Now the benefits to be derived from an association to communicate through the paper are to my mind much greater than from conventions. All admit that farmers’ conventions have accomplished great good in the different interests, and that they are indispensable. I am indebted to these conventions for much of my success in farm life. But I conclude that as great good, or even greater good, can be accomplished at much less cost. For a few hundred farmers can communicate to each other through a good farm paper like The Prairie Farmer, so paged that it can be filed for future reference, and we can, as it were, have our meetings every week at our homes and with our families, and impress the lessons upon our children’s tender minds so they will not have to wait until they are of mature age before hearing discussions as to the best modes practiced in agriculture and horticulture. I have felt in attending these conventions like asking those old veterans who must soon pass away, where are the young men of our country? For very few seem to attend these interesting gatherings.
Another reason why I suggest we adopt The Prairie Farmer is, that The Prairie Farmer company sends to each of their patrons a large map of the United States, which would enable us to know the exact locality of parties giving useful information, which is always more satisfactory.
Now I am always trying new things and looking after new industries, and I have made a great many observations, some of which I shall promise to give in farmers’ communications, in case we can get a fair start so as to get others to give me their observations, for that is my prime object, as I stated in the outset. I am like my Irish friend “I want a little more than I give.” I am developing our sweets in Kansas. I have also the finest fruits of the land and succeeded in both, and I will tell how I did it.
J. H. W.
Pomona, Kan.
[Botany for Farm Boys.]
This time I would like to call your attention to the subject of botany. It might seem rather odd at this time of year, but you know that the farmers have more time now than in summer to read The Prairie Farmer. It is better for the farmer’s boys to become acquainted with the laws of nature than to spend their time in reading novels, or other books, which bring them little information. A little knowledge of the nature of plants is worth infinitely more to the farmer’s son or daughter, or even to the farmer himself, because it has special relation to his calling. And in order to obtain a practical knowledge it is best to study the plants themselves, their structure, their habitat and peculiarity of growth, etc., and in order to do so, it is best to have some apparatus for the purpose, requisite for the accomplishment of this object.
The student in botanical science should give early and persevering attention to the collection and preservation of specimens of as many species of plants as he can procure. The advantages to be derived from such collections, either in refreshing the memory by reviewing them, or in instituting a more thorough examination at one’s leisure, are such as will afford an abundant compensation for all the labor requisite in preparing them. Such a collection of dried specimens of plants is called an herbarium, or by the more significant title, hortus siccus (dry garden).
The apparatus requisite for the accomplishment of this object is, first, a close tin box, twenty inches in length, and of a portable form; second, a portable press, consisting of two boards of light material, twelve by eighteen inches, opening and shutting by hinges, like the cover of a book, and secured by springs (even a large book is a good substitute); third, a quantity of smooth, bibulous paper, of large size (a dozen or more quires of printing paper); fourth, eight or ten boards of the same size as the paper; fifth, a small screw press, or several lead weights of various sizes, from fifteen to thirty pounds each.
In gathering plants for this purpose, or specimens, as they are called, the smaller and herbaceous plants should be taken up with a portion of the roots, while from larger plants there should be selected a shoot, with complete representations of the leaves and flowers. They may be preserved for several days, without withering, in the tin box, or they may at once be laid between several thicknesses of the paper and inclosed in the portable press. It is always desirable that they be gathered on a dry day; if not they should be freed from dampness before being committed to the paper and press.