Orchards.-Surface Cultivation. Who and it is folly to undertake to produce them EDITOR FARMER:-In "Cultivation of Orchards," in the February No. of the FARMER, and quoted as originally from the New England Farmer, the writer says: "Upen trying spade culture the second spring I noticed that the earth under the trees was literally bound together by fine rootlets." He says nothing about discerning such rootlets while spading the same ground the previous spring, and as he appears to have been a close observer, wenish gradually soaks down and feeds the roots, infer that there could not have been any, or else he would have discovered and mentioned it. But what a prodigious stimulus the first spading must have given to the roots to throw out feeders to so have filled the surface ground with rootlets the first season. Only think of it, so full that "a great number of them were broken at every spadeful turned up!" I have seen orchards venerable with age, yet in all the vigor of their prime, beneath whose branches the soil had been surface cultivated from their infancy. How is it that the fruit trees in our annually spaded gardens most invariably thrive best and bear fairest and richest fruit? I have yet to learn that apple, pear, plum, and cherry trees fill the surface soil so literally with rootlets of which the writer speaks. "His fears were realized," for the next season "two of his best trees died." How best? thriftiest growing, bore the finest fruit, or most abundantly? And what saved the remainder, which were subjected to the same treatment? But "a great many trees died that year, and the cause was attributed to the weather." Ten years hence some one may give equally as absurd reasons for fruit trees dying this season. Of course, best cultivated orchards suffer most in a se while the compactness of the surface helps guard against the curculio. In the above case, a slightly pervious soil is no doubt the best, as it gives the roots a chance to penetrate it. We think Mr. Plumb lucky in coming out with his list of hardy pear trees, found in the January No. of the FARMER, for had he waited until after the spring opened, he might have been puzzled to make out one, or hesitated in it at least. Three and four years ago, thousands united in declaring that fruit could not be successfully grown in Wisconsin; and it is our opinion that such croakers are not done yet. But those who press on in fruit culture, through thick and thin, will doubtless finally demonstrate an adaptation to fruit growing not much behind the Eastern and older States. When renowned fruit growing regions suffer severely, we should not grumble at having to suffer also. EGO. MILWAUKEE. An Apple Orchard.-How about Grafting? PROF. HOYT:-Having had an opportunity to read a few numbers of your journal, I have concluded to become a subscriber thereto. I was induced to do so mostly or account of so large a space in its columns being devoted to the subject of horticulture-deeming a knowledge of Western experience and practice more applicable to my case than that from any oth vere winter. The more rapid growth, the After a trial of seven years, notwithstandCulture is the condition demanded to ing the rigors of this climate and the usual grow in perfection all fruits but the wildlings, | opposition and discouragements from the pests confess. to which it is peculiarly liable, together with the jeers of the fearful and unbelieving, I have succeeded in raising an orchard of 600 apple trees. And as they are just beginning to bear, I am most anxious to secure all the information available, in regard to their present and future management-purely selfish, I Two hundred of the trees are root grafted, the remainder are seedlings. Do you think it advisable to graft the seedlings? If so, how and when? and what varieties would you recommend for this part of the State? Judging from the past, I am led to decide that the greatest pests of the young orchard, at least in this locality, are the bark louse and the pocket gopher. How can these most easily and effectually be disposed of? J. R. MOSHER. HIXTON, Jackson Co., Wis. ANSWER. As your orchard is about bearing, unless you intend to engraft all, it would be better to wait the present season and see what kind of fruit they produce, and so spare none but the best. Some seedlings are quite equal to the best grafted fruit in the world. The Red Astrachan, Fameuse, Fall Stripe, Fall Winesap, Autumn Strawberry, Yellow Belleflower, Tallman Sweet, Northern Spy, Perry Russet, Golden Russet, Romanite and Winter Winesap, are all good and all very hardy. Your other enquiries shall be answered next month.-EDITOR. to those sections of the country where the seasons are very short. Why Farmers should Plant more Trees. EDITOR FARMER:-I hardly need refer to the miserable and bleak aspect of so many prairie farms and their buildings, nor to the gloomy feelings endured in passing by an unprotected, unadorned, repulsive habitation, instead of home, compared with the cheerful feelings enjoyed in passing a sheltered, charming, attractive homestead, as a sufficient reason why we should plant and encourage a liberal growth of trees. as a sheltered shade, in their charms and associations, will not be estimated equally by all, for all are not created equal in respect to local attachments, nor are equally impressed by the beautiful. The worth of trees But I would answer the question "Will it pay?" with particular reference to the dollar, by presenting some facts ascertained by experience, relative to the planting, management, expense and value of the Yellow Locust tree, in fields, adjoining homesteads, designed for perpetual pasturage. I consider the locust tree the best we have for this purpose, because, unlike many others, it is not injurious to the grass underneath. The leaves form a suitable as well as bounti ful supply of manure, and afford protection to the roots of grasses; and not putting forth their leaves till late in the spring, the grass is therefore well advanced towards maturity before it would be injuriously shaded, while the shade in midsummer is often more beneficial than otherwise. In Raise your own plants if convenient. the middle of the month of May, put say one pound of good locust seed in a suitable vessel; pour thereon three or four quarts of boiling water; after 24 hours pour off the water, and after two days more, the seed, in the mean time having been protected from cold, will be sprouted and in a suitable condition to plant in good land, well prepared and protected. Plant half an inch deep, in rows three feet apart. Cleanse and cultivate as you would carrots, and in the fall of the year you will have six feet high plants sufficient for ten acres, allowing each plant about sixteen feet square. As early as possible the next spring plow the land you intend for trees, and mark it with a plow in rows each way, about sixteen feet apart, and about three inches deep. Insert a tree in each cross mark, and cover the roots about three inches deep. Now mark the land between each row of trees both ways, and plant corn, thereby raising, beside the trees, fifteen-sixteenths of a crop of corn. Continue to plough and plant with corn, or something of similar growth and management, for three years more, when the roots of the trees will so much obstruct the plowing that it will be necessary to cut and shock the corn around the trees, and sow and harrow in the grass seed as early as possible in the fall, to ensure a good crop of hay the following sea son. The expense connected with ten acres thus far, including loss of corn, pruning, &c., will not have exceeded $50, and the expense, in part, for the pruning, &c., required, will be more than paid for in the firewood obtained thereby. And further, it is questionable whether the shelter thus obtained by the grasses and pastured stock from the rage of the scorching sun, together with the abundant supply of leaves as protection and manure to the pasture, drawn from depths not to be reached by any other crop, do not altogether liquidate the original expense, and leave the worth of the trees clear profit; which worth would, ere many years had passed, if properly cared for, be estimated at not less than 50 cents per tree, or $800 per ten acres. ture; but with many others it is now the proper time to plant, so as to allow from three to five years, according to the efficiency of the land, and its mode of cultivation, for the trees to attain security from the presence of stock. As I consider the locust tree not decidedly profitable except in connection with pasture land, it is necessary to have those that are, so that every homestead may be profitably beautified, the prairie diversified and enriched, and firewood, fencing, &c., easily and cheaply supplied. I may take an early opportunity of presenting the results of experiments made with other kinds of trees, which may be of some use to your readers, if others more competent do THOS. BEWICK. not take up the subject. WINDSOR, Dane Co., Wis. The Siberian Crab Apple. This is one of the prettiest of ornamental trees. It is perfectly hardy and of easy culture. In habit, it is symmetrical when grown on the lawn or uncrowded, forming a rather low, round, spreading head. The foliage is pretty. The tree is a very beauty in spring when covered with rose-hued, fragrant blossoms. In fruit it is not less beautiful, and can hardly be exceeded. The Golden Beauty and Heslop are nearly ar large as the Lady apple. The one a fine golden hue with blushing cheek, and so fair and smooth you might think it made of wax. The other the deepest and darkest crimson, with a rich blue bloom that looks like velvet, till you rub the apple, when it shines like satin. The smaller varieties, some yellow, some red and some yellow with red cheeks. The Crab is a useful as well as ornamental tree. Those clusters hanging so profusely on every bough are not only pretty to look at and fragrant, but indispensable to the winter store of good things. All the varieties make excellent jelly, preserves and marmalade, (dark or light according their color), and which once enjoyed the bousewife would not willingly do without.-ELSIE, in Ohio Farmer. Now your readers may reflect whether they can any longer afford to neglect planting trees, if the above considerations and esti- CABBAGE FLY.-G. C. Morton, of Richland mates are nearly correct. It is true that with Centre, think the warm sun essential to this many it is already too late, without addition-insect, and is convinced that planting on the al expense and inconvenience, to follow the north side of a building is a preventive. Queplan proposed, having already been, or soon ry; will it not also prevent the healthy growth to be, necessitated to prepare permanent pas-of the cabbage? Varieties of Sorghum. CHINESE, NO. 2. [The following extract from the "Sorgo Handbook to E. W. Skinner's Patent Adjustable Sugar Mills," together with the illustrations, should have been published in March, but the cuts failing to come to hand until even after the Agricultural Department of the present number had gone to press, we insert them out of their place, in the Horticultural Department. ED.] OTAHEITAN. that we have examined, that there is but one distinct variety of Chinese cane. This is undoubtedly true, but nevertheless it has been changed by cultivation in different localities, so that it will ripen earlier; and, in some cases, we have seen in it so changed that the seed head, instead of standing erect, would be somewhat drooping at the top. In the two cuts of the Chinese that we give, there is quite a difference. No. 1 is a fair representation of the cane as first introduced from France, and as it is now seen in some localities. No. 2 is more bushy, and represents the Chinese cane as we frequently see it at the west. This bushy kind is usually earlier than the sorghum as first introduced, and is preferable for general cultivation on that account. "Much seed that is sold and distributed is not properly named, and to assist cultivators in classifying and arranging the different varieties they may have, we insert cuts of four of the most widely diffused varieties, includ-phee, and are distinct, differing in their habing two cuts of Chinese. its, qualities and appearance. OTAHEITAN.-This was first especially brought "It is claimed by all writers on sorghum, "The other varieties are all African or Im before the public by Mr. Samuel Hooker, of Schuyler county, Ill., and described by him as "straight and tall, and on rich lands very thick; has no suckers, each seed producing a single stalk. The juice is clearer than that of the common sorghum, and harder to press out of the stalk." The seed-head is described as being from seven to twelve inches in length and from one to two inches in thickness. Not an early variety. "E-A-NA-MOODE.-The seed-heads are large, but stiff and erect, containing quantities of large, round, plump seed, of clear yellow color. Not an early variety. "NE-A-ZA-NA-Sometimes called White Imphee. The seed-tuft is short and bunchyseed large, round and white. The stalk is usually short and slender, but soft, juicy and sweet. It is claimed by Mr. Hedges that "it should not be allowed to stand on the hill after the seed is well in the dough." It may, however, improve after being cut and ricked, or sheltered. "OOM-SEE-AN-A.-The stalk of this is slen der and taller than the last. Both are early, and should be planted thicker than the Chinese. The seed-tuft of the Oom se-a-na is erect and slender, with short foot-stalks, pur OOM-SEE-A-NA ple seed-hulls, showing a brown seed. The stalk is not quite so long jointed as the Chinese, but longer than some of the varieties of Imphee, and differing but little from the Neea-za-na. There two varieties we consider the earliest and best of the Imphees for cultivation north of Chicago or Dubuque. "The Chinese variety of sorghum is recommended for general cultivation by nearly every Convention that has been held in the Northwest. It is earlier than most varieties of the African, and makes a lighter syrup, though for sugar it is hardly its equal." How to beat the Striped Bug. EDITOR FARMER:-Last spring, as usual, I had trouble with my vines. I remarked, on coming in from the garden, that if we did not do something, our vines would be spoiled soon. Our hired girl says, "put newspapers over them." I did so, and that was the last bite the bugs got, But I felt provoked all the time to think that I could not have discovered that simple remedy years ago. The plan is to take |