FEB 2 
68 
enced the growth of clover and Timothy. 
Nitrate of soda judiciously used as a top- 
dressing will generally give a profitable in¬ 
crease both of wheat and straw. If an acid 
phosphate has been drilled with the wheat, 
nitrate of soda can be used alone, mixed with 
twice its own weight of dry soil. To insure a 
perfect mixture with this soil it is necessary 
to break all large lumps and pass the nitrate 
through a coarse sieve. If an acid phosphate 
has not been drilled with the wheat, English 
experience teaches that it is best to mix the 
sifted nitrate with twice its own weight of 
sifte," salt. Prom 100 to 150 pounds of nitrate 
of soda per acre will probably in most cases 
be a sufficient dressing; larger quantities in 
some cases have materially increased the 
profits. 
The best time to use nitrate of soda 
is probably soon after vegetation begins in 
the Spring, care being taken not to delay too 
long, as there is danger that late dressing will 
delay or cause imperfect ripening of the 
grain. If possible, the nitrate should be 
spread just before a light rain; this will dis¬ 
tribute it iu the soil aud aid i n preventing i t 
from damaging the young plants. If wheat 
has been injured by a severe Winter or if for 
any reason it appears yellow' and sickly in 
the Spring, it is claimed that a light dressing 
of nitrate of soda will often prove a service¬ 
able remedy. 
The Housekeeper s Silo.— The silo is in 
great favor just now in England, remarks 
the Live Stock Journal. A correspondent of 
the London Standard says it may be interest¬ 
ing to know that in the Netherlands the farm¬ 
er’s wife has her silo. This is an earthenware 
jar about two feet high. Into one such in 
Summer time she shreds kidney beans; into 
another she puts shelled green peas; into an¬ 
other broad beans, say; and having thus 
formed a six-inch layer, she sprinkles on the 
top a little salt, and presses the whole firmly 
down. Then comes another layer, with an¬ 
other sprinkling, and so on, until she has come 
to the end of her vegetables. Leaving a light 
weight on top, which serves to keep all firmly 
pressed aud exclude the air, when more vege¬ 
tables are ripe, she repeats the process until 
the jar is filled. A good, substantial weight is 
then placed on the top, and the opening is cov¬ 
ered with brown paper, aud her object is at¬ 
tained,, viz., ensilage for her family, i. e., 
vegetables preserved green for Winter use 
more or less good according to taste, when 
brought to table. 
---— 
Fraudulent Advertisements. —The New 
England Homestead says this; ‘‘During the 
past three months the Homestead has refused 
so many lottery and other swindling adver¬ 
tisements that its treasury would be $1,000 
richer today had it accepted and printed 
them. In taking this course we have done 
nothing but what it is our duty to do; yet we 
have observed with astonishment that, with 
the exception of the Rural New-Yorker, 
not a single agricultural or family paper 
comes to our office w'hieb declines to print 
these misleading or dishonest advertisements. 
For our part we are bound to protect our 
readers and our honorable and reliable adver¬ 
tisers against all such frauds at whatever cost, 
The Homestead is firm in the belief that 
honesty is the best policy to pursue with its 
readers It is also the true principle on 
which to do business. Other journals cf 
cheaper quality or price take the opposite 
course. Which do the hard-working farmers 
of New England prefer?” We sometimes 
think that many farmers are as ready to w'ink 
at fraudulent advertisements in their “favor¬ 
ite” farm journals as they are at the horse 
racing and demoralizing side-shows of the 
“agricultural fair.” 
Hedge Plants.— John J. Thomas, the good 
and benevolent pomologist of Union Springs, 
N. Y., read an essay on this subject at the 
late meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultu¬ 
ral Society. Among deciduous plants he has 
tried Buckthorn, Osage-Orange, Honey Lo¬ 
cust, Privet and Barberry; among evergreens 
the Norway Spruce, Hemlock and American 
Arbor-vitee. 
The Buckthorn has the advantage of great 
hardiness, thick growth and ease in propaga¬ 
ting and transplatiDg, and requires but a mod¬ 
erate amount of cutting back. But the growth 
is uot stout enough to resist unruly animals, 
unless in very rich soils. The cost of Buck¬ 
thorn hedges, including the preparation of a 
strip of snl five feet wide, purchase of plants, 
setting aud occasional horse cultivation on 
each side, was about 25 cents a rod the first 
year. The yearly cultivation aud cutting 
back, until the hedge had reached full size, 
cost three or four cents a rod. Though the 
Buckthorn has nearly passed out of use on ac¬ 
count of its inefficiency, it is not impossible 
that it may be extensively planted when cul¬ 
tivators find that it may be converted into 
THE BUBAL WEW-Y0BKEB. 
an efficient barrier by inclosing two or three 
barbed wires extending its length through the 
interior—these wires, supported on occasional 
posts, being successively placed in position as 
the hedge increases in bight, the branches 
growing around the wires aud holding them 
immovably in position. Galvanized wire 
should be always used, on account of its dura¬ 
bility. 
Osage-Orauge hedges require more care 
than Buckthorn in assorting plants of equal 
size and vigor, aud rejecting feeble plants. 
Like all other hedge plants, they should be set 
in a single line, and eight inches apart is a 
suitable distance. For the first few years the 
ground must he kept well cultivated. This 
plant is partly tender and will uot endure the 
Winters at the North, unless on a well-drained 
soil. Hence the importance of placing a good 
tile drain parallel to the hedge and within a 
few feet of it. Thus protected, good hedges 
have stood for twenty-live years where the 
thermometer has often shown ten or twelve 
degrees below zero and sometimes lower. No 
hedge is more commonly mismanaged than the 
Osage-Orange. It is planted in imperfectly 
prepared ground; vigorous and feeble plants 
are planted indiscriminately; cultivation 
and pruning are omitted or not done thor¬ 
oughly, resulting in broken and irregular 
lines. Where more care is given, the 
hedge is nearly spoiled by being pruned too 
wide at the top, the heavy shade above caus¬ 
ing meager growth and openings below. It 
should be pruned in wedge shape, hut shearing 
is objectionable as causing a thick and short 
growth of leaves at the exterior, excluding 
light from the inside and causing bare branches 
there. Cutting back more irregularly with a 
knife allows the growth of interior foliage, and 
gives more breadth to the hedge. The sheared 
hedge presents an unnatural stiffness ia orna¬ 
mental grounds; but skillfully cut back with 
the knife, it ha&.more or the beauty of natural 
form. 
The Honey Locust has been extensively used 
for hedges of late years on account of its hardi¬ 
ness. Seed should be selected from the most 
thorny trees. The trees have a tall, slender 
and not hedgy growth, and require thorough 
cutting back to secure a thick mass of branch¬ 
es at the bottom, and very few have received 
this treatment when young. The care in 
planting and rearing is similar to that required 
by the Osage-Orange. 
Though the cost of planting and starting a 
hedge is less than that of building a good 
board fence, hedges are not adapted to farm¬ 
ers who will not give them the continued care 
required to keep them in good order. This 
conclusion is justified by observing how few 
have succeeded with hedges, and many have 
allowed them to be ruined by neglect. 
The evergreens which have been employed 
have been exclusively for ornamental screens, 
and not for farm barriers. The Norway 
Spruce may be placed at the head on account 
of its rapid growth, burdiue.*s, and the freedom 
with which it may be cut back. It will bear 
more shade than many other evergreens, and 
hence the interior of the screen is green with 
foliage. The cutting back should be done 
with a knife, and uot with shears. Next to 
the Norway Spruce is the Hemlock, which 
excels the former in its lively green in Winter, 
while it is unsurpassed for retaining interior 
foliage. It will bear cutting back to an 
almost unlimited extent in Spring before 
growth commences. But it is not so stiff ns 
the Norway Spruce as a barrier. The Amer¬ 
ican Arbor-vitee, though much used, becomes 
destitute of foliage inside, aud is browned by 
Winter. 
By the introduction of barbed wire an im¬ 
portant change is likely to take place in plant¬ 
ing hedges. Barbed wire makes a cheaper 
fence for its efficiency than any other mate¬ 
rial. A serious objection to it is the danger 
of animals being lacerated against It, the 
wires being nearly invisible. This objection 
may be obviated by inclosing the wires iu 
visible hedges. Efficiency may also l>e thus 
imparted to small-growing hedge plants, such 
as Privet, Barberry aud small evergreens, 
which will require but little labor in pruning, 
and w ould become handsome ornaments. The 
Purple Barberry, for example, would present 
an attractive appearance during a large por¬ 
tion of the year. A new value may thus be 
given to hedges by rendering moderate grow¬ 
ers and those easily kept in shape efficient 
barriers for farms and fruit growers. 
Our report does not state what Mr. Thomas 
thinks of the Barberry as a hedge plant, but 
we may say from our own experience that we 
prefer it ta any of those mentioned, because 
it is very hardy, and if properly cared for 
grows as compactly ai may be desired- 
The handsomest hedge we have ever seen is 
made of the Japan Quince of various shades 
of flowers, from white to deep orange. We 
should never use the Norway Spruce for a 
hedge if we could procure the Hemlock. The 
comparatively new spruce, Abies polita, is 
splendidly adapted for the purpose, being very 
hardy, while the leaves are as sharp and stiff 
as needles. 
PITHS AND SUGGESTIONS. 
Rev. H. W. Beecher has seen the time w'hen 
he wished he was the cow r he was driving into 
the lield—it would all be over with her when 
she died... 
It may be wise for some men to build houses 
that cost $100,000 each. It nmy be wise for 
some men to pay thousands of dollars for no¬ 
ted Holsteins, Jerseys or Short-horns. Farm¬ 
ers in general can not buy such stock or build 
such houses. But this is uo reason why they 
should not build as comfortable houses as they 
cau afford. It is no reason why they should 
not do all iu their power to improve their ani¬ 
mals. This ia the gist of a good editorial in 
the Breeder’s Gazette. 
There is now a deal of talk about the Tree 
Bean. This was tested in the Rural Grounds 
and reported upon two years ago. Our read¬ 
ers ought, not one, to have been deceived by 
the extravagant claims made for it by inter¬ 
ested parties... 
Mr. Clare Read, of England, declares that 
the English farmer needs the wisdom of Solo¬ 
mon aud a good part of hi s rich* also to be able 
to farm land to a profit nowadays. 
The New England Farmer believes that the 
agricultural uewspaper is the cheapest, thing, 
according to its worth, which the farmer 
brings into bis house. This may be so. But 
it is passing strange that farm papers, of all 
journals, are seemingly obliged to offer all 
sorts of trinkets, clocks, watches, engravings, 
chances in $50,000 lotteries in order to induce 
the farmers to subscribe. Is it true that a ma¬ 
jority of farmers subscribe for farm papers in 
order to procure the presents, whatever they 
are ? This reminds us of the agricultural fair 
which cannot support itself without the aid of 
all sorts of degrading side-shows and race¬ 
courses. ... 
Teosinte continues to be offered in the cata¬ 
logues of Northern seedsmen. The Rural 
tested this six years ago, when it was first 
made known. The season here is all too short 
for it. The plants look like much-suekering 
corn plants, though the leaves are broader aud 
closer together. We expressed the opinion 
that it should prove valuable in the Bouth, 
though little in its favor has since been heard 
of it... 
The new Banana Muskmelon is said to grow 
from 18 inches to two feet in length and to be 
very prolific. When ripe it is said to resem¬ 
ble a gigautic banana in its rich flavor. It is 
externally of a straw color without netting... 
There is much about the new Polyautha 
Roses that entitles them to consideration. 
They are small but compact. The plants are 
dwarf aud hardy, and with us last Summer 
they bloomed constantly.. 
We see that the Minimum Pea, seut to us 
last year by Carter & Co., London, England, 
is offered in most catalogues. The claim for 
it is that it is the most dwarf of all peas, and 
so it is. The little vines are extremely pro¬ 
lific. But why should we care for so dwarf a 
pea?... 
The Cardinal Tomato is spokeu of as very 
firm, smooth aud of large size, wit h few seeds. 
The New York Tribune remurks that Mr. 
Charles Downing’s portrait occupies the entire 
first page of the Rural New-Yorker’s New 
Yeur issue—a deserved tribute of respect to 
•‘the foremost among living nomologists, 
known the world over iu horticultural and 
pomological circles," nud iu whom, naturally 
enough, “a modest, retiring disposition” is 
accompanied by “quiet and accurate powers 
of observation.” This venerable and honored 
friend of all fruit-growers is iu his eighty-sec¬ 
ond year,and notwithstanding this fact and the 
serious accident of last Winter, from whose 
effects he has never recovered, he goes right 
on with his useful work. “The spirit of a 
man,” says Bolomon, “ will sustain his in¬ 
firmity.”... 
We find that the Japan Chestnut is now 
offered by most nurserymen. The trees bear 
while very young, and the size of the nut is 
twice that of our native chestnut. The tree 
is said to be perfectly hardy, and the price is 
about 50 cents each. The Rural has bail 
poor success with it, having bought ami lost 
three trees. But it is worthy of trial. 
We see few favorable accounts of Wall’s 
Orange Potato...*... 
The White Elephant Potato receives on 
immense plume from the Agricultural College 
of Liucoln, Neb. One hundred and seventy 
kinds were tested and the W bite Elephant out- 
yielded them all. The Farm Manager, 8. R. 
Thompson, remarks, in the Nebraska Farmer, 
that taking all things together, the most vig¬ 
orous, thrifty and prolific potato of the 170 
kinds was the White Elephant. It started vig¬ 
orously, sustained itself well in dry weather, 
grew till frost came, aud yielded about 50 per 
cent, more than other kinds. The Late Beauty 
of Hebron yielded less than half the quantity. 
The next largest yield was made by Jordan’s 
Prolific; the next by Queen of the Valley. 
Instead of using poles for pole-beans, try 
small sticks four feet high. Pinch the vines 
back when they reach the top. Many think 
that a large crop can be gained iu this way, 
and that the plant forms beans instead or 
running to vinos.. 
Send for new seeds in time to test them 
before planting time.—Idem. 
Co mjiu l)m. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Arkansiut. 
Poteau, Scott Co., Jan. 4.—Wheat aud 
other small grains sown last Fall look promis¬ 
ing. As Summer lingered in the lap of 
Autumn, so lingered Fall in the lap of Winter. 
The weather is good for stock, as feed isn’t 
any too plentiful this Winter. But the indi¬ 
cations now are good for some pretty tough 
weather. Prices are: Corn. 40 to 50 cents; 
wheat, $1; rye, $1; oats, 50 cents; pork, ti 
cents; butter, 15 cents; chickens, 20 cents; 
eggs, 12)^ cents. H. c. B. 
Illinois. 
Springfield, Sangamon Co., Jan. 15.—\Ye 
lately passed through a very cold wave; the 
thermometer went down to 30° below zero 
on the morning of January 5. I think the 
damage to fruit aud fruit-trees will be very 
great. Peaches, 1 think, are all killed. Corn 
in this part of the State is very poor, and is 
selling at 35 cents per bushel; wheat, 80 to 90 
cents; oats, 30 to 35 cents; potatoes, 50 cents; 
apples, $1 to $1.50. w. H. L. 
Iowa. 
Southern Iowa, Jan. 12. —Winter so far 
pleasant; no blizzard. Snow about six inches. 
On Jauuary 5 the mercury at sunrise was 8-U 
below zero. Cora will not average over 20 
bushels per acre, and much of that is soft. 
Oats wore fair. Wheat spleudid in quality, 
averaging about 10 bushels. Potatoes good, 
aud an extra large quantity planted. Sorg¬ 
hum extra good for this section. Taking 
everything into consideration, farmers have 
done better than for two previous years. 
Hogs are rather scarce, being pushed into 
market as rapidly as possible. Cattle feeding 
is practiced to some extent in this couuty. 
Prices are about as follows; wheat, 80 cents; 
corn, 25 cents; oats, 20 cents: rye, 40 cents; 
flaxseed, $1.25; cattle, $3.50 to $4; hogs, $4.75; 
potatoes, 20 cents; onions, 40 cents; apples, 
$1.25 per bushels. R. J. w. M. 
Maryland. 
Anne Arundel Co.—Land here is worth 
from $5 to $25 an acre; coni. 50 cents a bushel; 
wheat, #1.25; oats. 35 to 40 cents; potatoes, 
50 cents; eggs,80 cents; butter, 35 to 40 cents; 
dressed hogs, $0 aud #7 per hundred pounds; 
turkeys, 18 and 20 cents per pound. G. E M, 
Talbot Co., Jau. 15.—The year thus far 
has been very disagreeable. We have had 
raiu aud snow, or very cold weather every 
day of the month. On January 0 the tlicr 
mometer fell to 0 above zero, which is a point 
seldom reached In our latitude. It has injured 
many potatoes, which were hilled up lightly. 
Wheat has been lookiug very well through 
the Fall nud the fore part of Winter. Not 
many potatoes have been shipped, as the prices 
were too low, being ouly 85 to 50 cents per 
bushel. The crop was above the average, stock 
looking well. J. H. 8. 
Michigan. 
Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., Jan. 12.—Iu the 
afternoon of January 1, 1884, it commenced 
to snow, and continued during the night; 
wind in the east. Snow fell to the depth of 
six inches. At noon on the 2d the wind 
changed into the west, aud the mercury had 
dropped to 12 deg. below zero at dark. Iu the 
morning of the 3d the wind blew a gale, fill 
ing the air with snow. Mercury in the morn¬ 
ing was 23 deg. below zero, at noon 10 deg. 
below, and at dark 20 below, the wind still 
blowing. On the morning of the4th the mei 
eury was 24 deg. below zero, the wind still 
u gale penetrating every crack und crevice. 
At noon the mercury was 10 dog. below, and 
at dark 23 deg. below, the wind abating, but 
the cold continuing intense. Ou the morning 
of the 5th there was a light wind from the 
west; mercury 24 deg. below zero; ut noon l’J 
deg. below; at. dark 23 deg. below, the wind 
seemed to penetrate and freeze the very life 
almost out of the animals that were not sup¬ 
plied with other shelter than the straw stuck. 
How cruel uot to protect the animals which 
are dependent on us for protection? If we 
keep them to serve us, we should be merciful 
to them. During the storm the cold pene¬ 
trated many cellars and did u largo amount 
of damage, some losing every thing the frost 
could hurt. H. 0 . b. 
