687 
h 
THE 
As all the experiments receive the same 
quantity of salts of ammonia every year, it 
is, I think, evident that the difference in the 
produce shown in the following table is due to 
the amount of potash. 
AVKRAUIt OF 28 YEARS, BUSHELS OF WHEAT. 
10 A. 21 
ion. 24 
13 n. S!t£ 
I may here mention incidentally another 
very interesting fact, that although in plot 
HI A, the amount of potash taken up is being 
reduced every year, still, more Ls taken up, 
and the crop is larger than on another plot 
■where potash and phosphates are applied every 
year without ammonia. 
The limits of this paper will not allow me to 
follow the results which relate to phosphoric 
acid; they are very similar, however, in char¬ 
acter to those obtained with potash, with this 
exception that the amounts taken off in the 
crops are considerably less. 
We may learn from these experiments that 
both potash and phosphoric acid enter into 
very insoltiblo combinations with the soil. The 
salts of potash generally used are soluble in 
water, and when they are first placed in the 
soil, it' the crop is in want of potash, it can 
then take it up more readily than at any other 
time. " 
In some of our experiments upon permanent 
pasture nearly the whole of the application of 
150 pounds of potash is taken up by the herb¬ 
age grown upon one acre; if, however, more 
potash is applied than is required by the crop, 
then some considerable time may elapse be¬ 
fore it can be recovered. 
An erroneous application of potash or of 
phosphoric acid to the soil—by which I mean 
an application which produces no increase in 
the crop—is like sending goods to an over¬ 
stocked market: your manures are in the soil 
and will bo of value some day, but at the mo¬ 
ment they are not required; you have, in fact, 
placed them in an overstocked market. 
An erroneous application of ammonia or 
nitric acid is attended with much more serious 
results: it is a far more costly substance, and 
while, under favorable circumstances, one- 
pound of nitrogen may add more than 100 
pounds of dry weight to the crop, it is, on the 
other hand, possible that under the least fa¬ 
vorable circumstances the whole may be lost. 
In my early days the fixing of ammonia in 
the soil was considered a great discovery; if 
it be an error to say that an application of 
ammonia or of nitric acid to the soil, uot taken 
up by the crop during the year of its applica¬ 
tion, is lost, at ull events it is an error on the 
safe side. 
Some tune ago I was accused of having 
ammonia, on the brain; it is, at all events, 
quite true that my experiments show the influ¬ 
ence of uuuuonia on vegetation to be very 
great. I think, however, that if 1 were a 
farmer in the United States I should be dis¬ 
posed to try what the less cost ly phosphoric 
acid or potash could do for me; if they failed 
to produce the desired effect, at all events they 
would remain in the soil, and Instead of add¬ 
ing to tho growth of sea-wood in the Atlantic 
or Pacific Ocean, they could always lie made 
available for vegetation by the application of 
ammonia or nitrate whenever the existing 
stock of nitrogen in the soil was exhausted. 
Rothamsted, Eng. 
£ultJ Crops, 
RURAL SEEDS. 
Beauty of Hebron.— While in conversa¬ 
tion with a gentleman recently, us to the rela¬ 
tive value of different varieties of potatoes, it 
occurred to me, on hearing tho Beauty of He¬ 
bron spoken of in such high terms of praise, 
that it must be a source of especial gratifica¬ 
tion to the proprietors of the Rural New- 
Yorker to have been instrumental in bringing 
this variety so prominently before the public, 
in so short a time after its introduction, ms 
they did by placing it in their free seed dis¬ 
tribution. Should the White Elephant prove 
equally desirable as a late potato, it will surely 
be a great acquisition. Speaking of tho 
White Elephant I must give a brief his¬ 
tory of my experience with it this year. I re¬ 
ceived Inst Pull, one medium-sized tuber, and 
it came through the Winter in splendid condi¬ 
tion. Well, last Spring 1 sprouted it in the 
house, anti broke off the sprouts carefully, anil 
planted them out in boxes, to get them ready 
for transplanting in tho open ground. Then I 
cut the potato to single-eye pieces, and from 
the one potato 1 planted 22 hills by this means. 
I planted them in a fieldat some distance from 
the house, thinking they would be safer there 
than in the garden. They all started finely, 
and, “Now,” said I to myself, •* 1 will have a 
line lot of them for seed next year.” Just a 
week later I visited them when, behold ! not 
u vestigo of tho White Elephant remained ex¬ 
cept three or four of the larger stalks entirely 
stripped of the leaves, all having been eaten 
up by the Colorado beetle. Five or six of the 
larger pieces I planted sprouted again, but 
they made a feeble growth, and I got, in all, 
less than 20 small tubers from them. I hope 
for bettor luck next year. 
The Rural Dianthus.— A word of thanks 
is duo for the pleasure wo have derived from 
the magnificent display of ilowers from the 
dianthus seed sent in the last Free Seed Dis¬ 
tribution. We have already had about 20 
different kinds in blossom, ranging in color 
from nearly white to very dark, and from 
single to semi double, and from that to double, 
and some of them are pronounced by all who 
see them to be simply magnificent. 
Croton, N. Y. ** Treble.” 
-- 
Flax Culture in Kansas. 
I have raised flax ever since its first intro¬ 
duction into this country and think it yields 
best on our high prairie soils. It should only 
be sown on land well plowed, thoroughly pul¬ 
verized and comparatively free from weed 
seeds. Three pecks of seed per acre, sown 
broadcast, have given me the best results, and 
if carefully sowed broadcast and well covered 
with a smoothing harrow, it is a reasonably 
sure crop—at least more so than any other we 
raise. When the leaves have mostly fallen 
off, is the proper time to harvest it, and for 
cutting tho Champion Self-rake No. 4, surpass¬ 
es any machine 1 have seen operating. I pre¬ 
fer thrashing it as soon as cured; but if not 
convenient I stack and cover well. The Vi¬ 
brator Thrasher scorns to be tho best machine 
for thrashing flax. The product has been ton to 
IS bushels per acre, at an expense of four dol¬ 
lars, a ud a return of #12 per aero. When cut 
at the right time tho straw is better feed for 
cattle, than prairie hay. The stubble I do not 
burn, but plow it under. I have found no 
natural obstacle to flax culture in this State. 
This year has been un exception to this rule, 
however, in consequence of extremely dry 
weather the crop not being more than one- 
third as good as it has been heretofore. 
At 'dson Co., Kansas. H. C. Snyder. 
SOFT WHEAT. 
The Rural says this is unsalable, quoting 
from the Pioneer Press, of Minnesota, since 
“the patent middlings process has entirely 
changed the values of hard and soft wheats.” 
I have seen it asserted by a writer on the 
wheat fields of Manitoba that all sorts of wheat 
growu there become hard, and make flour 
worth #2.00 per barrel more than any other 
sorts grown in a more southern latitude. The 
reason of this is, that Manitoba wheat con¬ 
tains a larger percentage of gluten, and a less 
percentage of starch. It is the climate, the 
writer asserts, which makes this great differ¬ 
ence in tho quality of the wheat. 
Tho climate of Minnesota, Dacotab, and a 
part of Montana north of the line of the Paci¬ 
fic Railroad—say at about 4S degrees of north 
latitude and beyond—must be nearly the same 
as that of Southern Manitoba. Why then 
should not all the wheats growu there bo 
hard and contain as large a percentage of glu¬ 
ten ! \\ ill the wheat growers and millers of 
that region enlighten the readers of the Rural 
as to this, for the truth of the case ought to 
be known ? A _ 
-♦ ♦ » 
Wild Rye, Lyine-Grass -Elymus Canadensis 
This is a coai'se perennial grass, found on 
river banks. The stems grow two to five feet 
high and bear at the top a gracefully nodding 
spike five to eight inches long. The dowel's 
bear long awns. The leaves are broad, linear, 
flat and six to twelve inches long. It dowel's 
in August. At the North, I have never known 
any domestic animal to eat it; but at the 
South cattle are said to be fond of it in Winter 
and Spring. I know of no species of broimri 
which makes nutritious hay or pasture. As 
an agricultural grass it is of “no account,” 
but in suitable places in the garden near a 
pond or brook it is a choice plant which well 
deserves a place. Especially the glaucous 
variety is worthy of such a position. 
Professor W. J. Beal. 
P ontological. 
NEW FRUITS. 
Probably a greater number of new straw¬ 
berries have been introduced during the past 
three years than during any previous ten 
years in the history of tills delicious fruit. Of 
all tho new kinds, probably the Sharpless 
stands drst, while Triple Crown, Primo, 
Shirts, Glendale, Cumberland Triumph, Bid- 
well and, latest of all, Manchester and Jersey 
Queen are among those of “ great expecta¬ 
tions.” Of raspberries, the Gregg stamls first 
among Black-caps, the Caroline among the 
buff-colored, and the Cuthbert and Montclair 
among the reds. Among plums, nothing par¬ 
ticularly striking in the way of new varieties 
has of lato years appeared. Among pears, 
Kioffer’s Hybrid, which is thought to be a 
hybrid between the Chinese Sand Pear and 
Beurre d’Anjou, and to be blight-proof, is of 
very good quality, ripeniug in October and 
November. Hoosic Ls a Mass, pear of good 
quality ripening in October. The tree is pro¬ 
ductive and vigorous. Among peaches the 
Wheatland is a chance seedling on the grounds 
of E. Rogers, Scottsville, N. Y. The tree is 
healthy, resembling Crawford’s Late, but more 
vigorous. It bears heavy crops. The peach 
i; of large size and handsome. Mr. Downing 
pronounces it a very promising late variety 
for market, being firm, enduring distant ship¬ 
ment and valuable for all purposes of the 
family. It is a free-stone. 
Mr. Downing tells us, speaking of the many 
early varieties of peaches that have been in¬ 
troduced within the past 10 years, that it is 
thought that most of these early kinds are re¬ 
productions of Halo’s Early and Alexander, 
and so nearly alike that the distinction of 
name is nqt worth retaining. Our effort 
should be directed to obtaining a fruit as early 
as the Alexander and of as good color, size 
and quality, free from rot. 
Of grajies wo have many kinds that cer- 
taiuly promise to eclipse the old favorites. 
We may name the best as Lady Washington, 
Brighton, Duchess. Niagara, Jefferson, Pren¬ 
tiss, Pocklington, Quassaickand Rochester. Of 
many kinds of now apples, the following may 
be mentioned as promising to be the most val¬ 
uable : Blue Bloom (.September) ; Brewington 
Pippin (February) ; Canada Baldwin (January 
-April) ; Docurie (September) ; Faineuse Su- 
creo (Octoiler); Highland Beauty (January - 
March) ; Johnson (Docember-March) ; Kin- 
kead (Summer); Peasgood’s Nonesuch (Septem¬ 
ber) ; Suepps (Deoetuber-February) ; Steam’s 
Greening (Deceruber-Aprilj ; Wolf River (Oc- 
tober-November), Most of the above fruits 
have been illustrated in these columns. 
- — -«-«-•- 
PLUM CULTURE IN NORTHERN 
MICHIGAN. 
T. T. LYON. 
In Southern Michigan, the European plum 
is subject to the depredations of the curculio; 
and many of the more delicate and desirable 
varieties are also frequently so fur subject to 
the rotting of the fruit, before maturity, as to 
be very unreliable. Besides these drawbacks, 
the foliage ofteu ripens and drops before the 
fruit is fully grown, leaving the tree to go 
into the Winter in an enfeebled condition, 
and hence unprepared to withstand, the severe 
cold. 
North of Muskegon County, and, so far as I 
am aware, north of the sane parallel on the 
eastern shore of the State, t' is fruit is mainly, 
if not wholly, exempt from these drawbacks. 
As might reasonably bo expected, when we 
come to leant that (as far north as latitude 
45°) the rnngo of the thermometer is rarely 
if ever lower near the great lakes than in sim¬ 
ilar situations at flic southern line of the 
State, the most delicate and luscious varieties 
of this fruit are fully hardy and healthy; nearly 
or quite free from the depredations of the 
eureulio; and I may add, even more productive 
than could reasonably be desired. 
At Traverse City (at latitude about 44>£ o) 
may lie seen one of the largest and most suc¬ 
cessful pliuu orchards in the State, if not even 
in the on lire Northwest. This orchard, which 
has now been several years in full bearing, 
has been exceedingly productive, showiug the 
highest evidence of vigorous health, and has 
