188 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



JtJNB 



THE KASPBEKRY — Bubus Idaeus. 



This, like the gooseberry, is au indigeuous pro- 

 duction, and common in most parts of the State. 

 It is a robust and healthy plant, and when prop- 

 erly cultivated, a prolific and steady bearer. The 

 plants may be set either in spring or autumn — 

 though we prefer the spring — and should be well 

 manured with old compost, formed of animal ex- 

 crement, well decomposed forest leaves, and wood 

 ashes or slaked lime. A slight quantity of gj-p- 

 sum will be found beneficial. The soil apparently 

 best adapted to this fruit, is a light, and rather 

 warm loam, approaching to sand, with a free and 

 pervious subsoil. In setting, it is a good plan not 

 to crowd the plants. Three feet between the 

 rows, and the hills three feet apart, is near enough ; 

 or if in drills, the plants should not stand nearer 

 than eighteen inches of each other. 



The soil requires considerable attention — that 

 is, as much as com when it is weU-tended — and 

 should be carefully and frequently worked, to keep 

 down the weeds, and retain the surface in a Ught, 

 moist, and permeable condition, particvdarly while 

 the plants are taking root. 



If too great a development of top should be the 

 consequence of this treatment, the pruning knife 

 should be applied, and the superabundant shoots 

 topped off. This will throw the reproductive force 

 of the system into their stems and larger branches, 

 and secure greater strength, which, in time, will 

 admit a more full development of their upper 

 parts. 



Unfermented manure, is never so good as that 

 which has been decomposed or composted, but if 

 none but unfermented is at hand, let it be made 

 as fine as possible, and when it is applied, mingled 

 intimately with the soiL 



Among aU the smaU fruits, perhaps there is 

 none more easily produced than the raspberry. 

 There is really no difficulty in its cultivation. It 

 requires no more skill than to produce so many 

 hills of com, and the family of every farmer 

 ought to be bountifully supplied with it through- 

 out its season. A saucer of this fmit at breakfast 

 will be more palatable to those who are not en- 

 gaged in severe and exhausting labor, than meat, 

 and will be sufficiently nutritious. Indeed, in 

 warm weather, we believe our whole population 

 would be more healthy, and capable of enduring 

 more hard labor, if a considerable portion of their 

 diet was made up of the fresh and delicious fruits 

 with which our gardens might abound, instead of 

 the stimulating meats which are so common upon 

 our tables. 



In the spring, as soon as the snow has left the 

 gfround, the dead canes in the hills should be taken 

 out, together with any of the living ones beyond 

 three or four of the best, which should be left and 

 tied to a suke or trellis-work. This prevents 



them from falling over when in full foliage, and 

 admits the sun, light and air among theii- branches, 

 and enables them to produce large and perfect 

 fruii. 



A PIiAJfT THAT GBOWS WELL LN THE 

 SHADE. 



The Jerusalem Artichoke, (HdiantTms Tuhero- 

 siis,) is a plant which rather prefers the shade, and 

 has been known to flourish well, and produce an 

 abundant crop in situations where it has not re- 

 ceived a single direct ray of solar light for the 

 whole season. It is not an exhausting crop, but, 

 on the contrary, will bear abundantly for ten years 

 or more in succession, without manure, and where 

 the soil is rather light snd sterile. After it has 

 once become fairly radicated in the soil, no further 

 trouble is requisite, as the roots propagate them- 

 selves, and as there will generally be enough tu- 

 bers remaining in the soil after harvest to render 

 fresh setting, the subsequent spring unnecessary. 



The Helianthus Tuherosus also possesses the 

 property of absorbing nitrogen copiously from the 

 atmosphere. To this circumstance we attribute 

 the fact of its flourishing so luxuriantly in the 

 shade, and without the benefit of manure. On 

 the banks of the Rhine, this plant is extensively 

 cultivated. It is planted in drills, in the same 

 manner as the potato is with us, and the produce 

 is used for food both for man and beast. 



The Weather. — We have had a succession ol 

 cold and stormy days up to the 8th of May. 

 Wind north, north-east and east. The blossom 

 buds that had begun to expand, shrunk back from 

 the chilling winds and found protection in their 

 cerements, which closed closely around them. 

 The grass crop and trees, however, are looking 

 finely, caring nothing for east winds, only to drink 

 up the vapors which they bring. 



The season is a little backward. Oats and oth- 

 er grains that are usually got in by the first of 

 May, are not yet sown in many cases. 



Pear trees are promising a profuse blossom, and 

 so are many of the apple trees. 



Sore Mouth ix Sheep.— In answer to an in- 

 quiry in a late number, respecting the sore mouth 

 in sheep, as far as I can learn, it is what I call 

 canker in the mouth. What is the cause I cannot 

 say, but should not think buckwheat straw could 

 be the cause of it, although I should prefer not 

 using such for litter. I had a few cases of canker 

 in the mouth in the fall of 1862 — got it by taking 

 ewes into the ram. My remedy is to get a little 

 alum and dissolve it in pure spring water, and 

 with a sponge, or a small portion of cloth, dress 

 the parts aft'ected twice a day, and I soon found it 

 to effect a cure. 



I believe it is a little contagious, but at the 

 same time do not think it a dangerous disease. 

 It annoys the sheep verj- much if not stopped in 

 time.— Jos. Kirby, Norvcd, C. W., in Country 

 Gentleman. 



