Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-02-18
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
WORK FOR MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

WORK FOR MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEN
Among the varieties of apples, pears
cherries, &C., on nine farms out of every
ten, as rule, there are some the fruit Of
which does not meet the wishes of its
. ewner. This is mostly due to local
causes, impossiblein some cases to rem.
edy in any other way than by regraft.
ing; and such being the f. ct, this mon tl
is very good time to collect gratis ol
trae0 and reliable kinds for the purpose
Cut wood OF last years growth only, tie
aud mark carefully each variety, and il
sawdust is convenient pack in a box
with same, in sufficient quantity, SO that
there will be no danger of it becoming
dry before time to proceed with the ope-
ration of grating. Experience in keep
ing gratis for spring use gives this meth
cd the preference to others with us.
though, where sawdust is not easily OBJ
Etainable, the CRAFTS may be buried in
/. the earth and kept free from frost, fresh
and in good condition for use when the
proper time arrives. In grating trees
Iofthe above-named kinds offruits, when
at bearing age, it is not safe to cut offall of
the limbs at one time, as the shock thus
produced is likely to weaken and en-
danger the health of the trees. Better
graft about half of the tops the first
spring, leaving the rest remain for
| year or two afterwards. Almost any,
body can graft with fair success if they
will take proper pains, as there is no
mystery and but little art involved
The old plan of saving off the limbs,
and splitting the stumps thus remain
ing. inserting the wedged seams, con-
tanning four or five buds each, in the
split, is generally practiced, and an
swers the purpose quite well-having its
advantages and disadvantages, like all
other plans. If, however, it is not desi-
rable to resort to the splitting process"
it can be obviated by delaying the ope-
ration until the bark parts freely from
the wood, when the limbs may be sawed
off as before, pairing smoothly with
sharp knife the rough surface of the
stump, splitting the bark only for half
an inch or so, wedging the graft on one
side only for an inch and a half or two
inches. and inserting between the bark |
and wood on the principle of budding, |
wrapping securely with bass bark, or
other material to keep in place, then |
covering the entire wound with grating
wax to keep out rain and air. A few |
hours careful labor, appropriated as
above described, will be amply reward |
ed in profit and pleasure.
Pruning may be done during mild |
weather; and when we say pruning we
do not mean the wholesale cutting off |
of limbs, as is the practice with too many |
farmers when they begin the thinning |
out' process. A great many more trees |
are injured by TOO much cutting than by |
too little, but it is not the farmers alone |
who 'overdo it" in cutting; the profess
sional tree pruner. who advertises his |
business in his county paper, and with
a hand saw and a pair of shears ruins
nine tenths of the trees entrusted to his
superior (!) skill by cutting the tops
away instead of pruning, is q greater
nuisance in the orchard than either the
borer or codiing moth. If, during mild
spells of weather, you dc not deem it |
advisable to gather halfor two thirds of |
the limbs of your fruit trees on to the |
brush pile, through the advice and aid |
of your county professional" you can
proceed with any planting you may
wish to do, or which is remaining over
from last falls programme
In the fruit garden, if the canes of
blackberries and raspberries have not
yet been removed, it should be attended
to, and where the new canes are strong
and tall they should be headed in one
third of the length of canes; and in Or
der to insure q good crop of berries they
must be well manured. with either we'll
rotted stable manure or q good and liberal
dressing OF dissolved bone, to be worked
into the soil in early spring. If the |
pruning Of grape-vines is not yet at
tended to, it should have prompt atten-
tion. StrOng-growing kinds, such as |
Concord, Clinton, Wilder, &C., must not |
be cut too close, as 8 crop of fruit may
he sacrificed. Catawba, Iona, Delaware,
and other feeble growers, will bear and
be benefited by close pruning. Let
good judgment accompany the shears
and th) result will be more satisfactory. |
Aosping Cioyer iSeed.-The old fash
ioned plan of sowing on snow during |
this month, when timely one happens |
to fall, is good one. It can then be
sown with great regularity, and as the |
snow melts it is carried down into the |
crevices and cracks of the earth, which |
close up as the frost escapes and the rains
fall. If not sown in this way, it is well
to defer until all of the frost out of the
ground, and then, sowing on the wheat
and rye fields, harrow in with light
harrow. This not only covers the clo-
yer seed, but benefits the grain plants
be so much the better. The large or
sappling clover ripens later than the
more common sort, and some think it
more valuable in every respect. A gal
lon of seed to the acre is sufficient for
most soils.
Orchard Grdss.-This grass seems to
grow in popular favor wherever it is
we'll adapted to sowing with clover,
which has the effect of filling the spaces
between the stools in which it grows
unless heavy seeding is practiced. This,
with early cutting. will cause q heavy,
more even, and a finer growth. When
sown by itself, two bushels to the acre
are not too much. When with clover,
one bushel of orchard grass and to 10
lbs. of clover seed. The permanence of
an orchard grass sod is matter of sur
prise to those not familiar with it.
With any sort of decent care it is very
persistent; and this character, with its
abundant yield, it's resistance to
spirs to recommend it as one of the most
useful grass plants for this latitude.
Corn Ground.-Winter blowing is de-
sirable and effective where the temper
of q light soil can be ameliOrated by. an
admixture with sitter quality of sub
soil lying below. This admixture should
not be too violent, and the turning up
| TO any great depth of lower stratum,
| whose qualities have not been tested, is
not to be advised but by intermingling
the two gradually, say by running the
plow an inch deeper, and in spring crops
blowing and narrowing thoroughly,
will in most eases be decided advan-
tage. A dressing moderately light of
lime will be found advantageous then.
| Liye Stock-Every kind of farm stock
needs especial care at this season and
this care pays in every way. AS a
question of economy of feed, to say moth
ing of the greater comfort of the animals
and its humanity, we advocate shelter
ing for our farm stock of all kinds.
Outs. Preparations for this crop may
be begun with benefit, and it is one de-
serving greater attention than it too Of
ten gets A number of trials of winter
! cote Uere made in this State last fall and