The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-04-22
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Orchard and Nursery,

une majority OF trult-grOwerS. If trees
are set early while the buds are still
dormant, the roots will suffer less from
dying than if planted later, besides
the earth has chance to settle around
them. Every farmer or landowner or
occupier should provide an abundance
OF fruit for his family, and if he has the
time or inclination, it will be profitable
as market crop. If there is a nursery
in tho vicinity it will pay to give an
extra price for the privilege of selecting
the trees as they stand. Farmers may,
with advantage to themselves, SOW and
raise their own stocks from seed, and
give the boys instructions how to graft
and bud each in their season.
Established orchards need to have the
fertility of the soil kept up; give them
well-rotted manure. Wood ashes may
almost always be applied with advan-
tage; old, neglected orchards may be
made productive if the soil is properly
worked around the trees, dead and
clinging limbs removed; a dressing of
lime will often work wonders.
On most places are to be found trees
bearing natural fruit, which is only suit
able for cider; if these are sound and
healthy they may be readily made to
produce good marketable fruit by graft
ing with established varieties in from
three to six years the gratis will com
mence to bear, which will be sooner
than if young trees We're planted.
Drains should be provided in every
orchard where there is not natural
drainage. See that there are no hollows
i'll which water will settle after rains and
during the winter. Underdrains should
be at least three feet below the surface
of the ground, and their distance apart
will depend upon the character of the
ground. .
Cut cions early this month, before
buds have started, and store III sand or
earth in the cellar until needed for use.
Many nurserymen offer cions for sale at
reasonable rates, and this puts choice
varieties of fruit within the reach of all,
as they are sent by mail very cheaply
and with safety, ana if packed in damp
moss they will not suffer if three weeks
or more in transit
Cherry and peach-stones which were
buried in boxes last fall should be SOW
ed in nursery rows.
Seeds of fruit and ornamental trees
may now be planted when the frost is
out of the ground.
Look after tent caterpillars and other
injurious insects early; the eggs of the
caterpillar may be readily seen On the
ends of the small twigs before the leaves
appear; if not taken off now they will
cause much trouble later in the season.
Bark scale is another very destructive
insect which is common in some sections
of the country, and can only be destroy
ed by very vigorous applications of
whale-oil soap and other washes.
Labels are absolutely necessary in the
nursery, or where there is collection of
fruit. Have supply always on hand.
In most parts of this country it is
necessary to fence out stray cattle which
will often do great damage to young
trees. An orchard must have a strong
fence and good gate that cannot be
opened by cattle. Allow no broken fence
panel to exist even for single night
-1gricutuTist
Useful Hints.
When cork gets pushed down into
the neck of a bottle, insert loop OF
strong twine and engage the cork in
any direction most convenient. Then
give a strong pull, and the cork will gen,
orally yield sufficiently to be withdrawn.
In case finger ring becomes too tight
to pass the Joint of the finger, the finger
should first be held in cold water to re-
duce any swelling or inflammation. Then
wrap rag soaked in hot water around
the ring to expand the metal and lastly
soap the finger. A needle threaded with
strong silk can then be passed between
the ring and finger and person hold
ing the two ends and pulling the silk,
while sliding it around the periphery OF
the ring, will readily remove the latter.
The best mode of oiling belt is to
take it from the pulleys and immerse il
IN warm solution of tallow and oil
after allowing it to remain few mo.
ments the belt should be immersed in
water heated to one hundred degrees
Fahrenheit, and instantly removed
This will drive the oil and tallow all in,
and at the same timeproperly tempert the
leather.
An easy method of breaking glass tc
any required form is by making a small
notch, by means of file, on the edge OF
piece of glass then make the end of 6
tobacco pipe, or a rod of iron about the
same size, red hot in the fire, apply the
hot iron to the notch, and draw il slowly
along the surface of the glass, in any di
rection you please crack will be made
in the glass and will follow the direction
of the iron. Round glass bottles and
TASKS may be cut in the middle by wrap
ping round them q worsted thread
dipped in spirits of turpentine, and set
ting it on fire when fastened on the
glass.
To clean and restore the elasticity ot
cane chair bottoms, turn the chair bot
tom upward, and with hot water and 9
sponge wash the cane work well, so that
it is well soaked should it be dirty, use
soap; let it dry in the air, and it will be
ms tight and firm as new, provided none
of the canes are broken. en.-.Scientifc
american.
Household Notes.
LINEN CoLLARs.-To give linen col
lars, shirt bosoms and cuffs a nice glaze,
add teaspoonful of scraped white SOAP
and one of salt to every pound OF
starch.
To MASH PARsNIPs.- them ten,
der; rub the skin off; then mash them
into stew pan with little cream, q
good piece of butter, salt and pep
per.
MUsH WAFFLEs. s.-One quart of -four,
one pint of cornmeal mush, two eggs, q