Modern Agriculiure
VI.—^Hpw Planis Are Propagated'
By C. V. GREGORY,
A^riculturai 2)/<;iV/on, loUfa S'tate Colle^9
. Copyright. 1909, by American Press Associatioii
IN ordpr to continne to raise crops
from year to year we must propa-
' gate the plants in some way.
There are two principal ways of
doing this—by seeds and by divisions
of the plant itself. The most impor
tant of these is by seeds, as it is in
this way that most of the ordinary
farm crops are multiplied.
In order to understand this process
we must first learn how the seeds are
formed. The tassel of the corn is the
male flower and the silk the female.
Some plants, such as certain varieties
of strawberries, have only feniah'
flowers and must be planted in alter
nate rows with varieties which havo
bothT kinds of blossoms. In other
plants ^e male and female flowers
are combined in one. This is the case
with the apple and many other fruits.
In the apple the stamens, or male
parts, grow in a ring around the pistil,
or female part, which is in the center
of the flower. The top o*f a stamen,
which is expanded, is called the an
ther. This contains a yellow dust,
the pollen.
The upper portion of the pistil is
called the stigma. From it a tube
called the style leads downward to
the ovary. This ovary contains one
or more egg shaped cells called ovules.
Each of these ovules is capable of de
veloping into a seed if fertilized with
a pollen grain. When a grain of pol
len alights on a ripe stigma it is held
by a sticky substance secreted there.
It soon germinates and sends a long,
threadlike projection down through
the style to the ovary. This slender
projection enters the ovary, and the
resultant union of the male and female
elements causes a seed to develop.
^One pollen grain is required for each
ovule, and each ovule» develops into a
separate seed. There are many thou
sand pollen grains produced by each
stamen, and as there are several sta
mens for each pistil you will see that
a great excess of pollen is produced.
This is one of nature’s methods of
making reproduction more certain.
In flowers like the apple the pollen
may sometimes fall directly on ‘the
stigma in the same flower. More often,
however, the stamen and pistils ripen
at different times. The object of this
is to prevent self fertilization,“which, if
long continued, will weaken the vitali
ty of the coming generations. Cross
pollination—that is, the fertilization of
the ovule of one flower by the pollen
from another plant—unites the strength
of both parents and produces larger,
hardier seed.
This has been proved by many exper-
iments. If the tassels are pulled from
a row of corn before they have time to
shed their pollen, the silks must neces
sarily be fertilized by pollen from oth
er stalks. The cross pollination will
cause the detasseled rows to produce
heavier and larger ears. If this proc
ess is continued from year to year the
yielding power of that particular strain
will be considerably increased.
In such plants as corn the wind car
ries the pollen for rods in every direc
tion. The air in the cornfield is so
filled with the yellow dust that there is
seldom any danger that the silks will
faU to catch more than plenty to fer*
til^e each of the many ovules that are
J<rform the future kernels.
^^dme plants, however, are not so for-
iimate In this respect. The pollen of
JCruit trees is carried to some extent by
“*the wind, but not nearly so much so
-as that of com. In such plants as
too, wMch can be seen sticking in yel
low balls to their hind legs, but^enough
is always brushed off to fertilize the
flowers which they visit. The blos
soms of red clover are so lai^e that the
short tongues of ordinary honeybees
cannot reach to the bottoin. It is upon
the larger bumblebees that this crop
depends for its ability to produce seed.
Indeed, it is so entirely dependent
upon them that the crop of clover seed
is in direct proportion to the number
of bumblebees in the neighborhood. It
Is anything but pleasant to run Into a
big nest of bumblebees *with a mower
or rake, but before you build a fire
over them stop to think whether you
want a crop of clover seed or not.
Some beekeepers are developing
strains of honeybees with exceptional
ly long tongues. Some of these are
able to obtain honey from second crop
red clover, which has smaller blossoms
than the first crop. When these strains
of bees become a little better developed
and more widely distributed the use
fulness of the bumblebee will be over.
In the case of small grain cross
fertilization is impossible, since the
fiower is Inside of a closed hull. Two
varieties of wheat inay be planted in
adjoining fields or even in the same
field without the slightest danger of
mixing. Varieties of corn, on the oth
er hand, often mix when as much as
forty rods apart.
The selection of seed corn will be
taken up in the next article. The best
j growing another from it, it will, of
course, bear the* same ki5[d of fruit.
Crafting consists of joining pieces
of small branches or scions dt the tree
whicb jis to propaigated to pieces of
roots or st^ks; ^ The roots of yearling
seedlings are used for stocks. The
scions, whtch should be about the sl^^e
of a leo^ pencil, should be cut in the
fall and pack^ Ju ^and. The Rafting
can be done at any time during the
wiiter. All that is necessary is to cut
the lower end of the scion and the up
per end of the stock at an angle, as
shown in Fig. 13. These are then
carefully fitted together and tied with
a little common string. The essefttial
point is to be sure to have the cam
bium layer of the scion join that of
the stock. This cambium layer is the
thin, light brown portion between the
bark and the wood. It is the point
where growth takes place.
The completed graft, which should
be eight to ten inches long, is again
packed in sand. In the spring the
grafts- are planted In a row in the
garden and left until they are two
or three years old, when they may be
transplanted to their perma^^ent place
In^the orchajrd. ‘
GREAT CHURCH CONVENTION.
- sfo^n
na. XII—sBonoN op chjebey BiiOssoM
SHOWmO AND FEMAIiE PABTS.
clover the stamens are at the bottom
of a slender tube, from which they
cannot escape unaided. Plants of this-
nature are'dependent on insects to
transfer pojlen from X)ne fiower to an
other. in order to attract these insects
the flowers secrete a sweet nectar,
which dolleets In the bottom of the
tubes of which the flowers are com
posed.
Ants, flies, butterflies k and, bees are
very fond of* nectar And in collect”
Ing it carry the pollen of one flower to
the stigma of another. Bees are most
important in doing this work because
they so much- more~4if the nec
tar than do the other insects. They
often caiTS: t^ome ^
FIG. XIII—STOCK AND SCION BEADY TO
BH UNIX£^>.
method of selecting small grain is by
means of the fanning mill. By run
ning through three or four times as
much seed as is needed all the small
grains may be sieved out and the light
ones blown over, leaving only the heav
iest, strongest ones for planting.
Grain that is Intended for seed should
be stored carefully in order that it may
go through the winter uninjured. The
chief enemies of stored seed are mo-is-
ture, insects and rats and mice. The
seed should be dry when stored and
kept where moisture cannot gain ac
cess to it. Dry seed will stand almost
any amount of freezing without injury.
There are a number of insects that
damage seed grain by burrowing into'
the germ. If the seed room is tight^.
they may be killed by fumigating with,
carbon disulphide used at the rate of a-
pound to each thousand cubic feet of
space. Place this in an open dish on
top of the seed, close the room as
tightly as possible, and in a few hours
the insects will be exterminated. Care
should be taken not to go near the
room with a lights as the' gas is ex
plosive. This same treatment is also
fatal to rats and mice, unless they
have some way of escaping from the
room. If possible thb seed room should
be so well built that these pests can
not get into it
The second method of plant propa
gation is by division—that is, by plant
ing parts of the plant itself. Potatoes
are propagated tn tl^ way almost en
tirely. If small tHIIow and poplar
branches are stuck into the ground,
they will grow into trees. Apple and
other fruit trees are propagated either
by grafting or budding. Apple trees
may be raised from seed, but the
fruit of seedling trees is usually worth-
less. By toking a part of the tree and
Twenty-ffve Millions Represented at
Presbyterian Alliance Meeting.
New York—One of the most im-
pcirtant religious gatherings of recent
years in the number of persons rep
resented is that of the world’s Pres
byterian alliance, which has begun in
this city. In it are represented five
continents, ninety separate denomina
tions and nearly 25,000,000 members.
The meeting is known officially as
the ninth quinquennial council of the
Alliance of the Reformed Churches
Throughout the World Holding the
Presbyterian System. To facilitate
matters the Alliance is generally re
ferred to as the Pan-Presbyterian Al
liance.
The meeting will last ten days, dur
ing'which subjects of great moment
to the Protesta. vorld will be dis
cussed.
England, Scotland, France, Italy,
Arabia, Canada and other countries
have sent delegates to the convention,
as well as the United States.
A Carload of Alligators,
New Orleans—What is said to be
the largest consignment of alligators
ever shipped over a railroad left New
Orleans for Los Angeles. There was
a full carload of the reptiles, com
fortably ensconced in large vessels,
partially filled '\iHth water.
Bishop HendrHx Made President.
Nashville, Tenn.—At a meeting here
Bishop B. R. Hendrix, of the Metho
dist Episcopal church, south, was elec
ted president of the Vanderbilt uni
versity board of trustees.
Trouble Makers Ousted.
When a sufferer from stomach
trouble takes Dr. King^s New Life
Pills he^s mighty glad to see his dys
pepsia and indi^stion fly, but more
he’s tickled over his new, fine appe
tite, strong nerves, healthy vigor,
all because stomach, liver a^id kid
neys now work right. 25c at Alli
son & Macfie.
Dividends of L. &. N.
New York.—The directors of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad have
declared a semi-annual dividend of
3 per cent, on the stock of the com
pany. The two preceding semi-annual
dividends had been at the rate of 2%
per cent.
Coast Line Pays Dividend. -
New York.—A semi-annuail dividend
of 3"^ per cent, on the common stock
has been declared by the directors of
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany. This is an increase of 1 per
cent, on the last previous semi-annual
dividend.
Deafness Cannot be Cured
by local applications, as they cannot
reach the diseased portion of the
ear. There is only one way to cure
deafness, and that is by constitution
al remedies. Deafness Is caused by
an inflamed condition of the mueou^
lining of the Eustachian Tube. When
this tube is inflamed you have a
rumbling sound or imperfect hear
ing, and when it is entirely closed.
Deafness is the result, and unless the
inflamation can be taken out and
this tube restored to its normal con
dition, hearing will be destroyed
forever. Nine cases out of ten are
cau^ by Catarrh, which is nothing
but an inflamed condition of the
mucous surfaces.
We will give t)ne Hundred Dollars
for any case of Deafness (caused by
catarrh) that' cannot be cured by
Hall’s Catarrh Cure. Send for circu
lars, free. F. J. Cheney'& Co.,
Toledo, O, Sold by Druggists, 75c.
Take HalPs Family PiUs for con
stipation.
POSITIVELY NO MONEY
Until you are perfectly well is the guarantee which any of
these prcMninent men will tell you is as good as a gold bond.
Washington Candy Man Cured of
Piles and Fistula—Never Felt
Better in His Life Than
at Present.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 16, ’07.
Drs, Thornton (& Minorr
Dear Doctors—Print and say to the
world if you wish.—No man on earth
suffered more ?jhan I did with Files
and Fistula before coming to see you,
and now after four years and twelve
hundred miles away I am glad to tell
you I never felt better in my life,
never weighed more and never have
had any of those troubles since you
cured me. Yours respectfully,
H. H. CASSIDY,
1007 G St., S. W., Manufacturer of
Candies. Telephone Main 36;0.
Suffered From Fistula—^No Symp
toms of a Return of the Dis
ease After 18 Years.
Washington, D. C., April 22, 1904.
Drs. Tho'i'nton d; Minor: ^
Gentlemen—1 had suffered about
three years with Fistula, when friends
who had been successfully treated by
you advised me to go Tto you for
treatment. I am happy to state that
your treatment of my case was success
ful and in ev^ery way satisfactory, and
now, after a lapse of eighteen years,
there have been no symptoms of a re
turn of the disease. I shall be grate
ful to the friends who advised me to
go to you for treatment, and can con
scientiously recommend your method
as a safe, scientific and satisfactory
one. Very truly your friend,
W. N. IRWIN,
U. S. Dept, of Agriculture.
tiis Milid Affected by Suffering
from Piles, Fistula and Fis-
sure—Restored to Health.
Suffered with Piles and Contrac-/
tion for Twenty Years.
Staley, N. C., April 16,1907.
Drs. Thornton & Minor:
I Gentlemen—I suffered with piles
and contraction for about twenty
years, and during that time tried al
most every remedy that was recom
mended, but the piles gradually grew
worse. The fall of 19051 went to your
office in St. Louis, Mo., f^r treatment,
and in three weeks I left for home a
well man. One cannot make a mis
take in placing their case in the hands
of Drs. Thornton & Minor, as they
are gentlemen of the highest type and
physicians of the greatest honesty and
skill, and will guarantee a cure or no
pay, and you don’t have to pay till
you are cured. J. W. COX,
General Merchant.
Jefferson, S. C.,"Jan. 28, 1905.
Drs. Thornton Minor:
Gentlemen—I am always willing to
help any one in the fix I was with Piles
Fistula and Fissure. I can say to all
who might be in the same fix, go right
to their of|ce and be cured, for I had
that troublesome disease for about
tmentj years. 1 got so that I could
not do my own work and it seemed
that my mind was affected at times.
When I would go to stool &e blood
would coilie out in a stream about the
size of a knitting needle. I lost so
much blood that sometimes I would
almost as soon have been dead as liv
ing. I saw an advertisement in the
Commercial Appeal, which is printed
in Memphis, Tenn. I wrote to them
and they answered me at once and I
corresponded with then^' about a year
before I went. The only* thing I hate
is that I did hot go sooner. They
wrote me that they had a branch ofBce
in St. Louis, Mo., and could cure me
there as well as in Kansas City, Mo.
I wrote them that I would start on the
19th of September and for them to
meet me at St. Louis, Mo. So I start
ed on the 19th of September and I ar
rived at St. Louis, Mo., on the 22d of
September, About an hour after I got
there Dr. Minor met me and the, doc
tors examined me and told me* that
my case was a serious one, but they
could cure me. I have had more pain
in one action of the bowels before I
went there, than I had from ^eir
treatment. I took treatment for a lit
tle over three weeks and they said I
could go home. I was walking about
all the time I was being treated. I ate
just anything I wanted. I could not
ask anybody to be more kind to me
than they were while I was with them.
When I came home I weighed one
hundred and forty pounds; when writ
ing this testimonial I weighed one
hundred and sixty-one pounds, and
feel like I am twenty-five years
younger than I did when I left home
to be treated. Yours respectfully,
G. R. COOK,
Genera.1 Merchandise.
I take pleasure in endorsing all
that others say regarding the Thorn
ton & Minor treatment. After 15
years of suffering from piles and ul
ceration I feel- that four weeks at their
sanitarium has cured me. Enquiries
will be cheerfully answered.
J. J. MINER, "
Editor Sylvan Valley News.
Address qll Communications to
The Thornton & Minor S^tatium
Wm. £. Minor, D., Physidan in charge
e OFFICES: 1 004 OAK STREET
Kansas City, Mo.
FOR SALE.
I
8 1-2 acres of good, level land adjoining the Franklin Hotel
property at Brevard, N. .
Also 75 acres, more or less, partly in the central and business
district of Rosman, N. C. As Rosman may some day
be on the main line of a road running from Asheville
to Atlanta, i:his property seems to be a good invest
ment. Address,
FRANKLIN IMFBOVEMENT CO.,
BREVARD, N. C
HAND-PAINTED CHINA
LARGE ASSORTMENT OF LOCAL VIEWS IN SOUVENIR POST CARDS
Stamped and Finished Goods.
Miss M* Wave Long
Why not renew your subscription to the
Sylvan Valley News?