MOORE’S  RURAL  WEW-YORKER. 
SSI 
J(oi‘icii(t«i‘a[. 
BANDAGE  PROPAGATION. 
The  practice  of  wlitting  a  branch  and  binding 
moss  or  other  material  over  and  about  the  wound 
is  a  very  old  custfjiu.  Six  months  or  more  ago 
we  applicil  it  to  Ocr.aniiini9  (Pelargoniums)  with 
results  that  h.wl  us  to  speak  of  it  now. 
In  raising  the  “Tricolors”  from  sood.  wo  have 
ah’ea<ly  stated  tliat  it  hardly  ever  occurs  that  the 
whole  plant  is  variegated.  Hortj  is  a  shoot  per¬ 
fectly  gi'ee?i ;  here  is  one  witli  leaves  half  varie¬ 
gated,  half  pl.'iin.  Still  another  shoot  jii.ay  be 
variegatetl  witli  more  or  less  uniformity— the 
only  one  uiHiii  the  soedling,  and  it  is  this  iiixm 
which  we  have  to  rely  for  establishing  a  “ti.xod  ” 
Tricolor  of  sewlling  origin.  Those  wlio  have 
propagated  cutting.s  in  the  usual  w.ay  Irnow  that 
in  spite  of  tho  most  careful  efforts  tho  Tricolors 
sometimes  fail  to  rtriko.  In  this  case  wo  should 
lose  our  variegated  shoot  and,  perhaps,  a  year 
or  more  of  time  sjn'iit  in  its  production.  It  was  I 
uiwn  such  shoots  tliat  wo  tried  cutting  tlio  stom 
from  half  to  tlireo-iiuarters  tlu-ough— pressing 
tho  cut  slightly  open  so  tliat  tho  parts  should 
not  grow  together  .and  tJieii  binding  with  moss— 
sometimes  placing  a  small  quantity  of  damp  soil, 
as  if  it  woro  putty,  underneath  and  covering  all 
with  netting,  gaimo,  or  merely  tying  with  a  tape 
or  yarn,  lliis  of  com-so,  must  bo  kept  con¬ 
stantly  moist.  In  about  tho  usual  time  rciprired 
to  strike  the  sirmo  cuttings  hi  sand  tho  roots  will 
be  found  growing  through  tho  moss,  when  tho 
shoot  may  bo  cut  olf  just  benealli  the  bandage 
and,  with  or  witliont  removing  it,  placed  in  small 
pots.  J5y  this  method  wc  have  never  onco  failed, 
and,  indeed,  wo  belie vo  it  to  bo  imfailing,  even 
though  attempted  when,  under  unfavorable  con¬ 
ditions  of  moisture  and  temiicratnre,  tho  sand- 
bed  would  prove  useless. 
One  mlvaiitagc  of  this  mode  of  pi  opagation  is 
that  it  may  be  accomplished  during  tlie  winter 
in  a  conservatory  or  sunny  window  without  nuu-- 
ring  tho  symmetry  of  tho  jilaut  operated  ujion 
until  tlie  shoot  Is  ready  to  lio  taken  off.  The 
variegated  loaves  hold  their  colors  flrmly  wldlc 
tho  callns  and  roots  arc  forming,  and  tho  hand- 
age  may  generally  bo  concealed  by  the  fohago. 
It  is  well  to  sniqwirt  tho  shoot  wliich  has  been 
cut  nearly  through,  by  a  neat  stick  or  jii  oji,  since 
incautious  liandliug  is  hablo  to  break  it  olf. 
In  this  way  many  new  and  costly  plants  which 
one  is  deshous  of  increasing,  and  with  which  ho 
is  tuiiid  about  rmiiiing  any  risk,  may  be  treated  ! 
with  little  fear  of  failure. 
those  who  favor  fall  planting,  from  which  num¬ 
ber  we  rosiKJctfully  and  ruefully  withdrew  after 
tho  les.son  taught  by  tho  fall  nf  71. 
We  oxtend  to-our  goori  reailers  the  very  best  of 
wishes  touching  their  success  for  the  present 
se.ason.  i.et  them  over  bear  in  mind  to  well  do 
wlialovor  they  midcrtakn— to  label  plants  accu¬ 
rately— to  commit  to  memory  tlieir  botanical  as 
well  as  llioir  familiar  names,  and  to  oxamiuo  the 
more  minute  parts  of  tho  llower  and  plant  that 
always  escape  Ihoso  who,  satisfied  until  beauty  in 
tho  mass,  think  not— care  not  to  search  for  that 
which  may  bo  hidden,  but  wliich,  ofttimas,  is  no 
less  captivating. 
EXCHANGE. 
C,  F.  JlcCuotm,  D.arlington,  Beaver  Co.,  Fa., 
wishes  to  exchange  Dahlia  roots  (sprouted),  viz., 
dark  velvet-rod,  bright-red,  scarlet-quillcd,  ma- 
rotm,  llamo-color,  and  a  few  jniik  —  for  lilac, 
white,  quilled-butf,  and  variegated  or  tipped  of 
any  color. 
Srtoritiiliiinil, 
TREES  AS  A  PROTECTION. 
OhHei'w;  Om-  friends  who  are  really  inter¬ 
ested  in  )»lauts  and  who  study  to  improve —to 
perfect  (if  this  were  tmt  possible)  their  gardens 
—will  now  have  tlieii-  eyes  wide  open  and  will 
bo  keenly  observant  of  every  creeping,  growing 
tiling  tliat  blooms,  wherever  found;  and  they 
will  note  any  that  they  deem  worthy  of  their  own 
collectiou,  with  a  view  of  procuring  it  next  fall 
or  spring.  No  matter  how  flue  the  deBcrijition 
of  a  jilaiit  may  bo  \nittcii  -neebnj  it  is  better, 
far.  Then  may  be  ascortaiiiod  almost  at  a  glanoo 
everything  tliat  belongs  to  the  plant  itself,  as 
well  as  the  conditions  in  which  it  thrives  or  fails. 
Visit  the  parks— visit  yom-  neighbors'  gi'ouuds 
(to  learn  -not  to  copy),  and  don’t  think  a  llower 
mean  because  it  is  yoiu-  neighbor’s  and  prettier 
than  yours.  Visit  nui-Hery  grounds.  Niu’sery- 
meu  are  obliging  and  are  ever  ready  to  answer 
civil  questions,  if  they  do  not  in  several  respects 
too  closely  resemble  hail  storms.  Two  things  wo 
have  noticed  in  nm-sorymon  ;  They  do  not  like 
to  have  a  second  and  a  third  question  asked  be¬ 
fore  theyJiavo  answered  tho  first  in  tlieh  own 
way;  and  (second.)  lieiiig  groat  smokers,  they 
appreciate  a  ffocsl  cigar — not  at  all  as  a  compen¬ 
sation  for  tho  information  songlit,  you  know,  but 
as  a  “  guarantee  of  tjowl  faith" 
]Ve  cull  attoutioxi  to  JiMchordn  gravilijtorn 
(Sinran  g.'),  now  in  bloom.  Its  axillai-y  racemes 
of  white  flowers,  as  largo  as  apple  blossoms,  al¬ 
most  conceal  the  shrub.  It  sometimes  attains  | 
the  size  of  a  small  tree,  if  so  permitted — but  it 
always  branches  low  and  retains  a  round  shape. 
We  know  of  a  specimen  ten  feet  high  and  more 
than  tliroe  times  its  bight  in  circumferenco.  In 
tho  fullness  of  its  bloom  (about  tho  middle  of 
May)  it  becomes  a  most  showy  object.  It  is  es¬ 
pecially  to  be  iirizcd  for  its  extreme  hardiness 
and  its  ready  adaptation  to  many  soils  and  situa¬ 
tions.  Thoro  are  sevei-al  pecuharities  of  tliis 
Spir/m  possibly  worth  mentioning.  Tho  leaves 
vai’y  from  one  to  foiu'  inches  in  length,  mostly 
of  a  spatulate  shape — sometimes  entire,  some¬ 
times  half-serrate,  soinotitnes  having  but  two  or 
three  serratures  near  the  apex.  The  calyx  tube 
is  green,  but  its  lobes  arc  neaiiy  white.  The 
racemes  droop  slightly  and  boar  from  five  to  ten 
flowers  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  m  diam¬ 
eter.  Although  advertised  in  a  number  of  cata¬ 
logues,  this  is  not,  like  many  inferior  Spiruias, 
to  be  found  in  ovei'y  garden, 
rftetimeof  transplanting  maybe  considered 
as  having  passed  for  another  ye.ar— at  least  so 
far  as  hardy  tldngs  arc  concenied — except  for 
On  thin  Bubjcct  there  haa  )>oou  for  tho  past 
^  few  years  iniich  written  and  said,  and  as  with 
must  such  matters  th.at  scorn  to  come  up,  somo- 
what  spontaneously,  more  crude  theories  have  to 
I  bo  nxlvanccd  before  the  real  truth  is  readied. 
^  Scientific  men  aro  liable  to  on-  like  the  rest  of 
I  mauliind,  and  when  they  do  start  a  theory,  it  is 
taken  up  and  nursed,  pampered  and  propagated 
I  a  long  time,  Ixxforc  any  investigation  is  had  of 
its  merits.  tb>o  of  tho  lunst  popnl.ar  wi  itcrs  of 
■  tho  ago  says  “Ono  of  tlie  best  books  might  bo 
made  by  writing  the  biograpliios  of  dcl'iiiiet 
^  theories  in  science.  Mon  have  received  as  settled 
trutlis  vast  systems  of  Astronomy,  l  fiioiiiistiy, 
and  fJoology  that  aro  now  o.xploded,  yot  wliiio 
those  ficioiicos  wore  tho  faiths  of  tlio  .lay,  it  w.as 
quite  as  miieli  as  a  man’s  roiiutatioa  was  worth 
to  teach  otherwise.” 
ticicnUfic  men  ought  to  know,  and  probably  do 
know,  that  the  cooling  offoct  of  wimbs  is  quite 
dilTorent  upon  vegetation  from  that  upon  living 
animals,  and  still  many  of  them  speak  highly  in 
favor  of  arborittl  wiml-breaks  as  a  proteeUoii  to 
fruits,  when  in  fact  as  true  science  indicates  and 
experience  proves,  they  aro  promoters  of  early 
and  lato  frosts,  tho  most  deaillv  liano  to  the 
Iieach,  grape  and  all  tender  fruits. 
^Vllld8  are  not  ueimssarily  colder  than  still  aii-, 
and  are  quite  as  likely  to  raise,  as  to  lower 
meremy  in  tho  thermometer,  and  their  cooUng 
enoct  upon  tho  animal  is  due  entirely  to  the 
fact,  that  the  air  surrounding  tho  animal  is  con¬ 
stantly  being  heated  by  tho  combustion  witliin 
its  body,  which  heated  uir  tho  winds  move  away 
to  be  replaced  by  cooler.  Very  dilferent  is  it 
with  the  tree,  for  although  it  is  held  that  all 
living  matter  generates  heat,  still  with  tlio  jilunt 
when  in  leaf,  tlio  amount  is  infinitely  loss  than 
with  tho  animal,  and  what  Uttlo  is  at  tliis  time 
generated,  is  more  than  over-balanced  by  the 
cooUiig  efl'ect  of  tbe  evaporation  from  its  leaves. 
1  am  well  aware  that  forests  have  an  eqn.alizing 
effect  upon  clhiiato,  raising  the  moan  tempera¬ 
ture  of  winter  as  well  as  lowering  that  of  summer, 
I  for^  while  hi  a  torpid  state,  evaporation  ceases 
mainly  if  not  entirely,  while  the  stem  and 
branches  lieing  much  better  conductors  of  heat 
thau  ah,  receive  heat  from  the  sun  when  it 
shines,  and  conduct  it  beJow  tho  reach  of  frost 
in  the  soil,  to  bo  restored  again  through  tho 
same  channel  to  tho  air,  while  tho  sun  is  absent 
or  behind  a  cloud. 
I  shall  now  attempt  to  show  how  and  why 
those  living  wind-breaks  promote  killing  frosts. 
It  is  well  known  that  those  spring  and  autumn 
frosts  occur  only  on  clear,  still  nights,  when  the 
heat  which  tho  earth  has  accumnJated  during 
the  day  passes  rapidly  upward  into  space. 
Either  winds  or  clouds  will  prevent  this  rapid 
ascent.  Even  a  shght  motion  of  the  atmosphere 
will  often  save  tender  plants  that  woidd  otherwise 
be  destroyed. 
In  lUstncts  where  tho  surface  of  tho  land  is 
unoven,  (as  most  of  tho  oulUvated  portions  aro 
more  or  less)  tho  air  as  it  begins  to  cool  after 
sundown  on  these  cloai",  still  nights  seeks  tho  i 
lowest  level,  and  its  place  is  occupied  by  warmer  ( 
air,  tlius  creating  a  current,  tho  cold  ah  flowing 
down  tho  sloiie  to  tho  lowest  point  and  the  i 
warmer  air  of  tho  valleys  which  has  received  ox-  i 
ti'a  heat  during  tlie  day  following  up ;  and  this  | 
current  like  all  other  cun-on ts  has  the  effect  to  i 
provent  frost,  except  in  tho  lowest  places.  i 
Now  what  will  bo  tho  natural  effect  of  wind¬ 
breaks  ?  What  but  to  prevent  or  obstruct  theso  i 
cm-reiits  ?  Hero  is  a  specimen  of  ti-eo  protection.  I 
In  tho  report  of  tho  orchard  conimittoo  of  tho  i 
State  Pom,  Society  (Trausactioua  of  1874  page  i 
13.3)  is  an  account  of  four  acres  cleared,  in  the  ( 
center  of  a  40  aero  tract  of  timber  and  planted  to  1 
peach  trees  ;  tho  owner  doubtless  behev-iug  in 
the  doctrine  of  tree  protection  as  taught,  and  1 
had  perhaps  folt  the  thermal  effect  of  forests  in 
cold  winter  weather.  Result  “one-half  tho 
trees  lulled  oniriglit”  dmitig  the  winter  and 
spring  of  1874  and  tho  romaiiidor  nearly  worth¬ 
less, 
Tho  reporter  says  “compare  this  oivliard 
surrounded  by  forest  protection  with  tho  Engle 
orchards  so  fully  re|>orted,  (a  promium  orebard 
described  on  page  ID!))  and  the  tliooiy  of  forest 
protection  falls  at  once.” 
There  aro  also  now  to  bo  seen  on  the  bleak 
blniTs  of  Lake  Michigan,  peach  trees  tliat  stood 
through  tlie  same  winter  anti  spring  unharmod, 
wliilo  tho  same  kind  of  trees  on  land  nearly 
level,  but  proteoted  by  forest  trees  and  higii 
board  fences  are  all  dea<l. 
It  is  not  certain  th.at  winds  if  not  strong 
enough  to  do  mcclmiucal  injury,  aronotbenefl- 
cial  to  vegetation  in  general. 
I  lie  main  part  of  tbe  biiUc  of  trees  i.s  carbon, 
wbieli  physiologists  toll  us  they  receive  from  the 
air,  and  as  tlic  proportion  of  carbon  in  tlio  air  is 
very  small,  it  must  take  a  very  largo  amount  of 
air  to  come  in  coutaiit  ivitli  tho  tree,  to  supply 
the  nocossai-y  quantity.  Then  why  not  blow 
upon  your  trees  to  supply  carbon,  as  you  do  up¬ 
on  tho  carbon  hi  your  tiro  to  supply  it  with  oxy¬ 
gon. 
That  frees  arc  a  great  protection  to  animal 
life  is  beyond  a  question,  and  tliat  largo  tracts  of 
forests  affect  favorably  the  climat.o  of  the  space 
they  occupy,  and  to  a  considorablo  space  beyond 
is  fully  domonstrated.  I  have  no  doubt  that 
points  olovateil  alxivo  the  trees  within  tho  iii- 
lluenoc  of  those  forests,  are  among  tho  best 
points  that  can  be  cliosou  in  this  latitude  for  the 
poairli  and  grape.  At  all  events,  no  points  aro 
Sato  for  tender  fruits  wliore  tlio  “  aimos])licrio 
(bainago”  is  obstrnelcd.  S.  B.  Pkck, 
Mn.skegon,  Mich.,  May  IS,  isTit. 
Remauks.-  While  wo  aro  glad  to  publish  tlie 
aliovo  article,  which  boars  evideneo  of  thouglit, 
wo  must  doubt  tho  writer’s  theory  that  iiedges 
and  the  like  aro  favorablo  to  tho  formation  of 
frost.  All  objects  nv<liato  their  heat  in  all  direc¬ 
tions,  tlio  same  as  hinunous  bodies  do  light.  If 
a  box  with  the  cover  off  be  njiset  upon  tho  grass 
during  a  frosty  night,  tho  grass  underneath  tlio 
box  will  bo  pi-otocttsl.  Lot  us  now  remove  tlio 
bottom  also.  It  will  still  bo  found  that  no  frost 
has  formed  upon  the  grass  within,  owing  to  the 
mutual  radiation  of  tlm  sides,  unless  the  tempera¬ 
ture  of  the  air  has  Iwon  below  freezing.  Now, 
what  tho  sides  of  this  box  are  to  tlio  grass  whicli 
tlioy  inclose,  tn.dgos,  etc.,  are  to  the  groiuids 
Diat  inolose,  Clouds,  like  tlio  l.raiichcs  of 
trees,  radiate  b;w.:|(  tlio  boat  wliich  tlii.'y  roceivo 
from  tlie  earth.  It  is  not  tho  frost  which  works 
the  injury  to  tho  blossoms.  Frost  is  if  anything 
a  protection  to  tho  jiarts  upon  which  it  forms, 
and  its  formation  is  attended  with  the  evolution 
of  licat.  It  is  that  degree  of  CKilcbinss  which 
rondors  its  formation  possible  tliat  injures  ten¬ 
der  verduio. 
Frost  may  form  upon  tlie  snrface  of  the 
earth  while  a  foot  above  it  tho  temperature  may 
bo  many  dogrocs  above  freezing.  It  is  only 
when  the  tomporatnro  of  the  air  itself  is  at  or 
below  freezing  that  blo.ssom8,  etc.,  are  liai-mcd— 
and  (henwwcj  docs  but  intensify  the  injury.  We 
trust  a  further  coriHidoratlon  of  tliis  subject  on 
the  part  of  our  esteemed  corrospomioiit  will  in¬ 
duce  him  to  favor  our  views,  which  wo  have  not 
space  to  further  discuss  at  this  time. 
Jfanii  (Icaiioing. 
WHEAT  FARMING  AND  PROFITS. 
Easteun  joiu-ualists  aro  continually  pointing 
to  tho  immense  sum  received  annually  from  the 
export  of  wheat  and  Hour  to  Europe  and  otlior 
coiuitries,  and  continue  to  lu-ge  Western  farmers 
to  produce  more  wheat.  Wo  aro  told  that  water 
iiud  rail  coiimiiiiiicatioiis  are  becomhig  better  ami 
better  each  year,  thus  rodmutig  the  cost  of  trans- 
portatiou.  Wo  are  told  that  Missouri,  Arkansas, 
Minnesota,  Iowa,  Wiacoiisin,  Nebraska  and  Kan¬ 
sas  are  capable  of  trcbhng  tlioir  present  prodtlo- 
tious ;  and  tliat  already  American  ivhoat  has 
virtually  di-iven  Russia  from  tho  field  in  disgust. 
There  is  no  doubt  these  States  might  treble 
their  productions.  It  is  fully  as  tine  that  any 
other  Western  States  niiglit  do  tlio  same  if  they 
cboso.  That  they  do  uot  is  duo  to  tho  faijtthat 
wheat  is  not  foimd  to  lie  a  paying  crop,  except  on 
now  lands,  and  as  tho  I’urst  few  crops  until  the 
farms  can  be  brought  into  comUtiou  to  prcHluoe 
grass,  corn,  rattle,  hogs  and  sheep- -the  only 
real  staples  in  tho  West  that  pay  a  profit  without 
seriously  dctorioi-atiijg  the  fertility  of  the  soil. 
Those  journals  that  are  so  anxious  to  iirgo 
wheat  growing  upon  tho  West,  porsistontly  ignore 
this  fact ;  Europe  has  had  two  short  crops  of 
wheat.  The  reason  why  Russia  is  not  a  comxio- 
titor  now,  is  because  that  region  tributai-y  to  tho 
Crimean  ports,  through  bad  seasons,  have  not 
had  the  wheat  to  sell. 
The  Western  Fai-m  Joiu-nal  has  steadily  hold 
forth  tho  futility  of  any  country  trying  to  get 
:i  rich  from  tho  export  of  any  grain  where,  hesiUos 
0  1,001)  to  1,500  miles  of  land  carriage  at  least, 
i  3.000  miles  of  water  carriage  must  bo  added.  In 
tho  cHBo  of  corn  and  other  rougli  grains,  in  sea¬ 
sons  of  plenty,  tho  laud  carriage  alone  will  oat 
1  out  the  iirollts,  leaving  iiolhing  fm-  tho  farmer  at 
j  homo  over  tlie  bare  cost  of  (ireduction  -often  not 
I  that.  Tho  case  is  not  widely  dilferent  with 
;  wbciit,  for  even  at  prcHont  prices  but  few  farm- 
Ors  in  Mio  \\  ost  consider  wheat  a  paying  crop. 
They  raise  it  until  they  can  got  ready  to  feed 
stock,  and  for  the  reason,  tlioy  cannot  get  oven 
by  growing  and  shipping  corn. 
Wo  Huiipose  every  seiisible  farmer  will  iirodneo, 
and  conUniio  to  produce,  siieli  crops  as  will  bring 
him  the  most  not  money,  having  duo  regard  to 
koo()iiig  tho  fertility  of  his  farm  as  near  intact  as 
tiossihlo.  This  cannot  bo  done  with  any  ono  or 
two  crops.  The  history  of  agrioiiltiiro  will  show 
ruined  farms  from  persistent  wheat  culture.  It 
will  shinv  liauln-npt  owners  wlicro  they  Uave  per¬ 
sisted  in  running  thoii-  soil  to  wheat.  It  will 
also  show  that  the  area  of  wheat,  culture  has 
HteaiUly  been  pushcii  westward,  and  also  a  stead¬ 
ily  diminished  yield  the  longer  wheat  cnlturo  has 
been  persisted  in.  The  fact  is,  every  biisliol  of 
wheat  tho  country  raises  over  the  logitunaf,e  sup¬ 
ply  for  tho  naliou’H  use  is  nearly  a  dead'  loss. 
1  lie  true  policy  of  tho  nation  is  to  export  only 
such  products  as  are  iniuiufactnred,  (lour,  meal 
beef,  pork,  butter,  cheeso  and  wool.  Qf  wool 
wo  do  uotprodiico  an  exportable  quantity ;  on  Om 
other  bund  millions  of  iiouuds  are  yoarly  it,,- 
liortoil  into  tho  United Htates  to  bo  manufactured 
Tho  present  price  of  No.  1  spring  wbeat  NorOii 
wesleru,  in  Chicago  on  April  1st,  was  ifLlfi. 
Last  year,  at  tho  sanio  date,  it  was  Uo  cents  ■  in 
1874  it  was  worth  81.27;  in  1878.81.27:  and  in 
1872,  81.24,  at  a  date  corresponding  to  tho  lirsL 
In  proUlie  soasons  it  often  falls  as  low  as  80ccntsl 
I  Notwitlistaading  that  high  prices  for  tlie  latt 
live  years  havostlrnnlatod  production,  as  it  always 
must,  we  do  not  heUovo  juiy  community  of  farm¬ 
ers  in  the  West  can  bo  made  to  iieknowlodgo  ac- 
qnaintance  with  tliat  mythical  individual  who 
has  ever  got  rich  raising  wheat. 
Tliero  arc  certain  sections  of  the  country  whera 
the  laud  is  especially  adapted  to  tlio  eidtijro  of 
wheat.  Wliere  tliis  is  the  ease,  tbe  farmer,  if  be 
did  not  give  special  attontion  to  tbis  crop,  would 
not  show  business  sagacity.  Wo  belie  vo  wheat 
m.ay  bo  profitably  grown  in  many  localities  whore 
it  has  been  virtually  abandonod,  if  it  is  made  a 
Jiarl  of  a  regular  rotation,  and  due  care  is  em¬ 
ployed  in  giving  the  crop  proper  attontion.  q-fiat 
It  pays  railway  compn nies  weU  to  Iransport  tliis  ■. 
croji  to  tho  seaboard  there  is  no  doubt ;  that  it 
pays  eommissioii  merchiuits  and  sliippers  well 
there,  is  a  fixed  fact.  'I’hat  it  does  not  pay  farn,- 
ors  as  a  crop  to  ship  to  England,  is  fully  ‘as  easy 
of  demonstration.  Tl.at  it  does  pay  tlie  first  ti,  o 
classes  is  probably  the  reason  wliy  Eastern  com- 
mereial  journals  are  so  anxious  that  Wostoin 
farmers  shonkl  ti’oblo  their  prodiietions.  Saga¬ 
cious  Western  formers  we  opine,  will  not  rush 
uiididy  into  wheat  because  tlio  present  export 
demuncl  happens  to  bo  gooil  It  ia  not  well  to 
jiiii  one’s  faith  to  a  single  crop.  —  Farm 
Journal. 
- - 
ASHES  ON  CORN. 
A  couaEsroHDEXT  asks  us  “what  amount  of 
leached  and  unleached  ashes  would  be  advisable 
to  putui  a  bill  of  corn,"  “and  on  land  which 
wiU  produce  tl.iity  to  thirty-five  bushels  per 
acre.”  ^ 
Now  this  is  ono  of  tlioso  qiiostiuus  to  which  a 
definite  answer  cannot  always  be  given  in  the 
absence  of  very  full  data  upon  which  to  base 
an  opinion.  Tho  cost  of  tho  ashes  and  the  value 
of  the  crop  to  bo  raised  should  be  taken  Into 
consideration  beforehand,  else  a  man  may,  after 
being  successful  in  securing  a  large  yield,  still 
find  tliat  be  has  raised  it  at  a  loss. 
Thou  again,  upo,,  some  kinds  of  soil  a.shGs  pro¬ 
duce  better  results  than  upon  others,  altlmugh 
aUshoiiUlbc  equally  fertUo  at  tho  time  the  appli- 
cations  wero  maile.  On  light,  sandy  soils  or 
loam,  aslics  generally  produce  bettor  results  than 
on  l.eav7,  tenacious  clay,  also  in  a  wot  season 
more  than  in  a  dry  ono.  But,  as  a  rule,  ashes 
are  valuable  as  a  fertilizor  on  all  kinds  of  soils 
and  for  tho  various  farm  crops,  booan.so,  the  pot¬ 
ash  wliich  they  ooutaiii  is  an  essential  property 
tliat  cannot  he  ilisponsod  witli  in  tho  production 
of  plants. 
In  planting  com  upon  moderately  rich  soil,  a 
half  pint  of  good  imlouchod  hardwood  ashes  may 
bo  safely  applied  to  each  hiU  at  the  time  of  plant- 
hig,  and  double  or  treble  this  amount  of  leached. 
After  the  corn  is  up,  and  before  a  second  culti¬ 
vation  or  hoeing,  a  single  handful  additional 
may  bo  applied  with  benefit. 
T^iero  are  few  farmers  who  can  afford  to  sell 
their  wood  ashes  for  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel 
especially  when  tho  land  has  been  cultivated  for 
a  number  of  years;  stiU,  many  do  sell  them  for 
six  to  ton  cents  and  think  they  are  saving  money 
by  doing  so.  Wo  would  say  keep  and  use  all  tho 
ashes  you  make  and  purcliusc  all  you  can  at  a 
rea.sonuble  price,  thereby  keep  up  tho  fertiUty  of 
the  soil. 
E 
