Connecticut western news., 1875-07-02
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
.8sE a -ET&ss& thFss
 Pruning Evergreens. 2 V >eS

A large share of the evergreen trees about the country and village residences are. quite too large for the situations they occupy. This is especially true of those standing near the dwelling or pathway. or ln small front yards, In many cases 1t,would be better to cut the trees entire ly away-n large or tall-and have noth- ing but grass in their places. In other cases much would be gained by heading oil the tops of the trees, say one third or ohe1half their height, and then shorten in the side branches. -', 7.-
 Few people seem to be aware that evergreens of most sorts will bear prun- ing as well as fruit trees, and need it often to improve their shape or check their rapid growth. When the top or leader of aspruce or fir is cut of in the spring, the first effort of theitr is to force out one or more new shoots to take its place; and thus the damage is soon repaired, and If 1t is desired the tree should be kept low, the tips of the lead ing new shoots should be taken off each spring. The effect will be to cause a more compact and dwarfish growth, which is often desirable.
 In shortening the side branches, do
 
 the tree look as formal as post or cone of painting boards but cut the back, one at a time, to places where lateral branches exist; then the form will be natural as well as symmetrical.
 Pines may be rendered neat and com pact in the same way ii. taken in time. 1t is's good way Z to shorten them in By breaking of the young, tender shoots which put forts in spring, before the wood begins to harden. Dwarf pines especially need attention of this kind annually to keep them neat and low
 Hedges and screens of evergreens should of course be neatly clipped with the shears every spring. Do not be afraid of clipping too closely. The common fault is in the other direction.
 Culture of the Orchard.
 Young orchards will grow more rapid lyS aAd hees willy be more healthy If the ground is cultivated but wheat, oats, rye and similar crops are very like ly to absorb too much of the moisture from the ground at the very season the trees need it most Still, grain may be grown in Orchards without doing any considerable injury to the trees if aafew feet 1t diameter about them are kept clear and hood once or twice during the summer. If the land is seeded down to grass or clover the same system should be followed, if the trees are worth grow ing at all. We have frequently noticed that farmers, in breaking up meadows in their orchards, would leave a large balk of sward about each, tree, this re- maining undisturbed all summer, al though every hill of, corn or potatoes in the same field was hood very carefully A tree worth all the way from $5 to $50 would be left to be checked with grass and weeds, but'a hill of corn worth five cents received special attention. Break ing up sward in orchards and planting 1t with corn is quite a common practice, but cleaning away that which remains about the stems and cutting of the sprouts therefrem is less frequent than good common sense would seem to dic- tate. We have seer. some fine old or chards this spring left in this slovenly condition, and they can usually be found, It looked for, every summer, and among what are called good farmers and fruit growers. -s-----------
 Newly7planted trees are usually ,bene- fted by an application of some coarse litter on the surface of the soil above the roots this will assist in keeping the ground moist underneath. If the land is rich enough naturally to insure 8 vigorous growth without additional fertilizers than tanbafk, sawdust, pine leaves Cor Some similar material may be used as amulch ]; but on old land coarse barAyard manure is best. II hIl E25i17Ae
 What is the Most Profitable .,r
 Inquiries are frequently made as to which is the most profitable branch of farming. 1t depends, on several contin- gencies. In some places corn growing and pork raising, in others wool growing, and in others dairying are steadily pro- ftable one year with another. Where circumstances, such as rich corn land, healthful dry pastures or abundant grass, with pure water, favor one or the other of these specialties, it is best to fall into them and keep to them, But for general purposes special crops or employments are rarely. suitable, and mixed farming is the best reliance. This implies the culture of roots, grass, and grain, chiefly for feeding to the stock, and only partly for sale.s- The aim must be to distribute the produce so that a good portion comes back to the soil as manures and the soil is kept improving constantly in fertility and freedom from weeds. Then inme diate advantage can be taken ofsany exceptional condition ot things, and if grain does not pay, meat and wool may be made,1 and if grain happens to be high, it may be sold, and some other cheaper food be bought tc replace it. A sharp farmer who has some capital, and can turn about at g short notice, will never be caught in g poor year, without at least an average profit from his business. rs5 ,-1- sa u
 ;,s- . : .,s, y5 ! ! Prolific sheep. | ..t
 A eve may live and breed fourteen O, fifteen years. Merinos are longer lived than the large breeds. An English breed, known as Dorset, is probably the most prolific kind of sheep. 7zA A flock ot four hundred is mentioned, that last yea brought to maturity five hundred an6 fifteen lambs. One hundred and fiftee1 pairs of twins were raised without the loss of a eve, and the twins were as for ward lambs as the singles. A cross breed Cheviot eve is recorded as having in if teen years produced thirty lambs, three singles, nine doubles, and three triplets This last is the most prolific sheep WI have heard of, but, to get 2 whole. focl of such ewes would be an impossibility
 Z53 Ils Worms in Horses. g -1a.s ...
 A correspondent of the Mossach,tsett P2oa4glsa,a0n says: Ionce had valuable animal in such a bad state from worm that I kept him out of sight from shame A friend, however, suggested that I feet him ten bushels of buckwheat, anl watch the result. This I d1d in lieu O any other provender, and before long h began to improve, and by the time tn ten bushels were consumed he woul hardly be recognized as the same horse so fat and sleek had he become-and ha no worms afterwards. .-
 Horses, Feet in Summer.
 To nrevent hnrses' feet from scaldin