9 
FEB. 24 
easier to kill a thousand weeds when they first 
germinate than one when it is a week or two 
old ; and to keep them from growing, than to 
destroy them when grown. A week’s neglect, 
once tho weeds have started, may lnci ease the 
labor 50 times and even make it necessary to 
abandon the crop. This is the point in growing 
roots. Keep the ground clean, and some sort 
of a crop is certain ; permit weeds to grow, 
and the chance is jop’eat that the crop will be a 
lose. 
There may be farmers who have a crop of 
roots grown and find difficulty in disposing of 
them. That difficnlly is easily disposed of. 
There is not an animal on tin! farm but may 
be kept in the best of health and condition on 
roots, with a small portion of dry feed. 
Horses do well on a peck twice a day, Chopped 
and mixed with chaffed hay. If hard worked 
a quart of meal of any kind or bran, added, 
will complete a sufficient ration. Cows, oxen, 
salves and feeding beeves flourish well on roots 
as the largest part >•( their diet. The yellow- 
fleshed mangels give a rich color and no evil 
flavor to milk or cream, and for winter dairy¬ 
ing they arc indispensable. A peck of roots 
with a quart of cotton seed meal and bran, 
mixed in equal parts, given twice a day with 
dry hay or fodder, will keep cows well up to 
their milk. Sheep may be fed similarly in 
proportion, except ewes heavy in lamb, which 
should be fed out small rations, not over a 
quart at each half daily feed. I'igs thrive won¬ 
derfully on mangels and sugar beets. Geese 
will live wholly on Uiern chopped fine. Poultry 
will peck cut roots and consume them com¬ 
pletely. Roots, corn and hay will keep the 
whole farm stock going in the best order, aud 
as one good acre of roots will subsist one cow 
for three years or 25 cows for six weeks, and 
four acres wiil supply 25 cows for six mouths, 
what other crop can pay so well or be so easily 
grown for the amount of feed procured ? 
KINVER GLOBE MANGELS. 
COL. F. D. CURTIS. 
I iiave grown Webb's Kiuver Globe beet for 
several years and have fully tested its merits, 
except by actual analysis of its constituents, 1 
am satisfied that it contains a much larger per 
ceut. of sugar than the larger and coarser man¬ 
gels, but not as much as the white sugar beet. 
My pigs are fonder of it than of any other root 
except the sugar beet. It is more easily grown 
than the latter and will afford a larger yield; 
and it is not excelled in regard to yieid by 
Lane’s Improved. As there are but few root¬ 
lets on the sides, and the tap-root is slender 
and flue, it can be harvested clean and pulled 
without the least difficulty. It is urged as an 
objection to it. that it is too easily lifted out of 
the ground. Garo must be had in running the 
cultivator between the rows,or the maugels will 
be pulled up, and also in turning the horse, or 
they will be knocked out by the animal's feet. 
This trouble can be obviated by sowing some 
stronger-rooted variety at the ends of the rows. 
I can fatten pigs on ihi& beet, feeding it raw, 
and bleeding sows may be kept healthy on it 
aud do well. My horses cat it and all beets 
greedily, aud for cattle there is none bettor. 
One quarter more bulk of the Norbiton Gi¬ 
ant Mangel, can be grown on the same ground, 
but I doubt If there is any more actual nutri¬ 
ment. 
Kinver Globe Mangels originated in Eng¬ 
land, where they are very popular. The Globe 
variety has not been so popular in this country 
of large tbiuga,as the Norbiton Giant, It is finer 
in grain and will keep better, than any of the 
loDg mangels. The smaller ones are excellent 
for the table. It is a ilcb yellow in color, and 
the leaves are also yellow, running into green 
on the edges. The roots do not average 60 
large a size as swedes, which are similar in 
form. There are several good kinds of Kiuver 
Globe, but Webb’s is undoubtedly the best. 
The Globe variety can be grown closer in the 
rows than the long, red mangels, and the rows 
may be nearer together, so far as a good growth 
is concerned, but this makes it more difficult 
to work between them and not, to disturb the 
roots, it is not so liable to be injured by freez¬ 
ing, as the beets are closer to the ground—(lo 
not stand up so high. There is no soft neck 
orcrown as is the case with the long mangel, 
which is exceedingly sensitive to the frost, and 
when frozen will cause the whole beet to decay. 
The seed this year is scarce and high. When 
crowded iu the row in rich ground the beets 
will grow on top of each other, and not twist 
together like the long maugels. The earlier 
the seed is put in, the larger will be the 
yield. 
Of the Webb’s Kinver Globe Mangel we are 
assured that as much as eighty-four tODS per 
acre have been grown; though of course, 
nothing Jiijg^so enormous a yield can be ex¬ 
pected from ordiuary field culture and manur¬ 
ing. The variety has been extensively grown 
by leading stock owners in England, and it has 
proved extremely satisfactory for feeding pur¬ 
poses. In a number of places where it has 
been tested here too, it has won golden opin¬ 
ions for large yield and good quality. 
iortinrlteral. 
FRUIT GROWERS IN COUNCIL. 
New Jersey Hort'l Society. 
AFTERNOON SESSION. 
(Rural Special Report.—Continued from laBt week > 
Raspberries were discussed as follows: 
Mr. Goldsmith named Frauconla; Hornet, 
Fastolff, etc., as of best quality but none of 
them was hardy. Highland Hardy was sup¬ 
posed to be hardy; but four years’ trial proved 
it not entirely so. His were badly injured last 
winter. It was early and profitable, selling at 
25 and 30 cents per quart. Alter the middle of 
July the prices ran low—too many other fruits 
iu competition. The Hudson River Antwerp 
was still good. He had seen them sold iu mar¬ 
ket at six aud eight cents with two commis¬ 
sions to come out. He could not grow rasp¬ 
berries at that, price. lie planted in rows six 
to seven feet apart aud three lent in the row, 
confining the young plants wanted for fruit¬ 
ing to a space about 18 inches wide, cultivat¬ 
ing between the rows. He stretched a wire 
over the row, to which the tops of the fruiting 
eancs were fastened. Thinks cultivators gen¬ 
erally agree that young plants aie more hardy 
than old oues. lie doubted if winter killing 
was due to severe cold weather. Mr. Fuller 
said the Raspberry is indigenous to, aud at 
homo in a northern latitude. A.s you go to 
western N. Y., and Canada the Franconia aud 
other varieties arc perfectly hardy, while the 
further south you go, the more tenderthey are 
as compared with this place, and to attempt 
to cultivate them there is a failure. The 
same is true of the Curraut. A Rasp¬ 
berry that will hold its leaves until winter, 
may be regarded as hardy. Mr. Yoorhees 
thought killing was due lo unripe wood. 
Mr. Lovett had never seen the Turner hurt to 
any extent. He considered the Cuthbert 
practically hardy. Mr. Barclay grew Fastolff 
on the south side of a tight fence till lie got 
tired of covering the vines, and dug them out. 
Some roots ran uuder the fence, came up aud 
grew on the north side and were always hardy. 
Mr. Crane grew Raspberries iu his apple or¬ 
chard. He had observed they did beet under 
the treeB in the shade. More were injured last 
winter than usual. He was not ready to give 
up Highland Hardy or Philadelphia yet. The 
latter was valuable for home use. He had 
grown 150 bushels per acre, but the people be¬ 
gan to want something belter. Mr. Downiug 
visited him a few years ago and, seeing the 
perfection it attained on his soil, toJd him he 
need not look for anything belter; if he did, 
he would not find il. 
Mr. ltoe said many varieties, like the Pnil- 
adelphia, seem adapted especially to certain 
localities. This was the case with all more or 
less, lie praiecd the Cuthbert. He had 6een 
the Queen of tho Market doing well far to the 
south aud considered it identical with Cuth- 
bort. If so, he believed it would do well as far 
6outh as Norfolk; he would ri6k it there any¬ 
way. Mr. Qninn remarked that all Raspberries 
introduced for the past 10 years had been as 
highly praised as the Cuthbert is now. Take, 
for instance, the Herstiue ! Aud where does it 
stand to-day ? He thought any one planting 
any quantity of Cuthberts without first trying 
it iu u small way would make a mistake. A 
few costly plants generally received extra cul¬ 
ture; they did with him, and he presumed the 
Barne was true with others, and the result of 
this treatment was not a fair test for a large 
plantation. The Philadelphia had been over¬ 
praised. Last season in the Newark market 
they could hardly be given away. Mr. Crauc 
indorsed the remarks ot Mr. Quinu on the 
Cuthbert. He bought 50 plants two years ago 
and lost every one. Ho hud tried it again last 
year with the same result. He went to 
see a neighbor who had bought adozeu plants, 
to learn las success; he had saved three only 
aud they were growing small by degrees and 
beautifully less.” Mr. Roe thought the Horstine 
the best early variety he had. He had admitted 
none was absolutely hardy unless it was the 
Turner, lie did not think the Cuthbert always 
hardy'. He believed iu telling the truth about 
it. He had seen it killed to the ground, but 
when once established its vigor is remarkable. 
Mr. Fuller believed the Turner about as hardy 
as any we have, but too Boft to bear trans¬ 
portation. The quality is good. 
The Secretary read a paper on Grapc-grow- 
ing lor the People, uud by the People, iu which 
he contended that any pluee lit lor human 
ubodecould beaudoughtto bomadoto produce 
a family Bupply, aud urged it as a duty that 
every owner of a lot—even if but a small city 
one—owed to his family' to grow a home supply 
of this delicious fruit which was a medicine to 
the sick, a refreshment lo the weary and a lux¬ 
ury to which those dependent on tho markets 
were strangers. Thu cooling shade and lus¬ 
cious fruit amply compensated for the trouble 
and expense of preparing, planting and caring 
for the vines. He deprecated the advice so fre¬ 
quently given—to keep the roots constantly 
deluged with soap-suds and kitchen slops. No 
vines could remain healthy with such treat¬ 
ment. He preferred transplanted vines grown 
from ripe wood in the open ground. No hot¬ 
house or greenwood vines for him. He urged 
that purchasers should never buy of any but 
trustworthy and well known nurserymen. 
Among the now Grapes of promise he named 
Ricketts’s Lady Washington, Miner’s seedlings, 
Caywootl’s Duchess, Niagara, Preuties and 
Pocklingtou, some of which on trial he hoped 
would come near to the claims put forth for 
them by their originators, and meet the want 
long felt of a good, hardy, productive white 
grape superior to the Concord. 
After deciding to hold the next annual rncet- 
iug in Newark, aud arranging for publishing 
their proceedings, and some miscellaneous 
business, the Society adjourned sine die , aud 
thus closed one of tho most interesting meet¬ 
ings this young Society has ever held. 
If the bulk of the members, including 6ome 
of the ablest, would take half the interest that 
a few of the real workers do, this Society 
would soon exert an influence that would be 
seen and felt throughout the country, and be 
of incalculable benefit to every tiller of the 
soil. w. 
-- 
THE LETTUCE DISEASE AND ITS PRE¬ 
VENTION AND CURE. 
JAMES TAPLIN. 
The above disease is not a new trouble, for 
it bus prevailed more or Less ever since the 
plants have been grown iu houses heated by 
fire heat, but probably some winters it is more 
troublesome than in others, so much so that 
some growers have giveu up the crop and 
grown other things iu their houses. I notice a 
recommendation to discontinue growing the 
crop in old gardeus for a time as a remedy; 
this might be a cure if it was an insect, but it 
being a mildew closely related to the vine mil¬ 
dew, I do not see what good will result from 
doing so, as under the same circumstances it 
will appear again if the crop is grown again in 
any number of years after. I was informed 
by a large grower he had never been troubled 
with it in cold-frames, but always more or less 
in hot-houses. 
For reasons which need not be entered into 
here, I occupied a part of two houses with let¬ 
tuce this winter; from want of water the 
plants could not be planted until after being 
checked by tbc first sharp frost while outside, 
which would predispose them to disease. 
After the only snow storm we had whieli laid 
a day or two on the roofs of these houses, I 
noticed mildew on many of the leaves. I at 
once painted the pipes with lime and sulphur, 
gave a brisk heat and plenty of air m the day 
and less heat at night, and it disappeared in a 
few days, the leaves affected dried up and 
could be picked off, and although a few heads 
were decayed tho gouerul crop was saved. 
As a preventive I would recommend cleauiug 
out all the old soil aud rubbish, of which there 
is usually a good stock iu that sort of house, 
wash the w r ood and glass, aud repaint If neces¬ 
sary, and paint walls and pipes with lime and 
sulphur, and fill in with fresh soil, aud with 
proper attention to the watering, ventilation 
aud heat, I do not see any cause why the form¬ 
er success should not be obtained. 
How to Obtain very Early Tomatoes.— 
Wc start about 1st to 10th of March iu hot¬ 
bed; transplant when about three inches high 
to another bed, first cutting out the tap-root. 
When about six inches high transplant to four 
inches apart, and when 10 iuchee high nip out 
the top aud transplant to 10 or 12 inches apart. 
Leave until safe from frost aud take to the 
field, which should have been plowed about as 
early in the spring as peas cau be planted. 
Run over with a harrow or roller to pack solid, 
Line and mark to 31x4 feet. Spade out a hole 
12(a)15 inches square, 8 inches deep. Put in 
plant and fill around with mellow soil. Keep 
water suckers off and you will have tomatoes 
15 days ahead of any one- M. Welsh. 
®0$[ks. 
HISTORY OF A POOR FARM.-No. 23. 
Some Pertinent Critlcisma. 
Ouu meetings have become quite notorious 
since our discussion of some family arrange¬ 
ments which were rather severely criticised, 
and the matter having leaked out, probably 
through our out-spokeu and matter-of-fact 
young lady visitor, has been a subject of vil¬ 
lage conversation, gossip and comment. Dr. 
Jones who has the best facilities for hearing 
and learning of the opinions of the farmers’ 
wives and daughters, sayB the remarks made 
have been very popularly received and several 
ladies have iutimated that they would bo 
pleased to have an opportunity of recording 
their opinions on various similar matters. 
The suggestion staggered Mr. Martin, who 
seemed to think that it would be impossi¬ 
ble to discuss any practical matters within 
bounded limits with a few lady visitors as 
speakers. 
“I waut"saidke“ toaskDr. Jouesone thing, 
andthatis this; ‘Why farmers'wives become in¬ 
sane?’ J have just been reading a long article in 
a paper in which this question is asked, and a 
column full of reasons are given why farmers’ 
wives and daughters cannot help but become 
crazy because of their cares and hard duties.’ ’’ 
“ A man is little better than a luuatic him¬ 
self ” remarked Dr. Jones, “ to write any such 
stuff. Uufortunately there are diseased minds 
as well as diseased bodies, and as a large pro¬ 
portion of the population live on farms, of 
eourse a large proportion of sick aud diseased 
persons are found in farmers’ families. Fred 
can probably tell us within halt a dozen how 
many farmers wc have iu the United States.” 
“The latest estimate is that there are over 
four million farms at the present time, and, 
of course, as many farmers; the average num¬ 
ber in a family is five, so that 20,000,000 per¬ 
sons, or neatly half the population, live on 
farms.” 
“But uot half the idiots or crazy folks, 1 
warrant you," remarked my old neighbor. 
"I have lived here, boy and man, for 87 years 
this New Year's, and I have known every 
family within a dozen miles or more since I 
was sheriff of the county over 40 years ago, 
and I have uever known one insane person 
in a farmer’s family. 
“You arc right,” rejoined Dr. Jones. “I 
have been well acquainted with farmers’ fami¬ 
lies all my life, and, as a rule, they are more 
robust and long-lived than any other class; 
the children are strong aud hardy, and the 
majority of eases of sickness in country places 
is caused by carelessness, inattention aud in¬ 
excusable disregard of sanitary requirements. 
Farm life is so healthful that carelessness be¬ 
comes a rule. On the contrary, look at the 
women and children in towns aud cities, and 
if there is a place where ‘cares and hard du¬ 
ties,’ exposures aud privations, should cause 
nervous prostration and mental disease, it is 
in a crowded city tenement house; and the 
wife most likely to become iusane, is the 
mother of a family of a city workman. There 
is no class of people more hcahliy, sound in 
body and miud, and long-lived, than farmois.” 
‘•Well, that is satisfactory. Now, I want to 
know why we farmers cannot have pork aud 
beaus for our dinners three times a week with¬ 
out liaviug the fact thrown in oar faces by a 
magazine writer as evidence of our poverty, 
ignorance, misery aud general boori&bness. 
What do you say to that, doctor ?” 
“I am from New England and. of course, 
cannot give au unprejudiced opinion; hut I 
am sure that pork is wholesome and nutritious 
food aud that much nonsense and stupidity aie 
written about it. The hard work of the world 
la done on pork; and I may add, beans. Beans, 
too, form one of the most nutritious foode. 
Sailors live chiefly on pork aud beans. These 
are the staple food of the lumberers in the 
timber districts, men who do more hard work 
aDd suffer as much exposure as sailors. Sol¬ 
diers are obliged to eat a good deal of pork. 
Miuers make pork their staple flesh diet, and 
necessarily consume alarge quantity of beans. 
Laborers everywhere consume pork largely. 
The Cuban slaves are fed on it. “Hog and 
hominy” used to be the usual food of our 
Southern negroes. An enormous quantity of 
Americau pork and bacon is exported to add 
to the products of other countries, and if pork 
were unwholesome food, it would not be thus 
widely consumed. 1 use more pork myself in 
a year than of any one other kind of meat, ami 
good bacon or ham never comes amiss, even 
to a man of refined taste. A pig is no more un¬ 
cleanly a feeder than, if so much so, as a fowl, 
which is as filthy a forager as exists, yet who 
makes any objection to broiled chicken on that 
account A rabbit is infested with as many 
parasites as a pig, aud yet its flesh is never 
objected to, not that by auy means a pig need 
necessarily be infested with these cieatures at 
all. if it is properly kept. Oxen are infested 
with embryo tape worms in their flesh, aud 
sheep are specially subject to parasites.” 
“ You have been reading critically of late, 
Mr. Martin,” I remarked. 
“ Yes. 1 am sick of the way some people 
who write in agricultural papers have of lee 
luring farmers about what they ought to do j 
as though they were children, and as to say* 
‘Johnny, you should not put your Augers iu 
your nose; or you should uot scratch your 
head; or you should keep your bauds clean 
aud uot crawl in the sand and weur the knees 
of your pauts, or play in the mud and make 
your mother augry.’ Farmers surely have as 
much common sense us other people, and 
know what to eat and drink us well as their 
neighbors." 
“At the dairy fair we were told by a speuker 
who could uot know what he was talking 
about,” rejoined Miss Martin, “ that we ought 
to get cows that would milk 12 quarts a day 
for 800 days in tho year. I don't believe there 
area hundred such cows in the country, which 
is not enough to go around and give 4,000,000 
farmers one apiece. If we cannot make money 
