122 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[August, 



heuop till necessity of line upon line touching 

 this hackneyed theme. Both theory and 

 practice point unerringly to the fact that, as 

 a tree is a living body governed by organic 

 laws, the process of removal must necessarily 

 interfere very materially with its functions, 

 and, with the best of care, is frequently fatal. 

 Any one at all acquainted with the laws of 

 vegetable physiology is fully aware of the 

 severe shock that a tree's system sustains 

 when displaced from the ground, thereby 

 causing an arrest of circulation that is con- 

 stantly going on between the tree's system 

 and the soil from which so much of its nour- 

 ishment is derived. Every tiny fibre destroyed, 

 small and unimportant as it may appear, does 

 certainly lessen the chances for success, and 

 when the greater portion of these vital organs 

 are removed, as is too often the case, the tree 

 is very little superior to a cutting, that is 

 forced to depend upon its own vitality to sup- 

 ply an entirely new set of roots, before growth 

 can take place. 



The alarming extent to which evaporation 

 constantly reduces the system, while the tree 

 is out of the ground, is another cause of 

 failure, and one that is especially overlooked. 

 To test the truth of this statement it is only 

 necessary to allow a tree to lay out of the 

 ground without an adequate supply of mois- 

 tui e for a few hours, when the shriveled bark 

 will bear ample testimony to the fact. As a 

 matter of course exposure to the sun's rays as 

 well as to the dying effect of high winds, will 

 liasten the ill effects before alluded to, so that 

 to a neglect of this important feature in trans- 

 planting is attributable a very large propor- 

 tion of the failures. Vitality may be fre- 

 quently restored to shriveled and dried tissues 

 by simply burying the entire tree underground 

 for a short time, after having thoroughly 

 soaked the soil with water, but we should pre- 

 fer to guard against abuse, rather than be 

 obliged to resort to remedies which are uncer- 

 tain, and at best only a partial relief. 



At the very outset it ia the duty of every 

 planter to bear in mind how necessary it is to 

 preserve the roots from injury, therefore 

 a trench should be dug around the tree at 

 such a distance from the body as will prevent 

 the spade from coming in contact with the 

 ends of the small rootlets. AVhen at a suffi- 

 cient depth the ball of earth must be carefully 

 determined, using the edge of the spade, or, 

 better still, a pick, and the soil as loosened 

 thrown out of the excavation. Should there 

 be a taproot it may be cut off as low down as 

 possible, and the remaining earth gradually 

 worked away, leaving the roots exposed. And 

 now comes another very important feature in 

 the operation, which is to keep every portion 

 of the top and roots moist until planted in its 

 new home. Our best cultivators spread an 

 old carpet, or similar material, over the roots 

 to preserve them from dying rapidly, and 

 sprinkle freely with water. 



Very little judgment is required in excavat- 

 ing the holes for planting ; the only reciuire- 

 ment being sufficient space to allow the roots 

 to be placed in a natuaal position, and to 

 avoid cramping or bending them in the least. 

 Many err in tlie depth the holes should be 

 dug, under the impression that a tree needs 

 plenty of good rich soil beneath it ; and as 

 this is Just where a tree does not desire nutri- 



ment, the application at this point is a waste 

 of fertilizing material, as well as of time. 

 Roots for the most part feed near the surface, 

 and compost, of whatsoever character, ought | 

 to be plaeed over the ground after the tree is | 

 planted. Therefore, as a very general rule, i 

 dig the holes no deeper than the roots extend, | 

 but as wide as you choose. Although theory 

 is opposed to puddling the roots in thin mud, 

 practice demonstrates the wisdom of it. By 

 this method tlie small fibres are all drawn into 

 bundles and encased in a coating of mud, | 

 through which the young rootlets penetrate 

 easily in search of nutriment when growth 

 begins. 



In case of drouth at the time of planting, 

 this puddling system is of incalculable benefit, 

 as it seems to retain its moisture even after j 

 the surrounding soil has become quite dry. 

 Avoid deep planting, is another maxim to be 

 constantly borne in mind. Many trees are 

 actually smothered to death by burying the 

 roots too deep. It is far preferable of the two j 

 extremes to set the tree on the surface of the | 

 ground and cover with soil than to place the I 

 roots beyond the action of the air; but a I 

 happy medium is better than either, taking as I 

 a guide the depth they were in before removal, I 

 or, if any change is made, allowing them to j 

 stand even more shallow. When filling in the j 

 soil pains should be exercised to have it finely I 

 pulverized, so that it will fill all the little in- 

 terstices betweeen the roots— a work that can j 

 never be properly performed with clods and 

 stones. To do this correctly requires the use 

 of the hands for pushing in the earth where 

 no tool can penetrate. 



Whenever the soil is in the least dry it 

 should be occasionally sprinkled as the filling 

 progresses, which materially assists the next 

 operation, that of "firming" the soil. This 

 is comparatively of recent introduction, but 

 a discovery in tree-planting that has saved a 

 great number of trees for those who have been 

 wise enough to practice it. It is merely stamp- 

 ing, or, better still, pounding the soil with a 

 "rammer," so as to make the fresh mould 

 firm and compact around the roots, and to 

 prevent any air passages among them. By 

 this system every small rootlet is brought into 

 immediate contact with the fresh earth, and 

 consequently is induced to start into immedi- 

 ate growth so soon as the buds begin work- 

 ing, or even before. 



Staking the tree is an absolute necessity to 

 prevent swaying around by the wind. During 

 rain-storms the surface of the ground becomes 

 very soft, and the movement of the top of the 

 tree creates a corresponding displacement of 

 the roots, resulting in injury if not death. 

 Mulching must in no case be dispensed with, 

 as its object is to preserve the soil moist, and 

 to prevent any extreme atmosphric changes 

 from damaging the fibres during the struggle 

 to regain a fair hold. Occasionally this is 

 overdone by some enthusiasts, who unmind- 

 ful of the fact that we mulch for shade only, 

 places a great mass of decaying matter around 

 his trQ,e, only to inagurate disease below. In 

 every portion of the work good judgment 

 should discriminate between extremes. -Josia/i 

 Hoopes in the Tributie. 



A correspondent of the Indiana Farniir re- 

 commends squash as a cheap green food for 

 stock in winter. 



DRYING TOMATOES. 



In Italy an extensive business is carried on 

 in drying tomatoes to use during those por- 

 tions of the year when the ripe fruit cannot 

 be obtained. Tomatoes are raised for the 

 most part between rows of grapevines; so that 

 the land for their culture costs nothing. 

 Sometimes the tomato vines are trained on 

 the lower bars of a trellis to which grapes are 

 attached. The tomatoes are allowed to re- 

 main on the branches till they are quite ripe, 

 when they are picked and pressed in bags 

 made of coarse cloth, which allows the pulp 

 to pass through, but which retains the seeds 

 and skins. The pulp is then thinly spread 

 out on cloths, boards, or in shallow dishes, 

 and exposed to the sun to dry. When it has 

 become quite dry it is broken up fine or 

 ground and put into boxes or bags and sent to 

 market. A large part of it is used for mak- 

 ing soups, but considerable of it is employed 

 as we do tomatoes that are preserved in tin or 

 glass cans. It is soaked for a few hours in 

 warm water and then cooked in the ordinary 

 manner. Large quantities are used for home 

 consumption, and considerable is exported. 

 This would seem to be a profitable industry to 

 engage in in this country. There is a great 

 prejudice against canned tomatoes, as many 

 of them are poisonous, or at least unwhole- 

 some. The acid juice they contain unites 

 with the solder of the tin cans and forms a 

 compound that often causes severe sickness. 

 The pulp of tomatoes should be dried to good 

 advantage in any of the styles of apparatus 

 employed for drying apples, peaches and 

 small fruits. 



AN AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL FOR 

 GIRLS IN NORMANDY. 



In a recent pamphlet by Madame Ciminio 

 FoUiero, a well-known authoress, and the 

 editress of the Cornelia, a periodical devoted 

 to the interests of Florentine women, an ac- 

 count is given of an agricultural school for 

 girls, which we give in a condensed form. 

 The Atelier Refuge of Danetal near Rouen, 

 was established about thirty years ago as a 

 reformatory for young girls coming out of 

 prison, by M. Podoin, formerly chaplain to 

 the jail at Rouen, and Mdlle. Marie Earnes- 

 tine, official visitor of the prison of Bicetre. 



One day, some thirty years ago, two little 

 girls were discharged from the prison of 

 Bicetre, their sentence having expired. They 

 had no home to go to, and begged with tears 

 to be allowed to remain in the prison. Of 

 course it was impossible to grant their re- 

 quest, but the heart of Mile. Farnestine was 

 touched at the pitiful sight of these children 

 and knowing well the dangers that awaited 

 them in the streets of Rouen, determined to 

 take charge of them. But how was she to do 

 this ? Sae had only seventeen cents in 

 money. She took the little girls in her room, 

 and wrote about them to M. Podin. His re- 

 ply was, " Look out for a room, buy a loaf 

 and a candle, and some straw for a bed ; to- 

 morrow God will provide." Thus a begin- 

 ning was made. Year by year they received 

 fresh inmates. Aid came from many benevo- 

 lent people. A house with land adjoining 

 and some goats were their first possession. 

 M. Podin and Mdlle. Farnestine studied agri- 



