122 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ther he seeks to augment the flow of the crim- 

 son current in the channels of circulation,. and 

 administers tonics to brace and tone the whole 

 system. And all this is sensible and rational, 

 as Tyro must, upon reflection, admit. 



But, thinks Tyro, if all this be true, then a 

 man may, by manuring his ap*ple trees, make 

 them as barren as the pear tree which was 

 planted in an extraordinarily deep soil, into 

 which the tap root (not the top root) penetra- 

 ted. Certainly he may, just as he may so 

 highly manure his wheat fields that no wheat 

 will ripen on them, and the danger is not much 

 greater in the one case than in the other. But 

 will that deter Tyro from spreading manure 

 upon his wheat and corn field, and if it does 

 not, why should it prevent the manuring and 

 cultivation of the orchard. Is Tyro aware 

 that land may be so enriched that it will not 

 even produce weeds, as is often seen to be the 

 fact in spots where hot beds were made: Proba- 

 bly he has long known the fact, and yet he has 

 gone on sowing guano and spreading manure, 

 year after year, without being disturbed by 

 the apprehension that his land might become 

 so rich that it would not produce a crop of 

 wheat, oats, corn, or tobacco. Why apprehend 

 danger then in the application of manure to 

 the orchard, when the same common sense and 

 observation, which enables the farmer to manure 

 judiciously his several staple products, wiU 

 also guide him rightly in the application of 

 manure to the apple orchard. 



Is Tyro satisfied with this explanation ? If 

 not we will further laborate and illustrate these 

 ideas by familiar facts and reasonings, which 

 cannot be misunderstood, and which will make 

 our meaning so clear, and establish our posi- 

 tions so thoroughly, that not a shadow of a 

 shade of doubt shall remain. 



In conclusion, we remind our readers that 

 root-pruning is commended as apian by which 

 the flavour and quality of fruit may be modified 

 and sometimes greatly improved, as well as a 

 remedy for barrenness in certain cases. And 

 likewise, would remind them of the fact that 

 their apple trees will bear annually if they are 

 properly manured and cultivated, with the ex- 

 ception of a few varities of apple which so far 

 have not been known to bear except once in 

 two years. Even such, it is likely, can be 

 brought to produce annually by receiving a 

 proper treatment not yet attempted. 



Seasonable Suggestions. 



Remember the hints which we have hereto- 

 fore given for work to be done in garden and 

 orchard during the winter season. Thus far 

 the season has been so mild and genial that it 

 has presented no hindrance to out-door opera- 

 tions upon the farm, and if our readers have 

 used due diligence they will have everything 

 about their premises in apple-pie order at the 

 opening of the Spring. Speaking of the mild- 

 ness of the season, we have just seen a notice 

 of a r°se which bloomed in the open air during 

 this third week of January ; and what is even 

 more remarkable, we quite recently gathered 

 in our grounds a full-blown verbena, which had 

 been wooe-d forth from its home by the genial 

 sun-rays and bland zephyrs. If this delicious 

 mildness shall continue through the months of 

 February and March, all work on the farm and 

 in the garden will begin at a very early period 

 of the year ; and all vegetation will get ahead 

 of the cultivator who is not full-handed, or 

 furnished with large facilities for his work. 

 Prepare for this state of facts by completing a 

 thousand and one little things which require to 

 be done, such as carting out manure, getting 

 tools and implements in good order, repairing 

 gearing, sharpening hoes and blades, repairing 

 rakes, clearing up garden walks and borders, 

 and advancing all the work of the farm .and 

 garden as far as prudential considerations will 

 allow. Attention to these trifles, at this time, 

 will help in all your operations hugely at the 

 busier periods of the year. A little repair 

 done now, by enabling you to employ other- 

 wise all the force on your farm will be equal to 

 an augmentation of that force by the employ- 

 ment of one or more hands. Take time by the 

 forelock and be ready for your work. 



Origin of Various Plants. 



Cabbage grows wild in Sicily and Naples. 



The Poppy was brought from the East. 



The Sunflower from Peru. 



Hops came to perfection as a wild flower in 

 Germany. 



Saffron came from Egypt. 



The Onion is also a native of Egypt. 



Horseradish from South Europe. 



Tobacco is a native of Virginia, Tobago and 

 California. Another species has also been 

 found wild in Asia. 



