The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-01
NO. As.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
SULPHUR FOR GRAPEs.-George w.
Campbell thinks that the sulphur remedy
for outdoor grapes may be relied OH to great
ly lessen, If not entirely to prevent, the at
tacks OF midew. He has used it for many
years on the Delaware and OH nearly all
varieties subject to mildew and rot, and al
ways with apparent success when persistent
ly applied, and in time. He commonly used
the sulphur in connection with freshly slack
ed quicklime-the latter to prevent the bel
lows through which it is blown from becom-
ing clogsed by tie sulphur.
| THE CATERPIILER. b
| In an address by Prof. Fernhal!, he states
that from his observations and experiments,
lie is led to conclude that each individual of
! the common orchard or tent caterpillar,
when well grown, consumes on an average
about two apple leaves in 4 day, and as each
nest contains about three hundred caterpil-
lars. there would be six hundred leaves de-
| stroyed each day by the inhabitants OF sim
| gle tent-a heavy drain Oh any tree. He
finds these caterpilars to be quite regular in
taking their meals iii the middle of the fore
noon and afternoon, and for this reason they
should be destroyed only in the morning and
evening, and possibly in the middle of the
day, when they are at rest in their tent. The
Importance of destroying these insects is
shown by the statement of Z. A. Gilbert, in
another part of this report, that in Oxford,
Androscoggn and Franklin counties, nearly
all the apple trees We're completely stripped
of their foliage and kept bare, by the con-
tinucd feeding of these insects till they at
tanned their full growth. OF the numerous
and extensive orchards in Androscoggin Co.,
where the owners rely on the crop for income
only two saved their fruit from destruction.
Those who annually sold their crops by hum
dreds of barrels suffered scverely.-[Irans-
actions of Maine genealogical Society.
PRUNING PEACH TREES FOR EARLY
FORCING.
Peach trees for early forcing should be
pruned as soon as the fruit buds can be dis
tinguished from the wood buds, which will
be as soon as the leaves are ripe and have
fallen off the trees. Fruit buds are easily
known from wood buds by their more plump
and rounded appearance. They are produc-
ed sometimes singy on the shoots, and also
in twos with wood bud between. Ii pinch
ing off the shoots has been regularly attend
ed to during the summer but little pruning
will be necessary, but if neglected there will
be considerable to be done, especially il
strong growths have beenmade. In the first
place cut out all unnecessary, weak shoots.
then prllne back those intended for bearing
to Il reasonable length il the shoot is weak.
cut back harder than ii strong, care being
taken that the operation is done just beyond
q wood bud, for if done at a fruit bud, the
shoot will die back to the next wood bud, as
no shoot can start where nothing but fruit
buds are formed. Trees planted into 4 bed
generally produce more wood than such rs
are grown in pots, they are therefore more
sure in producing heavier crops and better
fruit, as rule, but requires more care in
pruning, so that they may be kept in rs COM
pact a form as possible, and at the same
time in a condition for producing a good
supply OIL young Woou. AT Lie liAc Vi
pruning it is better to make an inspection
OF .hc trunks of the trees for berers. and il
any are at work. either cut them out or kill
them by thrustinl wire through the hole they
have made Ii attended to carly, they are
generally found near The surface OF the soil.
and not far into the wood, aid are therefore.
easily secured. When pruned and cleaned
of borers, painting the trees with 4 mixture
of sulphur, SCOT and whale oil soap is abent.
eft to them, and think preventive from
insects.-Mansfeld Milton in Country Gen
tleman.