Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-30

About one half of mankind are constantly
on the lookout for an excuse to exempt them
from doing their duty. This phase of human
delinquency ia confined to no one branch OF
business, nor to any particular class of society,
for IL pervades all and has become chronic
disease, affecting both rich aud poor. II
there is, however, any one class Of people
that suffer more than another from being ai-
ncted with excuses, il is those who have land
in which they might grow an abundance Of
fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
In summer, when the flowers are putting on
their most brilliant colors aud 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 August and September arrive they
have some plausible excuse ready for not
planting 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 in
spring
la March it is too cold and the ground is
too wet. April finds these men with other
business in their hands, but in May they learn
that it is really too late for planting any thing
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 FAINT
lies 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 aud who might iurn.
ish their families every thing in the way OF
fruits and flowers that could be desired but
procrastination, aided by excuses, has proven.
ted them from ever planting bed Of straw.
berries. This is no fancy sketch, but a fact
well known to every nurseryman in this coun'
try. But is it really too late in the season
for planting iruit-trecs 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 90
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 pro-
tected 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 per-
formed with ordinary care, there will not be
the least difficulty in making them live, and
next year they will produce abundantly.
Raspberrics and backberrie 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 a great
deal of late planting, because they wait until
all of their customers are supplied 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.