472 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
JULY 27 
From t.hia time on, until tbe plants are large 
enough to begin drawing—which will be in six 
weeks, more or lees, according as the weather is 
warm or cold — they require but little atten¬ 
tion, merely keeping the bed properly moist. I 
think sometimes it is well to remove one-half 
the covering if the mamire produces some bot¬ 
tom heat and the weather is warm. A good 
soaking with soap-suds, onoe a week, is ad¬ 
vantageous to the growth of the young 
sprouts. Heavy losses are often sustain¬ 
ed from too early planting. Being a native 
of a warm climate, the sweet potato will not 
grow with vigor until the weather has become 
settled and warm. The first of April is early 
enough for the maiu crop anywhere north of the 
36th parallel of latitude and, as we go north, 
tbe time should be correspondingly later. 
When drawing the plants, get a firm hold as 
low di wn as possible with one band, pressing on 
tbe tuber with the other; draw gently so that 
the tnber may not be disturbed in its bed. A 
light sandy soil is best for the sweet potato, and 
having been previously well plowed, we now 
properly commence the preparation of the land 
by making a liberal broadcast application of 
stable manure; run the furrows four feet apart, 
and, if we have them to spare, a sprinkling of 
ashes oaonot be more profitably used than in 
the sweet potato rows. Throw up a sharp bed 
over this, and right here is where we come to 
a disagreement among our most successful 
growers; but, as fine crops are the result of 
both practices, I will describe both. The dif¬ 
ference binges only on the question, “ Which is 
the cheaper ?” This each reader can decide for 
himself. 
The first and more common practice of the 
two is to set the plants eighteen inohes in 
the row on these ridges, merely patting down 
with the hoe the point where the plant, is to be 
get, thus “ firming ” tbe soil. The after cultiva¬ 
tion consists in keeping the land clear of weeds 
and the soil loose by plow and hoe. 
The other plan is to hill up a little further 
apart in the row and the rows a little nearer, 
getting in the same manner as in the former 
practice, and performing the necessary after- 
cultivation entirely with the hoe. As is often 
the case, we have the land prepared one or two 
weeks before we have a season of wet weather, 
which is important to success in planting, though 
no plant with which I am acquainted takeB to its 
B6W home more readily than the sweet potato. 
Then we find it an advantage to hill up, thus 
more thoroughly preparing the soil and destroy¬ 
ing the young weeds. Everybody says,—and 
•» what everybody says must be true ”—that the 
vines should be lifted once in ten days to pre¬ 
vent their taking root, but I have yet to discover 
the man who practices it. A fiuer crop than we 
harvested in 1877 I never saw, and not a vine 
was lifted until the roots were dog. 
In harvesting the crop, we wait for a clear, 
warm day, when the soil is dry, unless cold 
weather threatens; or, if the vines have been 
scorched by frost, the digging must not long be 
delayed. We ran tbe plow along each side of the 
row, turning the earth away, dig with the hoe, 
leaving them scattered on the ground to dry off, 
gathering up, however, before night those dug 
during the day. Assort while picking up into 
three lots : the large, fair, uninjured, for market 
or Btoring away; the small, smooth and regu¬ 
larly-formed, to be preserved for seed; and 
lastly, the culls to be used immediately either 
for the table or fed to slock, for which they are 
excellent food, horses, cattle and hogs being 
very fond of them. 
Great care should be exercised iu the han¬ 
dling, to prevent them from being bruised or 
out, though the former is much more influential 
in producing decay. As to preservation, there 
seems to be no sure way, though a dry cellar or 
house where artificial heat can be introduced 
when the temperature goes below about 50°, is 
considered the safest kind of storage, not for¬ 
getting that perfect ventilation is all-important. 
Warren Co., July 8,1878. 
RAISING FLAX. 
The farmers of this country once knew the 
advantage of growing and working up flax for 
sheeting and tabie linen, and for tow trousers 
for summer wear. But this era of home manu¬ 
facture has passed away, and hardly any atten¬ 
tion is now given in this country to growing 
flax, or to working it up into linen goods. Cot¬ 
ton has taken the place of linen largely, and 
whatever else is used is purchased from Euro¬ 
pean manufacturers, witn the exception of yarn, 
thread and twine, and some crash. These are 
made in the United States, and in so doing the 
manufacturers use about 6,000 tons of raw flax 
annually. 
The larger proportion of this flax is imported, 
beoause our farmers pay too little attention to 
the care of what flax they do raise, and do not 
raise enough of Buy kind to supply the demand, 
with the exception of tow for bagging and up¬ 
holstering. The flax raiBed iu the United States 
is all primarily for seed. In the WeBt one peck 
of seed is sown to the acre, the flax mown, in¬ 
stead of being pulled, and most of the straw 
burned. A small part of it is thrown out upon 
the ground, and rotted and passed through a 
brake, and then taken to the bagging mills and 
the upholsterers. In this condition it is worth $40 
to $50 per ton. In a few instances more care is 
taken in rotting and braking and clearing the 
flax of shives, and the coarse fiber is used to mix 
with fiuer fiber in making coarse twines, crash, 
etc., and is worth $80 to $100 per ton. 
In New York State about one bushel of seed is 
sown to the acre, and the flax is generally left to 
get dead-ripe, and then pulled and after remov¬ 
ing the seed, the flax is spread upon the grass to 
be dew-rotted, and then it is broken and 
scutched, and the fiber sent to the thread and 
crash mills, bring at this time 9@l0o. per ponnd. 
There it is worked into tbe coarser yarns, twines 
and crash, and mixed with the finer imported 
fibers in cheapening the cost of manufacture. 
There is no question but that flax-raising may 
be a profitable business for the farmer in the 
United States, and a little more attention to rais¬ 
ing and preparing the fiber will give him double 
the present price. Importers now pay 20@25o. 
per pound for undressed Russian and Belgian flax, 
but the process of raising and preparing differs 
from that in the United States as follows. The 
seed is sown at the rate of to 3 bushels per 
acre, as early as the ground can be made ready, 
as tbe flax is a hardy plant, and is grown best in 
the moist, early spring months. Moist ground 
is also best for the crop. The flax is not al¬ 
lowed to become dead-ripe before being pulled, • 
but as soon as tbe lower half of the stalk turns 
the flax is pulled, and the seed allowed to ripen 
in the bundle or Bhoek. This giveB a better 
fiber, and it is also thought a better seed, con¬ 
taining more and better oil. 
After the seed is removed the flax may he kept 
any length of time before rotting, as in every 
process the fiber improves with age, or it may 
be rotted at once. The best time to rot is early 
in the spring or in the fall, as the hot, dry 
weather of summer causes it to become harsh 
and of a foxy color. The foreign process of 
rotting iB to steep in a stagnant pond of water, 
for a few days, something being laid upon the 
flax to keep it under water, until fermentation 
takes place, aud it is then spread upon the grass 
to complete; hut great care is taken not to al¬ 
low it to remain in the water or upon the ground 
too long. 
When rotted, the flax may be broken and 
scutched at anytime convenient, for, as said 
before, flax gains in value, as wine does, by 
age. This process pursued in this country, 
will give a fiber worth from $400 to $500 per 
ton. The steeping cannot be done in a stag¬ 
nant pool of water in mid-summer in tbe Uulffed 
States, as the heat is too intense and fermenta¬ 
tion too rapid. If in the shade or in vats in a 
barn cellar, it may be successfully done. If any 
of our readers have had experience in flax culti¬ 
vation which is of different results, we shall be 
pleaBed to hear from them._ ' ■ 
I ^rborirultural, 
THE MUSIC OF THE TREES. 
SAMUEL B. PARSONS. 
There’s music in the wild wind’s roar, 
And in the thunder’s crash : 
And in the waves that dash. 
With creBted heauty, on the brow 
Or rocks ait boar and mossed, 
Singing their melancholy dirge 
For the ever loved and lost. 
There’s music in the flapping sail, 
And in the creaking mast, 
And round the prow whose graceful breast 
The waters cleavetb faBt. 
There's music tn the measured stroke, 
Where voice and oars keep time, 
And on the evening ripples clear, 
SweUeth the village chime. 
There’s music iu the organ’s notes, 
And voices gathered there, 
In lofty nave, and arched dome, 
For worship and for f rayer; 
And music, like tbe BtUl small voice, 
Breaks on the. listening ear, 
Where, reverent, my brethren wait 
The Lord’s own words to hear. 
There’B music in the merry tone 
Of childhood’s happy shout. 
And in the gentle, loving kiss, 
In which his heart goes out; 
And yet, tar sweeter still its tones, 
When iow, on bended knee. 
It gives a simple faith and love. 
And prays Jlis child to be. 
There’s music in a woman’s voice 
Full gushing out in song, 
Or in the fond, cureeBing tones 
Which to her love belong ; 
When dimpled cheek, and rosy lip 
The keys of music hold, 
And all the heart’s sweet melodies 
faj ring up in wealth untold. 
The world ia filled with music 
To ears attuned aright, 
And'a bouI iu perfect harmony, 
Is a soul all fnil of light; t=esl 
But of true eartbberu music, 
That's thrown upon the breeze,! 
Few have such gentle beauty 
As tbe music of tbe trees. 
They all have different voices. 
And were their language known, 
A beauty all undreamed would Bwell 
lu every varied tone; 
Their harps are swept by viewless wings. 
Alike at eye.or morn. 
As to tbe tranced and listening ear. 
Their melodioB arejborne. 
From boyhood's happy hour, 
To manhood’s world of care. 
Thro’ Joy. or calm, or suffering, 
Their music met my ear. 
The Maple sang in gladness, 
While the Aspon danced In glee: 
But the music or the mournful Piue 
Was ever sweet to me. 
When first I knew Its swelling notes, 
’Twas as a blithesome boy— 
I loved to climb its sturdy trunk, 
And in Its arms to lie; 
Full mauy a castle there I built 
(They all are tumbled now). 
And pleasant was the music then, 
It breathed across my brow. 
I made my Pine an errant knight, 
Or troubadour of old; 
And the Maple was his lady-love— 
Dearer than gems or gold. 
He brushed his leaves and spoke to her 
Across my wovlug hair, 
And her gentle voice would rustle back 
Sweet answer to his prayer. 
But manhood came, and ’mid its cares, 
Sweet voices gladness brought; 
My children iD the old Pine played, 
Its topmost branches Bought, 
Or, ’ueath its sturdy, spreading arms. 
They shouted in their glee. 
While the Pine would roll Us echo back. 
Like the distant moaning sea. 
Its voice was full of gladness then, 
Its tone is mournful now: 
The Fire King swept acrcBS Us form, 
And scathed its lofty brow ; 
The group that sought its welcome shade, 
Is now a broken ring— 
No hope of other life it has. 
To meet them welcoming. 
And ever still, in saddened tones. 
It whispers in my ear. 
” Tho’ I am seared, my heart ia sound, 
And upward my career ; 
Be thou the same-for unto thee 
A better lot is given: 
My life is but for earth alone, 
But thou caust enter Heaven." 
Thus music is In every tree, 
And each leaf has a tone. 
And on the ear that listens, 
Its melody.is thrown. 
So wbate’er may be the music 
That Is flung upou the breeze. 
There are few that have the sweetness 
Like the muBio of the trees. 
Ijorttntltnral, 
KISSENA NOTES, 
THE ROSE ACACIA. 
Mauy plants that have been long familiar, 
and perhaps on that account less prized, renew 
their charms wheu presented under some novel 
or better form. Such a plant is the Rose Aoa- 
cia—Robinia hisplda,—under its usual low form 
very attractive, but straggling even to unsightli¬ 
ness. The flowers must be always beautiful 
and tho foliage graceful and delicate, but, grown 
lffw, the bloom is often obsonred and the leaves 
trailed in the dirt. But let it be once raised 
Q P by grafting on a high stem of Yellow Locust, 
—Robinia paeudacacia,—aud it becomes graoefnl 
and weeping. Both flowers and leaves suggest 
tropical vegetation. Indeed, the rosy color and 
curious form of the flowers and the elegant ap¬ 
pearance of the leaves attract the eye more 
readily than choicer and rarer plants. Even iu 
this form, however, the Rose Acacia is uot per¬ 
fectly satisfactory, for the stems of the Robmiaa 
are very apt to be disfigured sadly by the borer, 
for which no efficient remedy seems to exist. 
Meantime, many years may pass before the 
borer fairly gains sway, so that abundant time 
for enjoyment will remain to repay the trou¬ 
ble of setting out the tree. Once unsightly, the 
ax will readily remove it. 
SUMMIR-fLOWERINQ SHRUBS. 
The at John’s-worts or Hypericums form a 
group of flowering deciduous Bhrubs most valu¬ 
able inmore than one way. Midsummer affords 
few flowers to relieve the general green of the 
landscape, often dimmed at that season by 
drought and dust. Bright and free-bloomiug 
shrubs have consequently special charms at this 
season. The St. John’s-worts form such a 
group. Their leaves are fine, oftentimes glossy, 
as in Kalmianum, and the bright yellow flowers, 
distinguished by a crown of numerous anthers, 
frequently cover the entire plant. Their proper 
position is on the outskirts of a group, where 
they afford abundant bloom through >ut the 
hottest part of summer. There is a number of 
varieties, one at least of which has flowers 
three inches in diameter, like some great yellow 
Clematis: although many of them are well- 
known, they are not used to any great extent, 
certainly uot to anything like the extent they 
deserve. 
• - : — ■ BERRIES EUR 0RRAMEHT. 
Among the beautios of midsummer and early 
autumn, are the richiy-buod berries borne by 
many deciduous shrubs. They often succeed 
attractive flowers, but are themselves scarcely 
less attractive. Just now the deep-crimson, 
waxy berries of the Tartarian Honeysuckle, and 
the glowing fruit of the Viburnum lautana, are 
specially notable. The latter is a shrub uot suf¬ 
ficiently appreciated. It is oboice and uot easily 
propagated, and the flue and peculiar coloring of 
the foliage, smoDg other shrubs, is very effec¬ 
tive. The berries of this Viburnum bang in 
clusters, while those of the Tartarian Honey¬ 
suckle cling singly here and there to the stem. 
TWO HYORANQEAS. 
In dwelling on the splendid attractions of 
the Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, properly 
almost a fall-flowering shrub, we are apt to for¬ 
get that there are other Hydrangeas possessing 
very charming qualities. For the present sea¬ 
son of midsummer, Hydrangea nivea and H. 
carnescens are very valuable. IT their flowers 
are less showy than those of H. paniculata 
grandiflora, they are earlier, large and of fine 
tint and of curious formation. The shades of 
white or flesh-color that distinguish either vari¬ 
ety are indicated by the names nivea and car- 
neeceng. They present, however, special attrac¬ 
tions in their foliage over that of paniculata 
grandiflora, on account of the white color of the 
uuder-side of their leaves, as shown when tossed 
up by the breeze. A varied group of Hydran¬ 
geas formB an effective feature on the lawn. 
A LATE-HOWERINQ WIEQEIA. 
Wiegela Lavallee is again proving itself a 
most noteworthy member of the species. After 
all other Wiegelas have long done blooming, it 
puts forth a second and most vigorous set or its 
chocolate flowers, a fact that quite distinguishes 
it from others of the species. The foliage is 
equal iu vigor and health to any Wiegela, while 
its flowers are unsurpassed for peculiar beauty. 
It remains, however, rare, and like most choice 
shrubs grows in popularity Elowly. 
Samuel Parsons. 
----- 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
THE BEST THING TO BE BONE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. 
Wise parents would not condomn their child¬ 
ren to devote hours dally to the study of music 
unless they possessed natural musical tal¬ 
ents. It is doubtful if, by the most earnest 
study, they could ever attain to excellence. It 
would he unwise to oblige a young student to 
give most of his time to the study of mathe¬ 
matics, with the view of educating him to be a 
civil engineer, if he bad no natural aptneBS for 
the study. At the most he could only hope to 
attain to mediocrity, a result that would not pay 
for the cost of its attainment. Better afford the 
facilities to young stndents to excel in that 
which comes easy to them—in that which their 
minds readily comprehend, and for which they 
have an intuitive liking, even though the pro¬ 
fession chosen is Igsb flattering to the high aspi¬ 
rations of the parents or the *» dignity ” of the 
family. Success in any respectable occupation 
is better than failure in any occupation that 
may be deemed to rank higher. 
We wibh to apply this reasoning to the farm, 
garden and orchard. In the district from which 
we write, the cultivation of Fall and Winter 
Apples is impracticable, as we view it. Vet hun¬ 
dreds of acres of land are covered by apple 
trec-B. They are vigorous. The soil and climate 
are all that need be asked.* The trees blossom, 
Bet their fruit. It grows apace, is attacked by 
the Codiing Moth and destroyed. The entire 
harvest of late apples would uot pay for a tenth 
of the interest of the value on orops which migUt 
be grown in their places. PomologiBts tell us— 
“ fight them 1” “ You need not look for grand 
crops without labor.” “ Crops raised without 
labor are worthless.” “ If you are not willing to 
take care of yoar truit, you do not deserve to 
have any.” This is all true within oertain lim¬ 
its. So qualified, it is the doctriue we advocate. 
But as there is a point beyond which forbear¬ 
ance ceases to be a virtue, so there is a point 
beyond which the cost of production is greater 
than tho value of that which is produced. And 
this iB precisely the point we have reached iu 
this and many other sections of our country 
with Fall and Winter Apples. If the entire 
country were alike subjected to the same de¬ 
structive agency, then all would be placed upou 
equal ground aud all would share alike the cost 
of fighting that agency. As it is, however, we 
1 stand pretty much the same chance of tairing 
paying crops of apples that the youth having no 
aptitude for mathematios has of becoming a dis- 
* liuguishod engineer, or of him having no ^ ar 
1 for music " of becoming a noted musician. The 
’ best thing we of tbe oost-wore-to-raise-than-tbe- 
’ crop-comes-to sections of country cau do is to 
’ destroy our apple orchards and cultivate iu their 
! ' stead pears, grapes, garden or farm crops that 
3 can be raised without a suicidal expendituie u 
\ labor, time and means, leaving to the other sec¬ 
tions of country a monopoly in those crops to 
* which all the conditions are specially favorable. 
[ THE HORSECHESTNUT SHRUB. 
,, This was introduced mnuy years ago and is 
y just the shrub we should select for a farmer s 
front garden. Before us, as we make these 
notes, is a specimen about four feet hig an 
y not less than fifteen feet in circumference, 
y There are forty-nine racemes, varying from six 
d inches to eighteen inches iu length, bearing 
y slender white flowers with stamens twice as long 
i and nale-rod anthers. It may easily be imagined 
d that now, while few other hardy -hruba are 
re blooming, it is a very pretty and showy _obje o. 
f- Those who think of this iu association with other 
ly horsechestnnts will picture an erroneous idea or 
5 f its habit. It has no inclination to be confined 
