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1861. 



THE ILLmOIS FAHMER. 



219 



For stock water the mole drain is the meet valu- 

 able, as from the fact that water fiuds its way in 

 slowly it will be longer in being discharged We 

 would advise no one to put in one of these drains 

 less than three and a half feet deep. 



Fig. 2. 



This shows the depressions in the upland, and 

 where the drain should be made. A is the mole 

 or ball, B the cutter ; the space is filled in by the 

 earth being pressed un into the cut. In some of 

 this variety of mole the bottom is left flat and 

 not pressed, in others the pressure is on all sides 

 alilje, As we are promised some practical arti- 

 cles from the pea of an old operator, will await 

 his deductions. 



New Wbeat. — But little new wheat is now 

 coming in. Prices are too low — opening from 

 50 to 60 cents. T. R. Dickerson delivered on 

 Tuesday, a thousand bushels at 70 cents, on 

 early contract, but prices range much lower 

 now. — Carlinmlle Democrat. 



-<o»- 



How to Increase the Size of Fruit. 



Prof. Dubrenil, in an article in the Journal 

 del' Academie d'Hortitulture de Gand, points out 

 some of the operations whereby the size of fruits 

 may be increased : 



1. Grafting the trees on a weak species of stock 

 — for instance, the pear on the quince. 



2. Pruning so as to deprive the tree of a cer- 

 tain portion of its shoots. By this means the 

 sap which would have been absorbed by the parts 

 cut ofi', goes to increase the size of fruit. Sum- 

 mer pruning, which has for its object the remov- 

 al of a large number of shoots by disbudding and 

 pinching, has the same effect. 



3. Let the bearing shoots be as short as possi- 

 ble, and in immediate connection with the main 

 branches. Fruit growing on the stem is always 

 larger than that situated at the extremities of 

 long slender branches. 



4. Thinning out the fruit when too numerous. 



5. Shortening the principal branches at the 

 winter pruning, and checking in the summer the 

 vigorous shoots. 



6. Supporting the fruits, so that their weight 

 may not become a strain upon the foot stalk. 



7. Moderating the amount of evaporation from 

 the fruit. Fruits couered by leaves are larger 



than those on the same tree not shaded. It is 

 necessary, however, in order that shading may 

 not affect the quality of the fruit, to expose it 

 when 'ull grown to the direct action of the sun. 

 To diminished evaporation must be attributed the 

 considerable increase of size which always takes 

 place in fruit introduced into bottles soon after it 

 is set. The mouth of the bottle being closed af- 

 ter the portion of the branch from the dry action 

 of the air, and is constantly surrounded with a 

 moist, warm atmosphere, which, keeps the epi- 

 dermis pliable, and stimulates the growth of the 

 tissues. 



8. Moisten the fruit with a solution of sulphate 

 of iron (copperas ) One of Prof. D 's pupils, by 

 moistening an Easter Beurre pear, from the time 

 it was fairly set, once a fortnight, obtained a fruit 

 so large that it could be scarcely recognized. 



9. Ringing the shoot or branch immediately 

 below the flowers. This should be don'fe when 

 the flowers are opening; the longer it is delayed 

 after this period, the less is the effect produced. 

 The incision should penetrate to the wood, and 

 the ring of bark removed should have a width 

 equal to half the diameter ot the shoot. The 

 width, however, should not exceed otip fifth of an 

 inch, otherwise the wood will not close up. 



10. In-erting on vigorous trees truit buds, 

 with a portion of wood attached. A tree which 

 in consequence of excessive vigor has never pro- 

 duced blossom buds, may by this means be made 

 to produce fruit of large size from the abundant 

 su|.ply of sap which the inserted blossom buds 

 will receive. But it will be necessary to pinch 

 the shoots of the tree in summer, which would 

 otherwise absorb the larger portion of sap, to the 

 injury of the fruit. 



" Don't rob yourself," as the old farmer said 

 to the lawyer who was calling him hard names. 



— "We suppose there is quite as large an 

 amount of craft on the land as there is upon the 

 water. 



— Rarey tames wild horses with the use of 

 the strap. Wild boys may be tamed in the 

 same way. 



A celebrated preacher in the Southern part 

 of Pennsylvania, announcing his intention to 

 preach in the woods on a certain day, begged 

 the ladies not to bring their children with them, 

 as it was enough to hear "one crying in the 

 wilderness." 



An Irishman was once brought before a mag- 

 istrate and charged with marrying six wives. 

 The magistrate asked him how he could be so 

 hardened a villain. " Oh, please your worship," 

 says Paddy, " I was trying to get a good one." 



A western editor says that " a child was run 

 over by a wagon thtee years old and cross-eyed, 

 with pantalets on, which never spoke after- 

 wards." 



— A man that can be flattered is not neces- 

 sarily a fool, but you may always make one of 

 him. 



