The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-06
dhe farmerI.



!. Planting-Pulverize the ground
well, the deeper the better; then dig the
holes with spade. It is best to dig the
holes about fifteen inches deep aud about
three feet square; throw in surface soil
until the hole is shallow enough for the
tree to stand two and a-half inches deeper
in the ground than when taken from the
nursery. When the hole is dug, take
sharp knife and cut off sufficient length
Of every main root that was broken in
digging, to remove the bruised or manglcd
portion then set in and cover the root
with surface soil altogether, and tramp it
in. When this is done, prune the tree by
removing all the limbs except about four
Of the main branches and cut off one third
Of the growth made on these branches the
preceding year. The more root a tree has
in proportion to top the better After
this is done the tree should be mulehed.
To do this take straw or some kind of
litter that win hold water--sawdust is
preferable to anything else--and cover the
ground around the tree for two feet from
the root in every direction There are
two advantages from this /. 1t prevents
the growth Of the weeds. ?. 1t holds the
moisture and keeps the ground mellow in
case Of drouth. Good, thrifty trees plant
ed after this manner, in good sod, will
make growth the first season from one
and a-half to four feet, and if the season
be dry, viii always appear green and fresh,
and will bear at least two years sooner, and
produce great deal better quality Of fruit
than If left to be swallowed up by the
weeds. Apples should be planted thirty 4
feet apart each way
2. Cultivation--Watch your trees dur
ing the season, and if too many twigs
branch out cut them off with a sharp
knife, always being careful not to cut the
bark Of the tree and leaving the finest and
healthiest ones to grow, and being careful
10 remove them so the tree will remain
and that the sun and air may /
pass through the branches from every
direction The land in an orchard should
never be planted IN corn or oats, but
should be cultivated well in crops that are
worked with the hoe
The above rules may be observed in
planting and growing apples, peaches,
cherries, apricots. nectarines, plums and
standard pears. Dwarf apples, dwarf
peaches, dwarf pears aud dwarf cherries
should be set in the same way, but pruned
slightly In pruning tree, always be
governed BY the size Of it and the size Of
the root, exercising your own judgment.
Ornamental trees and shrubbery should
be planted and cultivated in the same way,
but pruned slightly.
In planting raspberries, blackberries
carrants, gooseberries, strawberries, and
grapes the land should be well pulyerized,
and they should be set in the ground
little deeper than when taken from the
nursery.
Set the raspberries six feet apart each
way. After the vine has made two years
growth, drive stakes parallel with the row
on each side, and make kind Of frame to +
support the vines and prevent their falling
down, and # you wish 70 propagate new
vines, about the first Of September bend
down the vine and cover it with dirt about /
six inches from the top Of the vine, leav-
ing the top uncovered, which Immediately /
takes root and makes new vine, which may !
be transplauted the next season. Bhckber-
ries should be planted six feet apart each
way, and framed the same as raspborries.
Cunants sAcald be planted ia a row about
six feet apart. Strawberries should be
planted in rows four feet apart, and should
be well cultivated, and late in the fall
malel, with little straw to prevent tl,dir
Pressing out Grapes should be planted
'isht feet apart Put up row Of posts
sboat eight feet high, and aail Oh these
nicely dressed strips pine is the best,
md paint The posts and strips. If grape
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