The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-02-20
WORK FOR FEBRUARY.

| WOkk FOR FEBRUARY.
Fruit trees of all kinds can vet be
successfully transplanted during this
month, but no time should be lost in
accomplishing this, if one intends to
add to his orchard or fruit garden.
Grape vines must be pruned at once,
stakes or trellisses renewed or repaired,
and ground ploughed slightly. Prun-
ing fruit trees is now in order. Old
and experienced fruit growers agree
that this is best performed during this
month. Pruning in early or mid-win-
ter will, it is claimed, force the sap In
activity earlier than if the tree is left
unpruned, and by performing this
operation just previous to the first ap-
pearance Of returning active vegeta-
ton, this incipient activity Is checked
for Il while, and by thus retarding the
expanding of blooms for Il short time
disastrous results from tespring frosts
arc often partially averted or lessenct:
in extent. This applies especially to
peach trees. Pruning must be per-
formed with reference to several OBJ
jects, either to give Il symmetrical
shape to the tree, to induce or reduce
fruitfulness, to renovate old trees by
renewing the growth, or to direct the
another. Peach trees must have an
annual pruning by cutting off ono half
OF the previous years growth OF wood.
Pear and apple trees, if properly
pruncd during the first two or three
years following transplanting, should
receive only sufficient pruning to pre-
vent their growing out of shape, other
wise they should be left comparatively
free from the knife. Cherry and april
cot trees, if pruned much, will suffer
and fail. They should not be pruned
after having attained three or four
years. growth. Roses, Towering shrubs,
and all plants that produce flowers upon
the new growth must be pruned ut
once. Strawberry beds should be work.
ed and manured without delay. Graft
ing can now be performed with much
success. If one has Il worthless apple,
pear or peach tree, regraft it with q
good variety. Plough peach and apple
orchards, and manure them if not done
so previously. Set out cuttings Of figs,
grapes, shrubs, and all plants which
are desirable to increase. Asparagus
beds should have been worked and
manured during January. If, how
ever, left undone, they must be attend
ed to without delay. Vegetables of
nearly every class, except those which
are liable to be injured by frost, must
be planted. Early potatoes are best
planted in the beginning of the month.
For general crop no variety surpasses
EARLY Rose, but for extra carly we
would recommend the King Of Earzies
and E.rtra Eurly Vermont. This latter
is the famous variety, for which $500 Il
peck was refused two years ago. We
tried it during the spring Of 1872, and
found it fully ten days earlier than
Early Rose, with which it was grown
side by side. Since then 1t has fully
sustained its earliness.
Prepare flower beds, and SOW seeds
of pcrennials as early as practicable.
These will thrive better sown early.
Many ANIMALS, especially those whose
period of bloom is during tho spring
months, must be sown at once, such as
nemophilas, candytuft, etc. During !
this month the beds where 5oft-wooded,
tender plants are intended to be plant |
cd must be well manurcd and thorough !
ly dug. Many plants kept during |
winter in conscrvatories will need re-
potting; if they have made new
growth they may be cut back and this |
new growth utilized for cuttings. A |
common hot bed will afford ample !
bottom heat, and allow cuttings of
gcraniums, hcliotropc, vcrbcnas, sal |
Was, and all the popular bedding |
classes, to be struck with facility. Give
greenhouses all the ventilation posi- |
bic, and keep camelias, oranges, neriums
and other hard-wooded plants from |
forced early gr"wth.-P j. Bcrck,hnd,1S |
/" Fits7wes' nssa Gu,.,.iter.
EXAMPLE.