260 
[July, 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
useful and handsome fence may be made of light 
poles, either split, or flattened with an ax where the 
uprights cross the horizontals ; using wrought nails. 
Sawing Timber. 
A recent article, descriptive of the method of 
sawing timber with whip saws, has brought several 
enquiries for a simpler method which shall not re¬ 
quire so much preparation. We give a plan in the 
illustration upon this page of the simplest manner 
of arranging the saw-pit. A bank of such a shape 
as indicated, or a pit excavated in the ground of 
a similar shape, will be required. A horse, or 
trellis, of stout timber, is constructed as shown, 
upon u'hich the log is rolled, with one end re¬ 
maining upon the bank, and thus sawn ; being- 
moved as may be required. When one-half is 
sawn through, the log is rolled on to the bank, and 
is swung around so as to bring the other end on to 
the horse, when the sawing is completed, It, is 
better to have two horses, so that one can be moved 
as will be found necessary from time to time. 
Effect of Fertilizers on the Grape. 
That bones and similar manurial substances 
placed under grape-vines have a decidedly beneficial 
effect on the fruit, is well known. The experiments 
of Professor Goessmann, at the Mass. Agricultural 
College, and others, for the last few years have 
shown that certain chemical fertilizers have a 
marked influence in developing particular character¬ 
istics of fruit. Previous improvements in plants 
have been almost altogether by means of crossing 
varieties, by selection and cultivation : the food ot 
the plant having been seemingly unthought of, save 
in a general way, beyond the accepted fact that/tr- 
tility was necessary. What “ fertility ” means is 
but a vague idea to nearly every farmer or fruit 
grower ; that it signifies the quality of fruit, as well 
as amount and size, is seldom realized. But such 
is the fact, provided the “ fertility ” consists in the 
proper constituents of plant-food. How important 
it is, then, that we pay more attention to the ques¬ 
tion of fertilizers, when small fruit or large fruit, 
fine flavor or poor flavor, pulpy fruit or fruit with 
the melting quality, fruit which will keep or that 
which will soon decay, freedom from disease or 
mildew—when these differences, the differences 
between success and failure, may be largely in¬ 
fluenced, perhaps controlled, by the kind of food 
supplied at the roots. That there is an actual dif¬ 
ference in the composition of fruit under different 
circumstances is shown by the following table of 
analyses by Dr. Goessmann, of the Concord grape, 
and of the purple, wild variety of the same species 
(Vitis Labrusca) ; the parent of the Concord: 
Concord ^ .§ S 
Grape. (Not .^2 5 , ^ 
Fertilized', ® !> . * g-S 
Date |s.| 8 |f3§,s 
Gathered. w ^ o ^ ^ 1-4 
1876. $ $ K! <3 
July 17. 8.30 0.645 7.77 
“ 20 . 8.10 0.625 7.72 216 
Aug. 2 . 9.04 0.938 9.44 249 
“ 16. 10.88 2.000 18.38 229 
“ 30. 15.58 8.62 55.33 120 
Sept. 13. 17.43 13.89 79.46 55 
•• 4 . 19.82 16.13 81 38 49.2 
Purple Wild Grape. 
July 19. 9.00 0.714 7.93 204 
Aug. 4. 12.25 1.10 8.98 249 
“ 16. 12.48 2.00 16.03 233 
“ 30. 16.58 6.50 39.81 147.6 
The figures in the last column indicate the free 
acids in the juice. The difference in the propor¬ 
tion of sugar at different dates, of fruit from the 
same vine, and between the wild and cultivated pa¬ 
rities, is quite marked ; a fact very well known to 
those who eat Concords, and try to eat the wild 
ones. This variation in the amount of sugar also 
means a variation in acids and other constituents, 
and these several variations cause all the difference 
in flavor, texture, and in keeping quality. Yet 
these characteristics can all be influenced by means 
of fertilizers which act upon the development of 
the sugar of the fruit. The effects of cultivation 
and fertilization on the composition of some wild 
varieties of grapes are shown in the following ex¬ 
periment. The fertilizer used in this case was com¬ 
posed, per acre, of 180 lbs. nitrate potash, and 450 
lbs. of superphosphate, containing 12 per cent sol¬ 
uble phosphoric acid: 
(а) Berries of Wild White Grape, without stems, collect¬ 
ed on the 20th of September, 1877. (Dead ripe.) 
(б) Berries of White Wild Grape, without stems, from 
College vineyard, treated with fertilizer No. 1. 
Collected 20th of September, 1877. (Dead ripe ) 
(e) Berries, without stems, of Wild Purple Grape, col¬ 
lected 20th of September, 1877. (Dead ripe.) 
(cl) Berries, without stems, of Wild Purple Grape, 
treated with the above stated fertilizer. Collected 
20th of September, 1877. (Dead ripe.) 
|§ll| 
sflll.i 
l-slss t 
O 
130 
65 
104 
121.6 
These analyses show very decidedly the influence 
of mere cultivation on wild varieties, making a dif¬ 
ference. of nearly 20 per cent of sugar. Further 
investigations in this direction are in progress. 
It has been found, by Dr. Jabez Fisher, an un¬ 
usually successful grape-grower, that animal ma- 
SAWING TIMBER—ANOTHER METHOD. 
nures make strong vines, but not much fruit, and 
tend to induce rot and mildew ; while potash and 
superphosphate had quite the opposite effect, pro¬ 
ducing a large amount of fruit, of superior quality. 
Mr. Auger, the State Pomologist of Connecticut, is 
trying similar experiments, as well as several 
others, in conjunction with Dr. Goessmann, and 
with remarkably like results in each ease. 
Increased Rainfall in the West. 
As might have been anticipated, the rainfall in 
the far Western States, formerly hardly adequate 
for the purposes of cultivation, has considerably 
increased since the occupation of the country, and 
the cultivation of the prairies. Heretofore every 
condition lias been unfavorable to the retention of 
the water in the soil. The surface, beaten hard, 
and covered with an impenetrable sod, could not 
absorb the rain water, which soon found its way 
into the water courses and streams, leaving little 
moisture in the soil to temper the aridity of the at¬ 
mosphere. The winds were dry and thirsty, and 
sucked up the water left in pools and swales with 
great rapidity. But as soon as the tough sod has 
been plowed, and the soil been mellowed and made 
absorbent, the rain soaks into the ground instead 
of flowing off, and percolating through the subsoil, 
supplies springs, which break out in low spots and 
furnish water for new rills and brooks. The atmos¬ 
phere is no longer parched, but becomes moist, and 
its former extreme variations of temperature do not 
occur. The climate changes, and the moisture of the 
air, and the consequent rainfall, are increased. A 
new circulation is established, and the storms and 
showers are those of a temperate instead of a tor¬ 
rid zone. Facts have shown that these conclusions 
are correct, and the observations taken in many 
places near the 100th meridian, and eastward to the 
Missouri River, indicate a greatly increased rain¬ 
fall, the increase amounting in many cases to sever¬ 
al inches a year. Farmers no longer fear disastrous 
drouths, and there are few localities, where their 
business is safer, than in the locality referred to. 
Irrigation in Colorado. 
A practically rainless district, the agriculture of 
Colorado is necessarily carried on by irrigation. 
This lias been hitherto a little understood art in the 
United States, but recently it has been practised 
with such success, that it is rapidly extending 
through the arid parts of the country. The litera¬ 
ture of irrigation too, has made a beginning with us 
and its principles set forth for those who would 
practice it.* By and by we shall know more through 
the experience of irrigators, and the skill of hy¬ 
draulic engineers ; and it will become widely used as 
au indispensable means of cultivation itself, as well 
as an accessory to ordinary methods. The example 
of Colorado is very instructive and encouraging. 
This now populous and prosperous State, was set¬ 
tled by a handful of enthusiastic, but shrewd men, 
who took their fortunes as it were in their hands 
and launched upon an unknown enterprise. Had 
they known the history of this art of irrigation, and 
the extent to which it has been and is now used in 
other countries, there would have been less doubt 
about their venture. As it is they have made a 
grand success of what they did not know could 
hardly have failed with •proper methods, but the 
credit is none the less for them. At first it was 
doubted if Colorado could sustain its farmers. 
Flow it not only sustains a large population engaged 
in varied industries, but exports much of its pro¬ 
ducts eastward. As the capacity of the streams is 
better understood, and as economical methods of 
using the water are learned, the breadth of land 
under irrigation is rapidly widening. Nearly a 
million acres of land is expected to be brought un¬ 
der cultivation the coming season, and new ca¬ 
nals are begun and proposed. Hitherto the prices 
of produce have valued high, which has tended to 
encourage the enterprise. As production increases, 
prices are falling, but this will act in favor of the 
development of the mining, manufacturing, and 
stock interests, which in turn will enlarge the out¬ 
let for farm produce, and stimulate agriculture.. 
Tobacco.— The late unpleasantness experienced 
by tobacco growers, has given place to a more sat¬ 
isfactory condition of things. The last crop of 
“seed-leaf” has been of unusually good quality, 
which has had the effect of stimulating buyers as 
well as prices. Dealers are feeling elated at their 
position, and are looking for an early resumption 
of activity in business. This warrants an easier 
feeling amongst producers ; and the prospects are 
fair for a gradual return to the cultivation of this 
crop. While tobacco is not exactly a staple farm 
crop, yet there are numerous cases in which a farmer, 
who has prepared himself at a large outlay to grow 
it, may reasonably manage bis farming operations 
so as to look for his money income from this source, 
in preference to any other. 
* “ Irrigation for the Farm, Garden, and Orchard,” pub¬ 
lished by the Orange Judd Co., New York, price, $1.59- 
