Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-09
The eff1uvium arising from a mass Of

corrupting bodies is often very great;
and after long period of cold weather
there is sure to be considerable guam
tity of such dead bodies lying about the
floor board inside, The bees ordinarily
remove their dead themselves from day
to day, when they can get out; but it
helps much to assist thetn III this labor,
besides adding to their health and COM
fort.
Where wooden hives are used, no
harm can accrue from breaking up the
hive from it's board, in any case where
these fit accurately. It is in The case Of
straw hives. which rarely sit evenly on
the board. that it is perilcus to remove
these boards in winter. Sometimes I
have known the dead to accumulate SO
thickly about the entrance inside as to
choke them up entirely, Ill which case,
there being no exit for the bees, the
hives perish inevitably. Let all bee
keepers watch against long continued
accommodations of snow outside on the
entrance board.
Reasonable Hints about Fruit ard vcgeta-
M BILE Gardening.
The Gardeners Monthly says: If large
fruit is wanted, thinning assists. Straw
berries are increased in size by watering
in dry time. Fruit trees should be
allowed to bear only according to their
strength. Ii transplanted tree grows
freely it may bear few fruits but
bear in mind growth and great fruitful
ness are antagonistic processes.
Handsome forms are desirable in
fruit as in ornamental trees. No winter
pruning will do this exclusively. It
may furnish the skeleton-but it is
summer pruning which clothes the
bones with beauty. A strong shoot
soon draws all its nutrition to itself.
Never allow one shoot to grow that
wants to get bigger than others. Equal
ity must be insisted on. Pinch out al
ways as soon as they appear such as
would push too strongly ahead, and
keep doing SO till the new buds seem no
stronger than the others. Thus the
food gets equally distributed.
When tho strawberry crop is about to
ripen, mulch with clean straw, to prevent
rain soiling the fruit. Short grass from
the lawn is often used; but. it mildews
as it decays, and detracts from the
flavor of TIE fruit. Hot suns increase
flavor, and strawberry tiles were once
in fashion to put round the hill, which,
by absorbing heat, added greatly to the
fruits rich quality. All that we have
said of strawberries supposes them to
be fruited on the Mill system, with the
runners kept off. Those who desire the
best results will grow tue.l no other
way, but many grow them very success
fully In beds, believing that, though
they may not have as many large fruits,
they may have greater weight in pro-
portion to the labor bestowed.
Where water can be commanded,
there is nothing SO pr ofitable as to we'll
soak the soil about small fruits, just
about the time they have set their fruit.
Much of the value of this operation,
however, will depend on the nature of
the soil. The advantages are least in a
tenacious, and greatest in porous soil.
It is said that an animal derives most
benefit from food when it is hungry be-
fore it begins; it is certainly SO with
plants. Water applied to soil already
wet is an injury, and water never has SO
telling an advantage on vegetation as
when every leaf is about to wither up
for the want of it. A plant that never
seems to want water is in very doubt
full condition in regard to its health.
Blackberries and raspberries set out
in spring may kill themselves by ever
bearing. It is pardonable to wish for
some fruit the first year. IF tree
seems to be growing freely, some fruit
may be left. Cut out black-knot, or
any symptom that may appear, and as
they appear.
In the cultivation of garden crops,
the hoe and rake should be continually
at work. Weeds should be taken in
hand before they are barely out of the
seed-leaf, and one-half of the usual
labor Of vegetable gardening will be
avoided. Hoeing or earthing-up of
most garden crops is Of immense i'm
portance in nearly every case. One
would suppose that in our hot climate
nat culture would be much more bene-
fetal; but fair trial, say on every
other row of q bed Of cabbages, will
show a great difference in favor of the
earthed-up plants. It would be easy to
explain the reason of this, but in this
column we try to confne ourselves to
s'hints," and leave reasons to our other
departments.
Cabbage, caulifower, and broccoli
are now set out fall crops, and endive
sown for winter salad. Luttuce also
for summer and fall use. This, how
ever, must be sown in very rich sell,
and in a partially shaded situation, or it
will go to seed. Peas, beans, and other
crops chou11 ko eoxuod avery, t,po uaoLo
They do much better than when large
crop is sown at one time, and then have
too many on at one time to waste.
Melons, cucumbers, corn, okra,
squash, beans, sweet potatoes, lima
beans. pepper, egg-plants, tomatoes,
and other tender vegetable that do not
do well till the sun gets high, and the
ground warm, should go into the soil
without delay.
Bean-poles should be set before the
beans are planted; and near cities,
where they are comparatively high
priced, their ends should be charred.