanted in quantities much beyond 

 what can be prepared in this way, we have found 

 lime (unslaked, or quicklime) to be the most 

 efficient decomposer of these muck beds. They are 

 frequently filled with hard, fibrous, wiry roots and 

 stalks, which might lie undecomposed for yeais in 

 many compact soils. But when brought into con- 

 tact with lime, all those and similar matters are 

 readily converted into finely divided manure, which 

 is capable at once of yielding its nutritious substance 

 to the growing plant. This mixture may then be 

 added to other manures, or appUed oir any soils or 

 crops with the utmost benefit. 



ROSE CUTTINGS. 



One of the best methods of securing the success 

 of these, is to stick the cutting about an inch deep 

 into clean river sand, with properly prepared soil 

 about an inch below, to receive the roots as soon as 

 they strike. The clean sand prevents the roots from 

 rotting. A correspondent of the Horticulturist suc- 

 ceeded with this when every other mode failed, and 

 says he does not lose one in twenty. 



We would add, that if the cuttings are thrown 

 into water for a day or two, they are much more 

 likely to grow. They should of course be placed 

 under glass during winter and the continuance of 

 frost. The last half of this month and the first week 

 of next month is the time to set out. The cutting 

 are necessarily of this year's growth. — Ttlcgrajjh. 



