SOME RURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 7

SOME RURAL NOTES.

By Colonub. Salt for Horses,

Horses are very fond of salt, and the fact of their^ being so seems to indicate that some salt is good for them, and will promote their health. It is very seldom, however, I think, that farmers and others working horses give them salt, yet the condiment is cheap, and half a handful or so thrown into the feed of chaff and oats would probably be much relished by the horse, and tend to keep him in good condition. That is a good plan adopted, I think it is said in Sweden, of keeping a vessel of water by a horse when he is taking his feed. I think horses like to drink during, or immediately after, a feed of dry oats and chaff.

Approaching Rabbits.

Not very long since I observed a letter, or letters, in the London Times, on the subject of rabbit ahooting, in which the writer stated that rabbits became aware of the approach of a man by the reverberation of the ground made by stopping on it j one writer stating that he had, by stepping very lightly and carefully in approaching ' hem, got nearly in tha midst of a lot of rabbits feeding. I have made the experiment, but did not find it very successful. Still there may be something in it. If you are after rabbits with a gun, and they get a fair open view of you, they are apt to scuttle off before you can get within range. Though sometimes very shy, especially if you carry a gun, at other timeß they are bold enough. I nave been cross-cutting with the saw, and working with mall and wedges, making a good deal of noise, and yet the rabbits have been sporting about within a few yards, but after going for and returning with a gun, no rabbit was to be seen. On the roads they will sometimes only trouble themBelves to move a few yards out of the way of ft horseman, though sometimes they skurry off sharp enough. Rabbits generally observe a quick movement sooner than a slow one, and if you are intent on getting within Bhot of a sitting bunny, it is better to move very slowly if there be no cover, and the rabbit has a good view of you.

Snliting Firewood

An old axe, eßpeoially if it be a heavy one, which by much grinding has acquired something of a wedge shape, is a good instrument for splitting heavy firewood, and considerably more effective than a new axe, though you require the newer axe for cutting into lengths.

A Wrinkle about Gimolets.

If you are boring with a gimblet, and it sticks in the wood as it is sometimes apt to do, especially if the wood be green, so that you seem unable to get it out without breaking it, do not turn as if you were twisting it out, or it will probably break, but turn as twistins it in, pulling it out at the same time as hard as you can. I broke a good many gimblets before I found that out.

Potatoes.

Some people say that potato crops will keep as well in the ground during winter as if lifted and pitted. That depends upon circumstances. If the ground be high and dry, and the potatoes be of a sort which do not grow so near the Burface as Derwents do, tho tubers may parhaps take no harm if left unlifted during winter. There is generally, however, a risk in so leaving them. As to crops in low-lying ground, especially if at all wet, the crop should be lifted early ; for a sharp frost with heavy rain, while the ground is saturated with water, would be pretty sure to spoil the whole crop, either causing the potatoes to rot at once, or making them soft and uneatable. In planting potatoes people should be careful to keep the several sorts distinot. If the seed gets mixed, the result in time is a mongrel potato, which is apt to be waxy and insipid, and unfit to eat. Onions/

A change of ground is generally considered good for crops, but I think onions do better grown on the same ground for several years, and are less apt to ge*, thick-necked than when sownonnow ground. The great thing in growing onions is to get the plant* to bulb well with thin stems, Whether the onions ba large or small, is a matter of less importance. The larger onions are generally, the milder they are. Smaller onions are batter - for flavouring. Shalots should not be planted too early, or they are apt to run to e&Qd. I think near the end of September is early enough to plant them.

Malting Fruit Trees Bear.

I find I have copied in my note book the

following plans to make fruit : tress bear from Dv Breuil's work on gardening, by William Wardle, third edition by George Glenny ; — "If we desire to obtain more wood we must prune the branches down a great deal ; to develop fruit branches, cut down very little. The more the sap is retarded in its circulation, the less wood and the more fruit buds the tree will develop. Arch the branches' so that a part of their extent be directed towards the sun. In the month of February (August here) make an annular incision with the hand-saw, near the base of the stem, rather lesa than a quarter of an inch in width, and sufficiently deep to penetrate the exterior layer of the wood,

At the spring of the year uncover the foot of the tree in such a manner as to expose the principal roots throughout nearly their entire extent, and allow them to remain in this state during the summer.

Uncover the foot of the tree at spring, and cut away part of the roots, and then replace the earth.

Transplant the tree at the end of autumn, but with great care, so as to preserve all the roots.

Make an annular incision upon the fruit-bear-ing branches at the time they expand their blossoms; the incision'jenust not be wider than three-sixteenths of an inch,

Make fruit spurs to grow close upon the branches by pruning them as short as possible. Cut tho branches very close when the flower buds are formed.

Mutilate the summer shoots by repeatedly pinching off the shoots that are not required for the development of the size of the tree.