118 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



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'WiiJ 



ACrriON Off BOOTS OF PLANTS. 



At a recent agricultural discusSion, one of the 

 speakers thought the interest of farmers might 

 be greatly promoted by a more thorough analysis 

 of soils then has ever yet been made. This idea 

 was once a favorite one with some of the best 

 English and American writers, but we believe that 

 little importance is now attached to it. There are 

 so. many reasons why the soil of a single acre, 

 even, should vary in its component parts, and it is 

 so difficult for the most skilful chemist to state with 

 certainty what the homogeneous character of 

 that acre would be, that very little confidence is 

 now placed in any analysis of the soil. 



Again, if we actually possessed that character, 

 we know so little of the laws of supply and 

 growth, that it would be quite doubtful whether 

 we should derive much benefit, from an accurate 

 analysis, were we so happy as to secure one. 

 With regard to the food that nourishes and sus- 

 tains the plants we cultivate, we know but little 

 more than this general truth, that the liberal 

 application of a mixed mass of vegetable, animal 

 and mineral matter, will greatly promote the 

 growth of plants, and when other essentials are 

 properly supplied, such as heat, moisture, and 

 careful culture, the crop will generally result in a 

 profit to the cultivator. Farmers must therefore 

 act upon this broad and safe rule, and not re/?/ up- 

 on any specific fertilizers for success. 



The roots of plants have an elective power. 

 That is, if a bone is buried in the soil near a young 

 tree, the roots of that- tree will leave the direction 

 in w*i.ich they started, find the bone and encircle 

 it wilh numerous little feeders or fibrous roots. 

 On partly digging about a young peach tree, and 

 then pulling upon it, a friend informs us that the 

 tree came up and brought with it a good sized 

 bone, completely surrounded by a network of 

 fine roots ! The same person has a splendid elm 

 near his house which is 18 feet in circumference, 

 20 feet to the first limbs, and the branches extend 

 96 feet. Two rods from the stem of this tree, 

 an ox load of manure was dropt for a special pur- 

 pose, but was not used for four months. On at- 

 tsmpting to take it away it could not be shoveled, 

 the implement being obstructed as though hay or 

 straw were mixed with the manure. Upon remov- 

 ing it with a fork, it was found penetrated in ev- 

 ery direction with a mass of roots which had 

 sprung from the roots of the elm tree and come 

 up through the sward into the manure heap to 

 feed upon it. Was not that choosing for them- 

 selves the best path to take to find the food they 

 wanted. So it is with the branches of trees. A 

 white birch springing up under an oak, will turn 

 its twigs away from the tree, towards the sun and 

 light, long before they are likely to come in con- 



tact with the branches of the oak. On a country 

 highway, some of the smaller trees may often be 

 seen leaning over the road from both sides, in or- 

 der to get away from larger trees, and get a prop- 

 er share of sun and light. 



We once had occasion to remove a row of young 

 apple trees which were about three years from the 

 bud. They were set along the edge of a well 

 cultivated garden, and two feet beyond them was 

 a mowing field of several acres. In taking up the 

 whole row of some dozen trees, not a single root, 

 on the grass side, was found a foot in length, and 

 but few of any length or size. On the garden 

 side they were numerous, and some of them three 

 feet long ! Did they not choose where to go ? 

 There was a clean, rich strip of soil, two feet wide 

 between the trees and the grass. Why did not 

 their roots run and feed there ? Who notified 

 them that the grass is a usurper — that it would 

 seize and hold the soil, rob it of its fertilizing 

 properties, and leave the apple tree roots to starve 

 and die, if they went there ? How little we know 

 of the operation of the laws that govern vegeta- 

 ble growth. How gratifying and instructive to 

 explore them with all the powers we possess. 



HOT\r TO GET GOOD CELERY. 



Sow the seed in a hotbed in March, or as early 

 as the weather will permit. Some prefer a cold 

 bed, starting it in some warm place as soon as 

 the soil is sufficiently dry to work it. As Soon 

 as the season will permit, and the plants have at- 

 tained a proper size, transplant them into a rich, 

 warm spot. Set them four inches apart, give 

 them a liberal watering, and shelter them from 

 the sun until they have taken root. Here let 

 them grow until about the first of July, when they 

 must be planted where they are to grow through 

 the season. 



In preparing for this, some dig trenches to set 

 the plants in, and others do not. We have culti- 

 vated in both ways with about equal success. If 

 a trench is decided upon, dig it eight or ten inch- 

 es deep, spade the bottom and make it fine, add 

 a coat of composted manure, then rich mould and 

 set the plants. The plants must be taken up 

 with care, and with all the earth adhering to them 

 that is possible. Set them six or eight inches 

 apart, after trimming off all the straggling leaves, 

 then give them a good watering, and let them be 

 shaded with boards until they strike root and be- 

 gin to grow. The trenches should be four feet 

 apart. If the weather is dry, water freely morn- 

 ing and evening 



After the plants have attained considerable size, 

 and when they are dry, the earth must be drawn 

 around them a little at a time, as they progress, 

 taking care always that the leaves be held togeth- 

 er so as to prevent the soil from getting in among 



