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cellent place for this operation, in careful hands, but a simple and safe way is to place the seeds a few moments,-more or less according to the nature of the seed-in warm water, enough to soften the shell, then in the middle of a bag of moist bran, hung in a warm room, kept at a uniform temperature. Sprouting or decay will soon take place, and seeds can thus be tested in a few hours which require days or weeks after outdoor planting to decide upon their value.

A fair test of this sort would often save the seedsman from the suspicion of dishonesty, or justly condemn him; besides the inevitable profit and satisfaction to the planter.

To this principle we are largely indebted for the succession of plants and flowers which clothe our fields from early spring to the frosts of autumn.

Early maturing, so much desired by gardeners, is intimately connected with the vitality of the seed. While it is necessary to have well ripened, plump seeds for long keeping and the most vigorous growth, yet for early forcing and quick maturity, the immature or partially shrunken or aged seed may be more valuable.

The principle involved is, that aged or immature seeds, wanting in vitality, though they require a greater heat and more even temperature to grow, will sooner expend their vital

In two ways people fail in testing:-first, in soaking too long, and, secondly, in allow-ity, and, therefore, the sooner mature. Hence ing them to dry during the process. the remark of an old farmer that "two or

Upon this principle, in connection with the well known plan of selecting the earliest

The seed contains a larger per cent. of car-three years old seed corn will ripen two weeks bon than any other part of the plant, which earlier than fresh, yearling seeds." it must part with before vegetation can proceed, therefore rolling in lime has been recommended, and successfully practiced, to hast-ripening fruits of the season, and from specien the growth of old and doubtful seeds. But moisture and heat are the great agents in promoting growth.

mens grown on warm, quick scils, great advancement can be made in the direction of early ripening grains and vegetables, as well as fruits and flowers, and is well worth the most persevering experiments in detail.

Improvement and Degeneration.-Seeds always reproduce their species, but not always their variety. The almost endless succession of varieties continually being produced in fruits and flowers, form one of the most interesting themes for the student of Nature. The pro

The amount of soaking and degree of temperature which seeds bear depends so much upon the species that no specific rule can be given, but it is well known that the onion can be made to sprout by a single immersion in hot water. On the other hand the Robinia, or locust tribe, require immersion in boiling water, followed by hours of soaking, to grow them at all the first year of planting-equi-lific source of new varieties is the well known valent to a whole year's moisture and heat and cold. The Gleditschia, or boney locust, will bear boiling water (212° Fahr.) for five minutes, and let to cool over night.

There is great difference in the temperature at which seeds will vegetate. The chickweed will grow at a temperature little above freezing, and is, consequently, one of the earliest of troublesome weeds in the garden and nursery, while purslane requires a higher temperature, and does not become troublesome until the midsummer days.

process of fructification by the pollen from another variety, and so well understood is this theory and practice, that, under careful management, artificial production of new varieties occasionally results in a really valuable acquisition.

But the great instrument in producing new varieties lies in the insect world, with its ever busy wings flitting from flower to flower, and as the least valuable varieties produce the most vigorous bloom, as a rule, the addition of improved varieties is necessarily the work

of slow ages. The tendency in all seedlings of choice fruits is to return to their original wildness, as manifested in the austerity of fruit, and rough, thorny character of tree. Occasionally a new variety is produced by what is termed a "sport"-a departure from the ordinary style of the plant, for good or evil, but not traceable to any of the known laws of generation-often very valuable, but cannot be relied upon to produce its peculiarities by seed.

Notwithstanding the great interest attached to this subject of new varieties, I think the great field of inquiry and enterprise should be to improve the varieties now in hand.

As few can mine the original gold, and the larger share of real wealth is produced by using judiciously that on hand, in developing the general resources of the State, so the great aim of the farmer should be the highest development of the agricultural resources of his

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farm.

The best of care in the improvement of the soil, cultivation of the crop, and selection of seed will do wonders toward the improvement of the varieties of those plants which find a congenial home in our latitude.

The opposite of this course-that is, a system of gradual impoverishment of the soil, robbing it of those elements necessary to a high state of vegetation, starving the crop with shallow, poor cultivation, and the attendant weeds, the negligence in selecting good seed and taking the right and best time to plantall these causes operate to produce the rapid degeneration of the best varieties possible to be produced.

Climatic influences are a great consideration, but are not entirely at fault in the common deterioration of varieties.

WASH FOR APPLE TREES.-I have tried the washing of apple trees with a wash made of sal soda, as recommended in the WISCONSIN FARMER, and it has given me entire satisfaction. WM. POWELL.

RIDGEWAY, Wis. 9

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Trees with a Plenty of Roots.

If you want fruit trees that will be likely to live and flourish, the first thing to be considered, after variety, is form of tree and character of roots. Low heads, and fibrous roots in profusion-let this be your demand when you go to the nursery.

The above cut will illustrate what we mean better than a whole page of description in

words.

Unwavering Faith of an Experienced Orchardist. ED. FARMER:-It may seem to you that I have not faith enough in the success of fruit So far as relates to growing in this State. our ability to grow the apple, it is unwavering, and never was more so than immediately after the hard winters, when I saw that certain varieties came through uninjured.

My orchard of apples for healthiness and thriftiness will compare favorably with the best in the East, and produced last season 110 barrels of fruit. I hope, before long, to be able to give you the result of the trial here of a few sorts that have proved the most valuable and profitable- orchard trees which I think have not that prominence among Wisconsin cultivators which their good qualities of tree and fruit entitle them to.

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Seasonable Hints.

About the first work is the preparation of

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Full and complete plans for the farm, gar-plicable to city gardens, of course, but in these den and orchard should be blocked out for the high labor times, it would pay to make over season, while the April showers and sunshine most of farmer's gardens, and when once tried are fitting the earth for the new creation of with the use of labor-saving tools, they would vegetable life. never go back to the old way. Plow the garden in narrow lands, and as wanted for fresh plantings, from early to late; drag or rake down smooth; use the hand marker, or garden line and long board to make the drills, Cover all seeds with fine, fresh earth. If possible, subsoil the garden; it will pay ten times the cost. The strawberry plat, especially, should be so planted as to admit of thorough cultivation. Rows three or four feet

THE HOTBED AND COLD FRAMES.

It might be superfluous to describe the construction of these now every-day affairs, which we so fully described in the April No. of last year, and suffice it to say, do not neglect these important preliminaries to a good garden, in some of the many ways of starting early plants of salads, tomatoes, peppers, cab-apart, with one to two feet between the plants, bage, &c., &c., not forgetting some annuals as before mentioned, will admit of horse work for early blooming flowers. From the costly during the early summer, when the plants do glass structure, down to the box in the win- not cover the ground, and in this way they dow, all will pay, if prudently and faithfully are as easily grown as peas. Plant in a moist managed. time, from middle of this to middle of next month.

For all out door frames some convenient covering should be at hand against the cool and frosty night air. Blankets, sacks, and mats are variously used, but, for extensive operations, "straw frames" of the size of the sash to be covered are easily constructed, by taking two inch wide strips, cut from inch boards; nail laths upon the edges of these strips, six inches to one foot apart; turn over and fill with straw or hay, evenly and snugly arranged; then nail on corresponding laths opposite; bind the laths together in the middle with cord or wire, and you have a cheap, yet durable and very efficient covering for either hot or cold frames, and we thank Mr. Sanders, of Chicago, for the idea.

The first planting out should be roots for seed, also cabbage, onions, and salads for early

use.

Oions and Cuttings for grafting and other propagation can still be made, if done before the buds start. All cuttings should be put in moist earth or sand, and planted early. Cuttings of all kinds should be planted mostly under ground. Those planting willow will do well to read directions in March No. of last year.

Grape Vines should not be pruned at this time; wait until the leaves are well out-and the same with the orchard. Never prune when the tree bleeds. Do not take the useless trouble Plan for the Garden.-Not six by ten feet of digging great holes to fill up with "all beds, little squares, circles or sepentines, nei- manner of dead things," for the grape vine; ther rowing vegetables at right angles, with it thrives best upon very dry, gravelly hillfruit shrubs, trees, &c., but everything in par- sides, or the equivalent, a deeply trenched, allels, with the view of performing three-well drained subsoil. If you cannot secure fourths of the labor of cultivation with the this, then raise a mound or ridge as the future horse-hoe, cultivator, hand wheel-hoe, or rake. home of the vine. Row standard trees 10 to 20 feet, dwarfs 6 to 10, shrubs 4 to 6, vegetables mostly 1 to 3 feet. One-fourth the labor usually bestowed upon a kitchen upon the usual plan, will under this

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Grafting will be in order as soon as the severe freezing is past. Begin it early, with the stone fruits first. Grafting wax should not be so greasy as to kill the cion, as is often

he case.

Examine carefully for the eggs of

he caterpillar tribe that will soon swarm in myriads on your fruit trees. They may be Found in clusters and rings on the small wood; ut and burn. The last of this month is the ime to commence washing with some caustic wash several times, to destroy bark lice. It can be done, if it is done. Cut off all the top you cannot afford to thoroughly wash with a good strong lye or lime wash. Two parts lye strong enough to bear an egg, reduced by addition of one part water, is about right; but the addition of good lime to make the wash of a light color will render the operation more

sure.

Commence planting fruit and ornamental trees of all kinds early. Ten foot evergreens, four inches in diameter at the ground, which we removed early last spring, did finely. If you receive trees badly dried or shrivelled, bury them all under in moist soil ten days or so, bring up and plant in a moist time and cut back severely.

On the subject of tree-planting, we would repeat those "golden hints” which we furnished at this time last year.

American Wine Plant.

J. C. P.

Plant Strawberries!

It is just about as easy to produce this luscious, wholesome fruit as to grow carrots and potatoes; and, in the vicinity of any market, or, if on the railroad, a hundred miles from market, they may be made to yield five times the actual profit. Best variety for the million, Wilson's Albany.

Deeply spade, and thoroughly pulverize the soil. If rich, it will need no manure, but may still be improved by the addition of a little lime, and—if not too clayey—ashes, well mixed. If manure should be needed, use well decomposed barnyard, and apply to surface. Plant in rows, thirty inches apart. When the plants have covered the ground, thin out.

Under this name we learn that large quan- Straw or spent tanbark thinly spread over the

tities of Rhubarb or Pie Plant are sold in Wisconsin by traveling dealers. Extraordinary stories are told of great yields and quick returns. Under the belief that they are getting something new, large prices are paid, much beyond the charge of any regular nurseryman.

surface previous to ripening-—and the plants should not be allowed to bear much the first year-will keep the berries from the dirt and at the same time serve as a mulch.

Plums-The Lombard.

Mr. Robt. Willan writes us that "the fruit

Rhubarb wine is no new thing; the late B. crop in Waukesha Co. was a good one the past P. Cahoon made it for a number of years from season. Plums did especially well. I had his seedling. Mr. Lewis, his successor, and, about 20 bushels, and sold Lombards in Milwe believe, other parties at Kenosha still man-waukee as low as ten shillings per bushel. ufacture it on a large scale. That made by One of my neighbors sold plums to the amount Mr. Lewis is the best we have met with, and of $75." The plum seems to be entirely at might easily be mistaken for grape wine. home in Wisconsin, and should be planted Good judges have been deceived by it. largely. No fruit will pay better.

The Linnæus Rhubarb is the best variety, all things considered, for both wine and table A. G. H.

use.

The Lombard, though not so delicate and rich as some others, is a very good plum, and by reason of its thick skin often escapes the

curculio when other thinner skinned varieties of the dandelion, only larger, and the roots are cut off. The tree is a fine vigorous grow- are white and bitter, about as long as parser, very hardy, and exceedingly productive, nips, and from half an inch to two inches fruit medium size, of a delicate violet red col- thick. I cut the roots fine enough for the cofor, flesh yellow, juicy, good, sweet flavor, ripe fee mill; dry by the stove, brown and grind in August. the same as coffee, only it does not require near as much heat. It makes coffee without putting any other coffee with it. We like it better than any thing else we have used for coffee, except the real berry, and think it more wholesome than that. One ounce of seed is enough for two or three families.

The Lombard originated at Whitesborough, N. Y., from a stone received from Amsterdam, was disseminated as Bleecker's Scarlet, by which name it is still sometimes known.

COLUMBUS, O.

A. G. HANFord.

Grafting on the Wild Plum-Chickory &c. MR. EDITOR:-Three years ago last spring I grafted some wild plum trees with cions from a tree that blossomed very full. The cions grew well, and one tree bore a number of quarts last year. I should think they were a blue gage, for they kept green until they were nearly ripe. But the tree that I took the cions from died soon after it blossomed.

We had a blue plum tree that was old enough to bear, but it did not. A friend told me, a year ago last spring, to pound the body of the tree in spots enough to break the bark, so that the gum would run out. I did it, and last year it bore finely. I do not know whether it was because of the pounding, or its being a fruitful season that it bore

I do not know as you will think it is proper work for a woman to graft trees, but I received a two fold benefit; one was improvement in health, the other, nice fruit. We have other kinds of grafted plums, but I did not graft all of them myself. One kind is a reddish brown, and large. five inches around. do not know the name.

I measured one that was
They are very sweet; I

A word now of chickory, so much used in coffee. Last spring I saw an advertisement in the N. Y. Tribune of chickory seed at Bliss' Seed Warehouse, Springfield, Mass., for fifteen cents an ounce. I wrote for some; it came in due time, and I sowed two beds. I should say they were about three and a half or four feet by twelve, and I had near two bushels of the roots when dug. The leaves look like those

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In the spring of 1863 I thought of setting out a dwarf apple orchard, and wrote to Ellwanger & Barry, nurserymen at Rochester, N. Y., for information. In reply to the question whether it would be safe to plant, as dwarfs, Rhode Island Greenings and other leading varieties that are tender here, they say:

"We do not know from experience whether dwarf stock would increase the hardiness of the varieties you name, or not. We know that tender sorts can be grown as dwarfs in gardens, when they would not stand in open orchards.

"We could not advise planting dwarf apples, in your country, for profit, though we are sure an orchard would pay. They bear at once, and at eight feet apart, you may put over six hundred trees on an acre. In a small orchard of ours, out some five or six years, some trees produce a bushel, and some not over a peck. Ours are for specimens and not for profit."

The foreman of Mr. Gould's Nursery, at Beaver Dam, says he thinks dwarf apples a perfect success in Wisconsin.

L. L. FAIRCHILD.

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