There are now in cultivation, or inclosed for 
pasture in this Slate, (3,538,727 acres. This is 
an actual net increase of 913.422 acres over the 
area ioclosed last year, or 16 86 per cent. Yet 
the anionnt of uncultivated laud in the 8tate is 
45,504,792 acres. The State is filling up with 
people who, for enterprise and intelligence, will 
compare favorably with those of any State in 
the country. 
THE METHODS Of FARMING 
introduced into the Slate are as widely different 
as the localities from which the people have 
come. Doubtless some of these methods were 
the best where these people came from, while 
others were not. But in ooming to the West 
and attemptiug to follow those old methods, dis¬ 
appointment is too often the result. Many have 
an idea that the soil is so rich and mellow here 
that about all that is needed is to get the seed 
into the ground, and a crop is sure. It is true 
that the ground is of such a friable nature that 
It is much easier pnt iu good condition for cropB 
than moat of the soils iu States farther east, but 
my observations have led me to the conclusion 
that there is no soil in which thorough cultiva¬ 
tion is of moro benefit than in the rich soils of 
Kansas. Though our soils do not “ bake ” or 
dry out with ordinary weather, yet the difference 
between a well tilled field of corn and one that 
has been oarelessly rnn through once or twice, 
will bo often found one-half or more in favor of 
thorough cultivation. A man wiih the same 
appliances will generally cultivate a much larger 
area bore than in any other country I have seen, 
and yet. as a rule, people here undertake more 
than they can do well, which is bad economy 
here or elsewhere. 
One of the great evils under which agriculture 
labors in this State and almost everywhere else, is 
SHALLOW PLOWING. 
This, doubtless, results everywhere from shallow 
thinking. Men whose minds have been Btirred 
with deep thoughts and improved with thorough 
culture, will seldom be satisfied with the skin¬ 
ning process, so often called farming. Iu break¬ 
ing sod, whioh is the first step iu opening & farm 
here, the coireot idea is to break as shallowly as 
possible, provided the plow goes below the crown 
of the grass roots. This causes the grass to dry 
out and die so that it rots the first season, while 
if broken deeply it will often turn and grow, thus 
keeping the sod green and making trouble the 
second year, lint many imagine that because 
two inches is deep enough for tod, four inches 
is deep enough for ordinary Boil, whioh is a mis¬ 
take of from 100 to 209 per cent. 
The man who is a routine farmer, following 
a oertaiu coarse just because he has seen the 
work he has in hand done iu that way. or be. 
oause some one else does it in that manner, is not 
the one to make a success of the business, es¬ 
pecially under new and strange conditions. It 
is the man who has studied the science of agri¬ 
culture, who understands the first principles of 
the business, that most readily adapts himself to 
his surroundings and makes a success of his 
business. The “book-farmer, 1 ’ in his first efforts 
to apply his principles to practice, will make mis¬ 
takes, but his acquired knowledge of general 
principles will soon enable him to discover the 
oause of his failures and avoid them iu the fu¬ 
ture, while the routine farmer will oontinue to 
blander without knowing the cause of his failures. 
THE USE OF FARM MACHINERY 
iu Kansas is almost universal. The labor is 
principally done by horse-power, while the farm¬ 
er rides at nearly all his work. Ho breaks his 
sod, btirs his fallow, drills his wheat, reaps and 
binds the same, plants and plows his corn, 
mows and rakes his hay—all with machinery 
upon which ho rides, and over which he can, if 
he so desires, spread a canvass for shade. Our 
broad, rich prairies without stone or stump, 
afford a splendid field for the employment of the 
improved farm machinery of the day, aud the 
faimers have not been slow to avail lUeiubolves 
of their benefits. Farming is losing much of its 
drudgery and becoming a much moro intellectual 
pursuit than in our grandfathers’ or even iu our 
fathers' days, 
lteno Co., Kansas. 
fflinoloj)ital, 
THE APPLE ORCHAED.-No. 2. 
BY CLINTON. 
THE PROPER DISTANCE FOR PLANTING APPLE TREES, 
was spoken of iu my former article as being two 
rods, or 33 feet. This I adopt as an average 
rule, but in special cases, the rule may be devi¬ 
ated from soiuowhat. For instance, in case the 
troes are upright growers, like the Northern Spy 
and Bildwiu, they will admit of somewhat closer 
planting; but if the branches are spreading, like 
those of the Rhode Island Greening atul the 
Tdltuan Sweeting, a greater distance may be re¬ 
quired. I name these varieties as being Ruch as 
are familiar to most cultivators. The dlstanco 
Bhouid be such that when the trees are well 
grown, there will be no danger of their interfer¬ 
ing with eaoh other by the interlocking of 
fcranohes, which increases the iuconvenienoe of 
gathering, and by preventing a free circulation 
of air, tends to diminish the value of the fruit, 
not only in color and flavor, but in quantity. Of 
course, this objection to close planting is not 
apparent while the trees are Bmall, but as they 
advance in size, it becomes more and more man¬ 
ifest. I have just measured an apple tree 
standing in my garden, which, at 20 years of age, 
I find is extending its branches eighteen feet in 
each direction from its trunk; thus covering a 
space thirty-six feet iu diameter. This may be 
considered by 3ome as an exceptional case, but 
l think it not unusual in a suitable soil and fa¬ 
vorable locality. I have recently read, in a New 
York paper, a description of the orchard of Mr. 
Richard McKinstry, of Columbia County, in 
whioh it is stated that the boundary line, of over 
four miles iu length, 13 marked by more than 
“2,600 apple trees, standing eaoh ten feet 
apart." Trees planted thus closely may be use¬ 
ful in defining the boundary, and in serving as a 
wind-break for the orchard, but cannot be the 
most profitable for fruit-growing, for the rea¬ 
sons I have stated. 
PRUNING. 
is an important matter which Bhouid never be 
neglected. If properly attended to from the 
first, the top may be so shaped that there will 
rarely be any necassity for lopping off large 
branohes at any subsequent period, and thna 
may be avoided the sudden shock to the tree 
which always results from the removal of a 
largo branch, and from which it does not 
speedily recover, if indeed it ever fully does. 
I have witnessed many instances in which 
trees have been seriously weakened and per¬ 
manently injured by over-prnniDg, and the cut¬ 
ting away of Urge branohes. In one case, the 
owner of a fine orchard which had been some¬ 
what neglected, let out the job of pruning it 
to a poor neighbor, giving him, as a remuner¬ 
ation for his labor, all the branohes he might 
think it necessary to cut out. Of oourse, the poor 
mau found it convenient to provide himself with 
a good eupply of fire wood for future use, to 
the great damage af the orchard, as soon be¬ 
cause apparent to the owner. 
An orohard properly attended to, will re¬ 
quire but a moderate pruning iu any one year. 
To begin with, encourage a low growth of top. 
-this is important for Beveral reasons, among 
which are: first, the much greater convenience 
in gathering the fruit, and, second, the less 
danger of the fruit being blown off in case of 
high winds. Some farmers advocate high 
training, so that the branches will not be in the 
way of the team in plowing. But to plow an 
orchard after the trees are well grown, is, in my 
opinion, a very questionable pol cy ; and while 
the trees are small, there will be no trouble 
arising from tha low growth 0 / the branches, if 
proper care is observed. 
If the tree is forked when received, remove 
one of the main branches, as a forked tree is 
quite liable to split in tho trunk and thus be 
ruined. If, from any oversight, the matter has 
been neglected until the top becomes large, the 
difficulty may be remedied, in a great measure, 
by boring through the two parts with a half- 
iuoh auger, and inserting through the hole an 
iron rod. or bolt, with a head at one end and a 
sorew and nut at the other, thus binding the 
two parts firmly together. If the tree is vigor¬ 
ous, ali will soon become imbedded in the new 
growth of wood, and the remedy will become 
permanent. I have spoken of encouraging an 
open top to the tree ; but judgment is requisite 
in regard to the matter. A tree which naturally 
inclines to have a low, spreadiog top, will need 
but little attention in this direction; for after a 
few seasons of bearing, the top will spread out, 
owiug to the weight of fruit, and thus it usually 
beoomes sufficiently open. But those of more 
upright growth of top, will need some thinning 
out from the center. Iu all cases, remove all 
dead or dying branches, as a matter of course, 
and in all cases where branches are likely to in¬ 
terfere with each other by crossing or other¬ 
wise, remove one of them, while they are yet 
small. Prompt attention to all such matters" is 
essential to success. 
If tho branch removed is of any considerable 
size, it is well to cover the wound either with 
grafting wax, or a prepa.ation or gum shellao 
dissolved in alcohol, or with a coat of thick 
paint. Iu removiug a fimb of any material size, 
the rings in the bark at the biso of tho branch’ 
will indicate where amputation should be made. 
As to the bast time to prune the trees, au¬ 
thorities differ somewhat, some advocating the 
fall, some midwinter, and others the spring, 
and still others, a little before midsummer. 
Those various opinions may be affected in some 
degree by the locality and climate. My own ex¬ 
perience induces me to believe that, for central 
New York, there is no more suitable time thau 
In early spring, before the sap commences to 
circulate. There will be no Injurious loss of sap 
by bleeding if done at that time, aud the heal¬ 
ing process will commence very soon, and the 
wood will remain in a sound condition until cov¬ 
ered by the growth of bark. 
I will not occupy apace by giving extensive in¬ 
structions on 
GRAFTING. 
Every fruit grower should be competent to do 
his own grafting. The process is so very simple 
that any one possessed of common ingenuity 
should be able to perform it, after having once 
seen it done. For the most satisfactory results, 
it ehould be attended to while the tree is yonDg 
and vigorous. If the tree is of considerable 
size, it is best to graft only a portion of the top 
in a single year, as in this way the orchardist to 
some extent avoids the injury that may result 
from removing a large portion of the top at 
once. If he does the grafting himself, he ought 
to know what kinds of fruit hD will get as the 
result. If he employs others to do it, or pur¬ 
chases his trees of traveling agents, he will, too 
often, be disappointed in this respect. If ho 
cannot see to the matter personally, in procur¬ 
ing his trees direct from good, reliable nursery¬ 
men, I would recommend him to procure seed¬ 
ling trees from his own vicinity, if posable, and 
graft them himself while they are Bmall—say 
the second or third year after transplanting. He 
will thus avoid being imposed upon as to the 
varieties, and have trees accustomed to his cli¬ 
mate and soil, and whioh have not been forced 
into early and rapid growth in the highly culti¬ 
vated grounds of the nursery. 
The orchardist should make a regular map of 
his orchard, on whioh he should carefully mark, 
legibly and plainly, the names of the several va¬ 
rieties, in their proper places. This is better 
than to rely on labels, which are so liable to be 
changed or lost. It is well to have trees of the 
same variety planted near each other, and not 
scattered promiscuously through the orchard. 
There should be some system about it. 
SUBSEQUENT CARE. 
Keep the soil dean and well worked under and 
around the treoe while they are small. Plant 
what yon please between the rows, but never 
disturb tho roots with tho plow, or rob them, by 
planting over or too near them. The first season, 
a good mulch, covering the gronud as far as the 
roots extend, will be highly beneficial to tho 
trees, and iu a dry season may prevent serious j 
losses. To guard against the depredations of 
mice, which in wiutera of deep snow are often 
quite disastrous, form a little mound of earth 
about the trank, to tho bight of a foot, before 
the snow falls, aud level it off again when tho 
spring fairly opens. Coal ashes may be profita¬ 
bly utilized for the same purpose, and will fur¬ 
nish some protection also against that pea.— 
the borer. Examine the young trees carefully 
every spring, to see if they have been loosened 
by th6 winds aud frosts of winter and spring, 
and if so, press the earth firmly about the roots, 
and stake the trees only when necessary. Search 
carefully, at tho same time, for the eggs of the 
Tent, or other caterpillars, which may then be 
easily removed aud destroyed, and much subse¬ 
quent labor, and perhaps injury, guarded against. 
Never allow cattle or horses to run in your 
orchard, unless the trees have become so large 
that they cannot injure them. Sheep and hogs 
may be pastured there to advantage, as by eating 
the wormy fallen fruit they will check, in some 
degree, the increase of the Codling moth. But 
no kind of stock should be allowed to run iu 
young orohards until the trees have become fully 
and firmly established. Do not anticipate much 
profit from any other crop which may be at¬ 
tempted to he grown in the orchard after the 
treeB have attained a good bearing size. Let 
the trees themselves be the main objeots of con¬ 
sideration. Whatever else is grown iu the or¬ 
chard should be considered as but a secondary 
matter. But iu ali these particulars, the novice 
wifi frequently find himself obliged to roly very 
much on his own judgment, coupled with that 
experience which, after all, is usually the best 
teacher. 
Oneida Co.,.N. Y. 
-*■♦-*-- 
FACTS ABOUT THE JAPANESE PER¬ 
SIMMON 
The Japanese Persimmon is a dark-stemmed 
tree with large glossy leaves. It seems to some¬ 
what resemble, in its method of growth, an An¬ 
glers quince tree, but the leaves are larger, and 
the tree is handsomer. It buds and grafts read¬ 
ily. The fruit is produced on tho new wood of 
spring growth, blossoms appearing iu April, the 
fruit not being fit to gather until after the leaves 
fall. The fruit is not usually good until it has 
lain in the dark for some months, and has be- 
como soft. The trees are hard to transplant, 
unless great care is taken. It appears probable 
that the Persimmon prefers a rather moist loca¬ 
tion. It promises to be an immense bearer. 
One orchard of 1,200 trees, planted for market, 
lies near San Jose. Chas. H. Shinn. 
Alameda Co., Cal. 
TEST3 OF GARDEN SEEDS. 
Prof. Beal's experiments with seeds in a 
green-house are altogether too favorable. It 
is well known to all gardeuers, aud his experi¬ 
ments prove it, that the shelter together with 
the regular care and attention possible in an 
artificial soil and climate, affords no proof of 
the vitality of seeds. His tests in the open 
soil, out-of-doors, subject to the weather, and 
all casualties, are the only true tests, and just 
the ones which farmers and others must pnt 
these very seeds to. Hence seeds can only be 
fairly tried in situations similar to those in which 
it Is natural for the people at large to place 
them; that is, in their gardens. 
An expert gardener can take a lot of seeds 
known to be old and of doubtful vitality, and 
by giving them green-house shelter and a duo 
amount of nursing, produce germination, when 
open-air culture would not give a single live 
plant. After all, the proper germination of 
seeds in gardens, depends fully as much upon 
the one who puts them in, as npon the quality 
of the seeds. As an evidence, place a lot of 
portnlaca or of tobacco, or of celery seed in 
the hands of an inexperienced person to sow, 
and not oue in a thousand will ever show, un¬ 
less it may be those accidentally spilled upon 
the borders of the patch. The true way to test 
garden seeds is to plant them properly, at the 
proper time, in tho average soil and under the 
average conditions which farmers have at com- 
8 Rcfus Mason. 
Dodge Co., Neb. 
Jlorintlteral. 
THE OLD MAN CACTUS. 
Just look at this fanny little C ictus with its 
shaggy head, as white as the driven snow. It 
is called the Old Man Cactus because of the nu¬ 
merous long, flexible, white hairs that cover it. 
and whioh resemble Ike gray hairs of an old 
man’s head. But old men are often bald- 
headed, which is not the case with this Cactus, 
for its orown is the whitest and hairiest. A-down 
its body—it is haiiy from head to foot—by rea¬ 
son of age and handling, the hairs are less nu¬ 
merous and of a duller color. This Old Mau 
Cactus is an irresistible tempation to the ladies; 
we never knew them pass him by without strok¬ 
ing down his pate or wanting to—Just to see If 
he is good-natured He shows no great aver¬ 
sion to this fondness, but when they ruffle hia 
temper by stroking hia locks upwards instead of 
downwards, the many tufts of white spines that 
are thickly set along the rfdgeB of his body and 
hidden by his silvery hair, chastise such undue 
familiarity. 
Botanically he is known as Pilocereus senilis. 
He 1 b at home in Mexico, where he attains im¬ 
mense columnar proportions—some 20 feet high, 
by eight or ten inches in thickness. Little fel¬ 
lows are not uncommon in onr greenhouses, 
where, though they grow slowly, they are 
very tenacious of life. And they are good window 
plants too. They do not like dusty apartments, 
aud are averse to having much water spilt on 
their heads. During the wiuter season they 
want but very little anyway, and even in sum¬ 
mer time, great moderation should be exercised. 
They like a gritty, loamy soil, despise peat, and 
though a little very rotten manure is relishable 
to vigorous specimens, its use had better be dis¬ 
pensed with; so should that of all artificial man¬ 
ures. These old men Cactuses like warmish 
winter quarters, aud for all the room they oc¬ 
cupy should get a winter seat in tho window and 
not in the cellar. 
- ♦♦♦ -- . - 
EULALIA JAPONICA VARIEGATA 
It is surprising how few people as yet appear 
to know anything of this beautiful, hardy grass. 
We have a row of plants which have been in 
fall beauty for the last six weeks, on the sight 
of which every visitor Cxclaima “How charm¬ 
ing ' but the full beauty is scarcely seen out¬ 
side ; although in this fine, dry, bright autumn 
weather the flower plunieB show much of their 
true character. We had plumes of this grass in 
the house in full beauty from last year until the 
plumes of this year were ready "for the same 
purpose, and they looked about the same as 
when cut last year. 
I have noticed that, iu a few cases, people 
Lsve bleached this grass, but I consider It looks 
unnaturally white, arid I have no doubt some of 
our European friends will soon begin to dye it 
green and probably magenta, just as they al¬ 
ready do with the Pampas grass plumes and 
also the very pretty Feather grass and Briza; 
