The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-06-19
Orchard and Nursery.

PRUNING-The cessation of the pressing work
of earlier weeks allows the Orchardist to give his
trees the needed pruning. All dead and useless
branches should of course be cut away, and
those which crowd one another. Cover all large
wounds with shellac varnish, or with paint.
THISNrNG.-The sooner this is done after the
fruit is SET the better. Two-thrds or one-half
of the quantity set may often be removed with
advantage.
MULcHISG.-Apply around young trees almost
any substance that will cover the soil and shield
it from the drying rays of the sun, aud from the
evaporation of moisture.
THE BoRERs of the peach and apple tree should
be looked to. No surface remedy is of use with
these destructive fellows after they are once in
the tree. The use of the knife and probe is the
effectual means of reaching and destroying them.
They can be detected by their Gear marks" of
dust and depression in the bark Il is not nee
essary to girdle the tree in the operation; in
many cases very little Of the knife is required.
A few hours spent in this manner will often save
many valuable trees.
CURRANTs AND GOosEBERRIEs.-Mulch these
early in the season; litter from the barn-yard or
chips from the woodpile may be used. This
will prolong the season. II the eggs of the "cur-
rant worm,s which are deposited on the under
side of the lower leaves, were found and des-
troyed, there would be an end to the trouble at
once, lint this is not easy to do, and the light
begins, or should begin, as soon as the ragged
appearance OF the leaVes SHOW tuab INC Wotus
are at work. White hellebore is the remedy,
and while it may be busted upon the bushes,
It is better TO mix it with water, q tablespoon
ful to q pailful of water, and applied with q
syringe pump. In mixing the hellebore, place
the powder in o bowl or other dish and pour
on bot water gradually, stirring until it is
thoroughly moistened, adding pint or more
of hot water; pour this into the pail and fill mp
with cold water. The application should be
repeated every few days so long as the worms
appear. In our experience, we find that three
applications usually finish them.
THE TENT CATERPILLAR taken ut inst the
right time, and that time is in this month, can
be destroyed with comparative ease. As soon
as the nests are large enough to be seen, they
should be wiped out of existence" On q cool
morning, before the greedy "worms" are out
for their breakfast, and while the dew is glis
teniug on the nests, is the most favorable tim,
to take them. The lower nests may he reached
by the hands, and the upper ones by poll
with o swab of cloth or n brush. A wash o
strong I've is an etteptual bath fot them, but it il
best to see that they are burned or crushed.
BLACKBERRIEs AND RAsPBERRIEs-See tina
the fruiting canes are properly tied up to thu
stakes or trellis. The young shoots now grow
ing will form canes for next years fruiting
and should be attended to. Cut away all excep
three to five to each stool, and tie these to til,
support as soon as old enough. The yOnni
canes should be pinched off at four feet TO
raspberries and six feet for blackberries. Gu
away the old canes after fruiting is past.