Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-04-17

severe drouth supcryene, it is better
to supply the requisite amount Of mois
ture and nutriment to the shortened
roots by extra cultivation and mulch
ing, than by diminishing the leaves as
it is upon he function IF The leaves
zoe depend for organiza6le matter
to produce ncsO roots.
In transplanting trees four or five
inches in diameter, We seldom cut q
branch, but spread barrow load Of
good manure over the roots Of each tree,
and thus feed and cultivate. Such
tr es should have board or wide stake
placed 50 as to. shade the southwest
side to prevent san scdld; precau
ton We would recommend for all trees
in the orchard.
Small fires in the evening in various
parts Of the orchard for the destruction
of insects, especially the codling moth,,
are highly important to prevent the
ravages Of the apple worm, which if
neglected will soon nearly destroy our
apple and pear crops. Bottles partly
filled with sweetened water and suspen-
ded among the branches of the trees,
are recommended for the same purpose.
Keeping the trunks Of trees smooth and
clean by the use of the tree scraper is
very serviceable. Rubbing with cloth
and sand and water, is an efficient mode
Of, securing smooth and healthy bark.
| Mr. Buckminster, editor Of the Mas
sachusetts Ploughmon, recommends
washing with strong ley, or solution
of potash, one pound of potash to q
gallon Of water, or just strong enough
to bear up an egg, for the destruction
of all kinds of insects. He has used
this forty years, he says, with decided
benefit to the vigor Of his trees.
Tobacco water, applied with . syr-
inge, is, perhaps, the best remedy for
insects when trees are in leaf, and we
would suggest that oiled canvass may
be so placed under the tree as to catch
the surplus decoction, and thus render
the application comparatively cheap
This, in our estimation, is the best use
to which this nauseous weed can be
put. Catterpillars nests are best reno
we'd by hand when small, and not one
Of the worms should be allowed to es-
cape.
The ravages of rose-bugs may be
prevented by planting the common bush
rose in the orchard and shaking the
bugs from these every morning into hot
water.
I Highly as we prize our climate for
the production Of the finest apples, we
have no less confidence in it for grow
ing THE PEAR.
The great drawback to pear culture
throughout the United States is the
blight, and we have ye5 to learn that
Iowa is not as exempt from this malady
as any part Of the Union
Though we may expect to meet fire.
quent disappointment in its culture,
nevertheless, we look upon it as indis-
pensible. The causes Of blight are not
well understood; the means Of proven
ton are good soil and we'll ripened,
compact wood. Cutting out immedi
ately, and burning all parts effected,
seems the only remedy to be relied
upon.
The hardness with which standard
pear trees come into bearing is great
Encouragement in the way Of its cul-
turc especially when taken in connec-
ton with the liability to incidental loss
Of trees.
Dwar6ng, by the use Of dissimilar
stocks, as the apple, ounce, thorn,
mountain ash, &C., has been resorted
to, to induce Immediate fruitfulness !;
and if planted deep enough to cause
the pear to strike roots, as is recon-
mended by Boston cultivators, such
trees will not only bear early, but be-
come in time tolerably good standards.
Grating a root, or small stock into
the side Of scion six Or eight inches
long, so that the heel Of the scion will
extend below the top Of the stock, is a
favorite plan Of our own, which olivia
ted the necessity OF planting the stock
too deep.
PEACHES.
The question Of hardness is the all
important topic in the culture of this
fruit. Here, gentlemen, we can min
gle our common sorrow.
It has been suggested that by raising
Ia succession Of Seeding trees from
seeds grown in this climate, a~yariety
may yet be produced sufficiently hardy
in tree and bud to endure the severity
Of our winters.
Until something Of this kind is OBJ
tanned, we must resort to orchard hou
ses, or other means Of protection, or
content ourselves to forego the luxury
Of good peaches.
PLUMS.
Our soil and climate are quite favor
able to hardy varieties of this fruit.
The plum orchard should be located
as conveniently near the house as practi-
cable, in order that spreading canvass
and Earring the trees to catch the cur
culio may be attended. with as little la
Dor and inconvenience as possible
This appears to be the only remedy
relied upon by the best cultiyators to
prevent the ravages Of this universal
depredator.
Blach Knot, which has hitherto pro-
we'd so destructive to the plum tree at
the East, seems not to effect certainva-
rieties here. With proper pains taking
We have much to encourage US in the
culture of this useful fruit.
THE CHERRY
Is refreshing and very excellent
fruit in its season. The early Rich