The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-27
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How Late Can We Plant q?

ABOUT one.half of mankind are con-
stantly on the lookout for an excuse to
exempt them from doing their duty
This phase of human delinquency is con-
fined to no one branch of business, nor
to any particular class of society, for it
pervades all and has become chronic
disease, affecting both rich and poor. If
there is, however, any one class of people
that suffer more than another from being
afflicted with excuses, it is those who have
land in which they might grow an album
dance of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
In summer, when the flowers are put
ting on their most brilliant colors, and the
trees and shrubs are loaded with fruit
men will come to us and inquire whether
they can safely plant this or that kind of
fruit in the fall, and if we reply in the
affirmative, they promise to attend to The
matter at the proper time but when Au-
gust or September arrive they have some
plausible excuse for not planting a bed of
strawberries. October and November
pass, and winter sets in, and no apple or
pear trees have either been purchased or
planted, because they have been informed
that it will do just as well to set them out
fn spring.
In March it is too cold and the ground
is too wet. April finds these men with
other business on their hands, but in May
they learn that it is really too late for
planting anything of the kind this season !;
consequently another year of time is lost,
"a thing which money cannot replace
We dare not say how many thousand
families are annually cheated out of an
abundant supply of good wholesome fruit
by these dealers in excuses. They are often
men with an abundance of means, and
whs might furnish their families every
thing in the way of fruits and flowers that
could be desired, but prOcrastinatiOn, aided
by excuses, has prevented them from ever
planting bed of strawberries This is
no fancy sketch, but fact well known to
every nurseryman in this country But
is it really too late 10 the season for plant
ing fruit trees or ornamental plants No;
for although it would have been better To
have planted them earlier, still the first of
June would be preferable to letting year
60 by without making an effort TO have
good garden.
Late planting requires little more
care and severe pruning. If the trees
have leaves nearly developed to their full
size, lift them carefully, and keep the roots
moist and protected from the sun; then
cut off most of the branches, and there
will be but little danger of losing them.
Strawberries may be set out any rainy day,
and if the operation is performed with
ordinary care, there will not be the least
difficulty in making them live, and next
year they will produce abundantly. Rasp-
berries and blackberries may be pruned
down to the ground, for it is only the root
that should be preserved. even if planted
early in the season. A little water may be
needed when first set out, if the weather
should prove dry but even this extra
trouble will be amply repaid by an extra
amount of fruit next year.
Nurserymen generally have to do
great deal of late planting because they
wait until all of their customers are sup
piled but they lose very few plants in
the operation because they prune severely,
and watch their chances for cloudy or wet
weather for this kind of work.-Hearth
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