The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-09-19
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.


marching.
This method OF increasing plants or
trees that are difficult of propagation
we seldom see mentioned in the books
or papers, and it is to be presumed that
OF using it, that 30 little attention is
given it, and yet for some kinds of trees
this method is the most available way to
secure additional trees, especially with
such as have very hard or dry bark,
end cannot easily be budded or grated.
The beech and oak are of this class,
but the pear and apple can be worked
very easily by this process, where it is
desirable to increase q choice variety,
and gain of one seasons growth can be
secured (when it is too late to grafD over
the simple budding process.
marching is nothing more than the
simple bringing of two growing twigs
of the same size together, shaving each
one half through on one side, and then
fitting the cut parts together with the
barks of both to Join, and then securing
them in position by ligatures until the
parts are firmly united. The limb is
then detached from the parent tree, and
forms the top of the other, the rest of
its branches having been removed. The
principal care required is in removing
this tying material in time and not al
lowing II to cut too deeply into the
growing limb. Twigs of the same sea-
sons growth, while growing rapidly,
can be made to form a perfect union in
few weeks, and the ligature may have
to be loosened in one week.
To be successful it requires that both
trees be in vigorous growth, and the
stock on which it is proposed to form a
new head will have to be planted care
fully, within reach of the limb, by which
it may be worked at the proper season,
moved the following fall, after growth
has ceased. This may be practised on
trees already growing near together, or
when new top is to be put on small
tree by grating. If few fail to take,
and other limbs are desired, the sprouts
can be worked from the growing gratis
by bending them together, and thus a
symmetrical head can be at once formed
instead of waiting for another year.
This is work for the amateur or gardener,
and, as has been remarked, requires
attention at several times and cannot be
we'll done where the work is out of reach
from the ground, or where limbs far
apart will be severely shaken by the
wind, and liable to break off where tied
1t is not desirable to do this work
much before midsummer, and no union
takes place until the new layer of wood
is deposited, in the case of shoots of pre-
vious seasons growth. A little obser-
vation will show that last seasons twigs
do not increase in diameter until after
or about midsummer, even though sew
eral feet of new growth have been added
to their length. The new growth or an
nual layer, is then all deposited in q short
time, when growth for the season ceases.
Whether this new wood is deposited
from the bark or thrown out from the
wood below, has been point in con.
troversy, but observation seems to have
established the latter as the correct
theory. The bark may be removed
from the trunk of an apple or pear tree
at any time during the longest days Of
the year without apparent injury to the
tree. 1 have seen pear trees that were
apparently on the decline and had
rough, scaly bark, started into new
growth and health by simply removing
all the bark carefully (without scrapine
the wood) from the trunk the latter part
of June. The new bark is left undis
turbed, adhering to the trunk, and il
thickens up in short time and takes
the place of that removed. Some trees
continue this growth much later in the
season than others, and knowledge OF
their peculiarities is of great Importance
to every one who attempts to propagate
them.-COr. Country Gentleman.
Preparing Stock for Exhibition.
l. Begin to feed animals for show as
young as it will eat. A calf should be
pushed from four weeks old with plenty
of milk and such solid food as it will
eat. That is the time to begin-neve1
quit.
2. Feed anything that they will eat,
the best that is ordinarily given to
such stock, and in such quantities as
they want, being careful always that
they clean up their troughs.
3. I never found it advisable to feed
oftener than three times a day-have
tried sucking calves three times, and
feeding the grown cattle five or even six
times, but they will do no better thar
three times; and I have had good sue
cess sometimes in feeding twice, bu1
that requires experience.
In general. I will say that an adept
will soon learn the thousand details that
make up the whole, if he has his eyes
and ears about him and wants to learn.
When he goes off to the fairs lett him
notice particularly bow everybody else
does their work, especially those who
take of the prizes. An occasional ques.
ton, without being too inqu sitive, will
bring out one piece information, and
adapting it to his own use, he may see
something better. This is an art that
must be studied, practiced and picked
up. An industrious man with taste
for such things will learn more to do all,
or a great part of the work, himself,
than in any other way.-Ecchange.