Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-04-16


very thinly, as a stiff sod of grass pre-
vents the rain from penetrating the soil
to the roots of the trees. There are
two sets of roots to the apple tree; one
set is called the carrot root, which go
downward, and the other roots, called
the feeding roots, branch outward from
near the surface of the soil as deeply
rs the earth is warmed by the sun.
Hence the feeding root should not be
disturbed by the pillow, or the tree will
not fruit we'll. Narrowing the orchard
and mulching with decayed vegetable
mold from the wood lot or auckland, is
better than manure, as green manure
produces insects.
PRUNING OR TRIMMING OF THE ORCHARD.
The trimming process should be done
with great care to form q rather low,
convenient, round, Widespread top to
the tree, as the atmosphere has more to
do with the orchard and fruit than
most people imagine. Hence the light
should have free access to the tree.
After setting the tree trim it with the
above view. After which, in the
spring, when the buds start where not
wanted, rub them of. This aids the
growth of the tree, as the calculations
are directed to the formation of the
tree rs desired, and prevents the neces-
sity of pruning large limbs. If large
limbs are to be pruned off it should be
done in April, and the wound coated
over with wax.
The natural bearing life of the apple
tree is from ten to forty years with pro-
fit, but the tree well cared for will bear
longer. The apples from old trees are
smaller but better keepers.
FENCING.
The orchard should be we'll fenced
and no heavy stock, horses or cattle, be
allowed access, as they brouse off the
limbs and tread the earth too hard on
the feeding roots. Swine may be al
lowed in the orchard to pick up, the
early fallen fruit, toprevent the insects,
which spring from decayed fruit. Hens,
also, are good to destroy the insects.
The cut worms should be kept from the
trees. This subject of itself requires
an entire article In one of my or
chards the soil is loan, and, after
blowing and cropping, and manuring
eight years, it was not seeded down,
Notwithstanding the grass came in
naturally and it has been in good bear
ing and of a very thriftNigrowth.
LOCATION OF THE ORCHARD.
A northern slope is generally the
best, as the heat of the spring sun does
not fall SO strongly upon it as on the
southern slope The leeward of q
wood lot, or a wind breaker of ever
green, is very useful in the production
OF the orchard.
VARIETIES OF FRUIT.
Winter fruit yields the most profit,
among which the Canada or Steel Red,
for a dessert. In the spring, and later,
the Baldwin is called for cooking, and
is prolific bearer, and the Rhode Is
land Greening, the Golden Russell and
the Roxbury Russet. The WAGNER is
held by some in high estimation.
These are enough for an orchard. The
Northern spy is a slow bearer and not
so perfect an apple, very good, but not
profitable with me. The tree grows
very thrifty, and, if planted at ali, may
be set around the orchard very thick,
for wind-breakers, and will afford some
fruit. But generally, among the most
Of orchards, there are too many varieties
grown with little Or no profit. No one
need fear of over doing the business in
growing apple orchards in Michigan. az
the soil and climate are highly favor
able. Ny purpose is to set one thou
sand apple trees this spring in rowst two
rods apart.
Everyday Experiences In the IIousel.o1d
1t is surprising, says Hearth and
Home, to find out how many things
there are to learn about housekeeping.
and about certain minor details. too.
with which we had supposed ourselves
thoroughly proficient. Almost every
day we find, from experience. some i'm
proved method for doing some simple
thing.
Suppose we are making apple or
mince pies. We prepare them for the
oven with great care. We moisten the
outer edge of the under crust with
water, and lay narrow strip of the
pastry upon it, to prevent any loss in
the baking. To make assurance doubly
sure, we wet the strip around the edge
and secure the upper crust, making It,
as we suppose, firmly adhere to the
under, by gentle pressure. But, alas
haven't we, even after such precaution,
heard the best of those pies stewing
away upon the bottom of the oven And
haven't we burned our fingers, and be-
smeared our pies, in the vain attempt
to raise the oozing side with props of
nails or bits of wood, and found it
equally open upon the other side? For
years we would occasionally have some
such aggravating experience. In fact.
we called it luck if we did not. Finally.
anobserving housewife told us to take
the pies from the oven and let them
stand few minutes; then, when we
replaced them, we should find no fur
ther trouble. We tested it, and found
it proved so.
We used to condemn the making or
eating Of mince pies-in fact, any pies.
But we believe now that an occasional
mince pie, for variety, is less injurious
to the constitution than the everlasting
monotony of cracked wheat, graham
bread, and the like. We tried the latter
system until appetite and strength were
we'll nigh exhausted, because scientific
medical students told us the needs of
the system required such and such
food. In our desperation, however.
we dropped scientific rules and ate a
little Of everything, even mince pie
and found in consequence, return Of
strength and health. Our rule might
not prove equally efficacious to others
similarly dyspeptic. Still, our physi-
clans indorse our eating many articles
OF food, under such circumstances now.
that they would have strictly prohibited
a few years ago.
Company, sickness, or some other
circumstance may prevent us from
making "sweet pickles. in the season
Tor such work. They are not absolute
~ indispensable as an article Of diet, of
course, but quite palatable and conve-
nient for special occasions. If we have
plenty of certain kinds of preserves, we
can make sweet pickles as well in winter
as any time. We should take from our
preserves, plnms, pears, peaches, or
any other whole fruit, and pour over
them hot vinegar spiced with whole
cloves. In few days they will be equal
to any "sweet pickle" made in the fall.
They are very nice to have for tea, to