The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-07-31
FOR THE FARMERS HOUSEHOLD.
The Tnp-Root of Peach Trees.

The Tnp-IlOOt of Peach Trees.
Ono OF the greatest essentials to the
growing Of healthy, long-lived and fruit
full trees is the preservation Of their tap.
roots as free from mutilation as possible.
This cannot be done where the trees are
allowed to grow in the nursery until
they are OF such size as to render their
removal impossible without more or less
injury to the roots-the main support
ing one of which is the tap-root. Ma
ture has provided the peach, apple, pear,
cherry, &C., with tap-roots to hold the
tree firmly in its place while the feeder
roots spread themselves out near the
surface in search of food. Any interior
ence, therefore, with this provision Of
nature must necessarily endanger the
life of the tree. To avoid this the best
way is to plant the seed as early in the
spring as possible in the exact places
where the trees are to stand, and in the
month of June to bud them, thus gain
ing in q few months what, under the
usual system Of transplanting, it takes
from two to three years to accomplish.
1t is evident that the younger a tree is
when transplanted the less danger there
is of iniuring the tap-root-the facilities
for digging and transplanting being so
much the greater, but by the mode here
recommended all such danger is obvi-
ated.
Col. Randolph Peters, of Delaware,
one of the largest and Oldest fruit grow
ers in all this country, and of unques-
toned authority on all such subjects,
speaking of this matter, says: For TWEEN.
ty-five years, in the great peach'belt of
Delaware and the Chesapeake peninsula,
l have had peach-growers ask me why it
was when our choice varieties OF peaches
come up from the seed and are allowed
to grow this way, that they are so much
harder, longer lived and prolific than
those that are transplantedP A long
and careful observation has led me to
know this to be the case, and | am fully
convinced that cutting the tap.roots and
changing them to surface roots is the
cause of this wonderful difference.
Col. E. Wilkins, of Kent county, Nd,
one Of the largest peach growers in the
country, if not in the world, and who
has planted largely of June-budded
peach trees, having some 10000 now,
says: 'They are SO much superior to
trees that have been propagated in the
usual way that 1 would plant June-bud-
ded trees if 1 had to pay from $50 to $50
q thousand more for them than for the
same kind p~ropagated in the old way.
AL this going to prove, first that small
trees budded where they stand are not
only much the best for permanent or
chards, but will bear as soon as older
ones transplanted; second, that perfect
tap-roots are indispensable to long life
and fruitful bearing. The difference in
freightage, too, is a matter of no small
moment to any II buying Target.
Whitewashing.
Good whitewash well appliedto fences,
rough siding and the walls and ceilings
of buildings has a highly sanitary infu'
ence, as well as being in the highest
degree preservative in its effects. To
be durable, whitewash should be pre-
pared in the following manner: Take
the very best stone lime and Stake it in
a close tub, covered with q cloth to pre-.
serve the steam; salt, rs much as can be
dissolved in the water used for shaking
and reducing the lime, should be APP
piled, and the whole mass carefully
strained and thickened with "a small
quantity of sand, the purer and finer the
better. A few pounds Of wheat -four
mixed as paste may be added, and will
give greater durability to the mass, es-
pecially when applied to the exterior
surface of buildings. With pure lime,
properly slaked and mixed with twice its
weight of fine and sifted wood ashes, in
equal proportions, almost any color may
be made by the addition of pigments
Granite, slate, freestone and other shades
may be initiated, and without any detri-
ment to the durability of the wash. This
covering is very often applied and with
good effectto underpinning stone fences,
roofs and the walls of barns and other
outbuildings. Probably the pure white.
wash is more healthy than the colored,
as its alkalescent properties are superb
or, and when used in cellars, kitchens
and sleeping apartments, produces salu,
tary results.
No person who regards the health Of
his family should neglect to apply a coat
OF 1t every spring, Country places, eB.
pecially farm outhouses, fences, etc.
are greatly improved in appearance by
an annual coat Of good ~whitewash, and
will add to their permanency much more
than many would imagins. 1t is CHEAP
and easily applied, so that neither ex
pense nor labor can be pleaded against
it.--Germaatown Telegraph.
Garden Culture of Cranberrics.
Prepare the ground by deep blowing
or spading, and enrich it we'll in the
usual way, or with n compost Of two