The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-10-13
From tie Soil of the South.
Horticultural Work For October

'""' h"' sou OI me SCUM.
Horticultural Work For October.
OF all the months in the rolIino ycar
tins Is the most important to the horticul
turst But inasmuch as men do not
lmmcdiateI y ENJOY the fruit of their labors.
they put off till spring what should be
done in October. The tree that IS plant
ed now, does not show the expanding
leaf, or the opening blossoms; but there
is an unseen process going on under
ground, no less important The rootIets
are preparing their thousand mouths to
feed these very buds and leaves which the
cuItlvator is so anxious to see; and when
the spring does open, the tree expands at
once into form and beauty, and grows off
with vigor which spring planted tree
can never have-making full years diff
ference in their growth. Now prepare
and plant your trees. BE careful in taking
them up. Preserve as many roots entire
as possible. Prune the top to match the
loss of roots. Never put mutilated,
mang!cd root into the ground, but with a
sharp knife cut out all bruised, diseased
parts just before planting. A callus will
form around the cut, from which fresh
rootIcts will spring. Let the hole for the
tree be twice as large as the roots-extend,
and fill in the hole with good surface
mould from swamps or bitches. Now
place the roots upon this, and pack in the
earth, taking care not to plant the tree anv
deeper than it originally came out Of the
ground. There are thousands of trees lost
annually by too deep planting. If they
do not die Immediately, they become sick
ly, and many shed their fruit No,O plant
cuttings. Almost every plant, tree. of
shrub, will grow freely from cuttings if
planted out this month. All outlines
strike root more freely in sandy soil.
Cuttings should be placed in the earth in
horizontal position. leaving but one or
tw" buds out ofthe earth. The cut in the
earth should be fresh cut, made with n
sharp knife and should rest against
solid earth. a callus forms around this
cut, which throws out rootlets, and in tbo
spring it has nothing to do but open its
petals, and grow, which it will do freely
if the ground be kept shaded until the roots
have got strong hold, Now apply man
ures. One-haIf of our gardens are ruined
by the application of rank manures in
the spring Cover the plot designated
for spring garden, Mick with stable ma
nure, and pIow or spade it under deepfy.
1t will be in fine order to receive spring
seeds, and will be just in order to feed
spring roots. Now manure your fruit
trees. Remove all the earth around the
surface Of the roots as far as the limbs
cxtend-(or it is through the little feeders
at the ends of the roots, principally, that
the tree feeds)--and fill in with anv good
manure. Stable manure may be used now,
when it would be death to use it in the
spring. BY spring the manure will have
undergone sufficient process to have become
the food for the rootlets. Now DESTROY
the eggs ofinsects which will prey upon
the fruit trees, next spring and summer.
Hunt for the cocoon of the caterpillar
Apply hot water or stable manure around
the base of the peach tree, to kill the
peach grub. Non rub soft country soap
on the trunks OF the young apple and
pear trees, to prevent rabbits from barking
them, which it will do effectualIy. Non
plant out in the open border, hyacinths
tulips, lilies, jonquills, naricissus, poIyan-
thus, erocus, DC, and continue it through
the winter Now take up the dahIis, 4
you fear frost, 1--WE have never had thsn,
injured in the ople round until last.
winter) and put them away in a dfk,