The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-10
AGRICULTURAL.


In pruning an old or any other
tree, it should be done with de6u.
ite object. If branches have been
broken or are partly decayed, if the
head is so crowded that light and cir
cannot enter; if limbs cross and chafe
one another; if the head is quite one
sided, or if for any other reason a
removal of portion of the top will
be beneficial, then use the saw.
Manure being the first thing need
cd, the fertility of the orchard may
be brought up by generous applica.
ton of barnysrd manure, spread up
on the surface and turned under by a
shallow plowing. In the absence of
sufficient manure, then green crUps,
buekwheat or clover may be sown,
10 be turned under with the appliea-
tion of lime or ashes.
As illustrating the value Of an or
chard, a farmer in Montgomery
county, Pa, the possessor of a farm
of l60 acres, says that the three
acre orchard thereon is the most val
liable portion of his farm. 1t has
averaged return Of $500 per year.
for apples alone lie runs twenty
or twenty-five hogs in it and eleven
ewes with their lambs. The pro
ceeds OF the apples, hogs, wool and
lambs reach nearly 5000 per year
Who can beat this for only three
ceres?
Towards the end of the month
will be a good time TO SOW clover
SEED. Ten or twelve pounds to the
acre is little enough, and fifteen
pounds is none too much if the land
is in good condition. On all pieces
laid down after the lst of September,
clover seed applied in the spring is
needed 1t will pay to SOW it with a
liberal hand
The preferable time for pruning is
when severe weather is over and be.
fore vegetation has started. Use a
pruning or other narrow bladed saw,
with the teeth set wide; smooth the
wounds with drawing knife, and
then cover them with melted grating
wax or thick paint.
Scraping and washing The old
bark is useful. If the tree produces
Indifferent fruit then, besides the rem
ovation already mentioned, it should
be grated with some coed sort. but
it will be of little use to graft an old
tree if it is still to be started With
large tree it is better TO graft only
about one-third Of the head each
year, beginning with the branches in
the centre of the tree The time is
just as the buds begin to swell
A calf to be raised for The dairy
should have the pure milk from the
COW for at least week or ten days
before any attempt is made to substi-
tute other food
After parturitiou the calf may be
left day or two with its dam or il
may be removed at once, according
the the purpose for which it is bred.
If it is to go for veal at the age oi
four or FIVE weeks. it is best to let il
suckle and take all it will. If it is
to be raised by hand it should have
the milk of the cow for the first few
days, but if the udder is all right il
is probably better, on the whole, tC
take it Immediately from the COW
rub it thoroughly dry and put it in q
warm pen by itself, out of the cows
sight. The custom of leaving it will
the COW for two or three days is OBJ
jectionable. 1t leads the COW to be
come attached to it, and when it il
removed she feels its loss far NOR,
keenly than we are apt to suppose
If the udder is inaamed, with ,
tendency to gsrget, bathe it Otter
with very warm water, as hot as yot
can bear its, and rub dry every tim,
with wooden cloths Rub slowly
patiently and gently, and it will
bring down the worst of inaamma
tion.
In planting new orchards no tim
should be lost in making the selec
ton of varieties, if not already done
and in ordering the trees. In decid
ing what to plant, the disposition to b
made of the fruit is to be regarded
if the fruit is to be for family use on
ly then the varieties should compris
those that will give supply from th
earliest to the latest. If fruit is 70
market and to be shipped long dis
tsnce, then but few sorts known a
the best for keeping and shippin
will be better than many sorts ripeu
ing at different times. Those who's
orchards are near the city find larg
and snowy early fruit more proftabl
than late kinds. 10 selecting varie
ties those not familiar with tber
will do well to consult the fruit grow
ers of their vicinity. This advic
will be Of far more value than that G
persons at distance.