iu.
* j
Conservative *
CROPS BY THE ROADSIDE.
Country roads , with n width of four
rods , take from the cultivated area one
acre for every seventy-nine cultivated.
This is the case where the road runs
oil- the section lines. Where the farms
are smaller much more land is wasted ,
perhaps twice as much. The use or
rather misuse of the highways usu
ally is to grow a crop of rank weeds. In
some districts with an energetic over
seer these weeds are cut once a year ,
too often they flaunt their ugliness
and scatter their pernicious seed
through the entire year. As an object
lesson in different parts of the west ,
the land owners of a neighborhood
have united to improve the landscape
of the highways. This they have
done at small expense by confining the
roadbed to the center of the right of
way , on each side they have plowed
and cultivated the old ruts and trails
and seeded them to the tame grasses.
Recently we were riding across
the country where the laud was roll
ing , when we passed through a road
that was not more than ten feet wide ,
that is the dirt road. On either side
of the road was a fine strip of alfalfa
that the owner of the laud had cut
three times the present year. There
was not a weed in sight. There
were no deep gullies on the hills.
The strong growing roots of the al
falfa hold the soil and hard rains
wore either absorbed in the soil or
ran off without harm. It may not
be generally known that the party
who owns or leases the laud joining
highways has a legal right to use for
his benefit so nruch of this land as
the public does not need to go from
place to place. And that a deed or
dedication to the public is in the nat
ure of an easement to enable them to
pass over , rather than a vested title.
This being the case , a land owner
need not fear to improve and use that
portion of the highway adjacent to
his laud and not needed by the public
for a roadbed , as he can enjoy these
improvements. By caring for and re
claiming the waste land along the
highways a largo area could bo added
to our cultivated acres and the crops
that were gathered from it would be
a source of profit.
This system of parking the high
ways would make all of our rural dis
tricts better places to live in and the
dwellers need not come to cities to
find the beauties of well kept drives
and the charm of trees. Trees set
along the roadway should not be the
largo growing kinds like soft maple
and elm , for in time they would en
tirely shade the road , keeping the
roadbed soft and the wheeling heavy.
Low-growing trees that never grow
largo like the whitethorn or biroh ,
would make the landscape beautiful.
Bfrti. '
Perhaps the best trees for wayside
planting are the Platte and silver
cedars. In winter when all else is
white with snow the green rows
of these cedars would be a restful
picture on the landscape. A system
of highway parks perfected in any
locality would add $10 to the soiling
value of every acre. The people would
get many times its cost in the pleas
ure of their surroundings. Twentieth
Century Farmer.
CARE OP THE VINEYARD.
At this season of the year wo are
receiving inquiries regarding proper
methods of trimming the vineyard , and
what protection , if any , is needed
every winter
Commencing with the first of the
year when planted , grape vines should
bo cut back to three or four buds and
allow two or three canes to grow ,
also allow these two or three canes
to branch at will. The object of the
first season is to obtain sucli vigorous
growth as will establish a good root
system. The larger the amount of
foliage the stronger the root growth ,
each corresponding to the other.
Late in October or early November ,
the first year's growth in the vineyard
should again be cut back to about
four of the most vigorous buds. Our
habit is to throw the growth of the
second year into three canes with
such branches as these canes may de
velop. Our plan is to ultimately trim
to two wires , the lower wire 24-80 in
ches from the ground , the upper Sj
to 4 feet. On soil that has been heav
ily fertilized , and is naturally very
rich , it might bo well to have a third
wire 5-6 feet from the ground with
the thought to give the foliage of the
rampant growing vine more sun and
air.
air.At
At the end of the second season in
the vineyard , if cultivation has been
effective , canes from 4-8 feet in
length or longer , have boon produced.
Those who give special care quite of
ten got this growth the first season
after planting.
Where the vine is allowed to grow
at will , so many branches are thrown
out that the roots are weak and the
bunches small. Weak shoots crowd
each other and there is not room or
sunlight for all. Pruning is a simple
operation if the fundamental princi
ple on which it rest is kept in mind.
The fruit is borne near the base of
the growing shoots of the season and
the bearing shoot of next season are al
ways from the growth of this. The
intent in outing away portions of the
vine is to leave only a sufficient num
ber of buds 011 canes of the current
season's growth to ' give such an
amount of fruit the coming season as
the ago and strength of the vine can
support.
Pruning should bo varied somewhat
to suit the habit of different varieties.
The stronger growing varieties should
have moro wood allowed than the
weaker. The vines should not bo al
lowed to boar much fruit until strong
enough to grow vigorous canes with
strong laterals. Vigorous laterals de
velop near their base productive fruit
buds. These laterals are cut back to
from 4-6 buds depending on the ago
and strength of the vine. Allow as
much fruit to set as the vine can sup
port and grow to perfection in quality.
The third season it would not bo
well too allow the vine to bear more
than 15-20 bunches. The fourth seas
on a well handled vineyard is nearly
full bearing. The fifth and sixth years
probably near its best.
In setting posts to support the wires ,
if they are paced 80 feet apart , strong
stays can be used for middle supports.
The end post should be strong ; well
braced No. 12 wire is heavy enough
for us. After the vineyard is old
enough to be supported by wire , wo
have found it profitable to still contin
ue to trim the vine late in October or
early November , cutting Mio canes
loose from the wires , drop them on
the ground with perhaps 2-8 forksful
of straw to each vine , over this place
sufficient soil to keep the wind from
blowing through the straw and driv
ing out the cane. This protection is
not only beneficial to the canes , but
is of value in protecting the root sys
tem from our dry winters. We re
gard this protection useful any year ,
and absolutely essential for out. most
trying winters. Early in April un
cover the vines rising the canes tie to
wires , using some soft string like
wool twine , soft enough and largo
enough not to chafe the cane. It will
be found that the vine will remain
dormant longer if taken and tied to
wire than if allowed to remain under
cover of straw or soil.
Wo have found it profitable in Sa
line county to cover all varieties each
and every winter. . We can not foretell
when the trials of a severe winter
will have to be endured.
E. F. STEPHENS.
Crete , Neb.
COUNTRY LIFE AND AMERICA.
The December number of Country
Life in America emphasizes the
unique character of this large maga
zine with beautiful illustrations. Be
sides the flowers and gardens this
month , there is much about the world
out of doors in December , including
a special Christmas cover of unusual
design , and a large photograph , over
three feet long , of the big-tree forest
of California , put in as a supplement.
"An Outlook on Winter , " by L. H.
Bailey , is the leading article , being
