Connecticut western news., 1879-12-03
FARM AND GARDEN.
ORCHARD AND GARDEN WORK

This month completes the circle of the year; we leave of, much as we be- gun, with looking fo1 ward. Every gar dener, as we'll as every farmer, works with full faith in the return of " seed time and harvest" These always come, but if their coming is somewhat different from the manner in which the experience of previous years have taught us to look for, we call it a remarkable or unusual season, and forgetting that the great promise has never yet failed, we are too apt to grumble if it is not fulfilled as we would have it. The autumn has indeed been an unusual, but thus far altogether favorable one. The evils. of the de- parture from the average season are mainly possible, and may yet be averted, while the benefits have been numerous. He must be poor gardener who has not, in the sunny days of October and part of November, greatly lessened the amount of work to be done at the open ing of spring. The few snow furries, and the reports of heavy snows at the north and west, remind us that the warm weather, and with it the outdoor work, is now (the fourth week of Mo- vember) well-nigh at an end, and no doubt this will be read at the cheerful ireside. The long-looked for oppor- tunity has come.
 We have promised that we would look up this, and read about that, and now the promise to do these 'when we had time" can be kept. There is time which may be made most precious by reading, refecting and planning. There is scarce ly special culture, whether of farm or garden crops, but has one or more treatises devoted to it, while general works, and those which discuss the principles which underlie all culture, are many. There are books and books, but 1t is rare, indeed, that at the pres ent day book is not worth all it costs, if not in direct teachings, at least in the suggestions it imparts and the thoughts 1t awakens. Books giving the thoughts and the experience of others are most useful companions; there are other books which should be made our companions blank books in which to record our own experiences, especially those which may be expressed in dollars and cents. A book for accounts and business mem- oranda is of no less value to the gar dener and orchardist than to the farmer, as the details are far more numerous and burden the mind. If such book has not heretofore been kept, make a beginning at once.
 ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
 Apples are short crop, and it is all the more important for those who are so fortunate as to have them, to keep them properly. The cellars, if separate from the house, should be of temperature just above freezing, and need not be ventilated. Those under dwellings must be so constructed that the gases rising from the ripening fruit may pass away, otherwise they will rise into the rooms above and endanger the health of the in- mates.
 Fences and gates should be kept in good order and there is no better time for making gates, and posts, etc., in the shop than during the winter.
 Cions are better if cut before they have been exposed to hard freezing. Se lect the most vigorous and well-ripened shoots and tie in bundles, label, and pack in fresh sawdust, or sand, if that cannot be had, and keep in the cellar.
 MANUREs.-The application of manure | to the orchard is too often neglected Use we'll routed stable manure. It may be drawn on nt any time during the winter, most easily when the ground ii frozen. When spread, it should covel the whole ground, and not be heapet just about the trunks of the trees, where there are no small roots.
 PRUNING of small branches may bt done at any time when the weather i pleasant. A very little time spent ol young trees will bring them into goot shape aud determine their future form.
 SEEDS of fruit and of many orna mental trees arc best kept in damp sand or sardy soil, and should be in plac' so cool that they cannot germinate.- American Agriou!turist for December