The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-02-19
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Orchard and Garden Notes.


To renovate old orchards, and to con-
vert trees that now bear worthless fruit
into profit. In all the older States there |
are orchards that are worthless, the va
rieties, probably " "natural fruit, " were
never of any value, or il originally good |
kinds, they are, from starvation, by con-
slant cropping of the ground, and by
neglect of pruning and every other care,
now practically useless. Before attempt
ing to renovate such an orchard, it will
be we'll to consider if it will pay. In
many cases it will be cheaper to set out
a new orchard and convert the trees into
firewood.
If the trees are of good kinds, it will
be folly TO graft them over. Pruning,
scraping, and more than all, manuring,
are the needs of such an orchard, aud if
the trees are>still sound, renovation will
pay.
Sound trees of poor kinds may be
grated over, but grating will be of
little use, unless accompanied by good
culture. Merely changing the character
of the tops of the trees is not sufficient.
Renovation in all cases must begin with
the soil. A good dressing of manure,
turned under by shallow plowing, is the
one thing needful in renewing an or
chard.
As to pruning. Where large branches
are to be removed, the best time is after
the severe winter weather is over, and
before the buds swell in spring. The
limbs should always be sawed-never
chopped-off, the cut smoothed with
drawing knife, and covered with thick
paint or melted grating wax.
How and where to prune cannot be
told until one has the particular tree
before him, as each tree will need diff
ferent treatment. neglected trees
are likely to have the heads much crowd
ed, and the first need in such cases, is
thinning, taking out especially such
branches as cross and interfere with
others. Sometimes shoots have pushed
out far beyond the. rest, and need to be
be cut back; it may be that for some
cause the growth has run to one side,
and the tree is lop- sided. Only the
general direction can be given, secure
an open, we'll shaped head.
Scraping and cleansing. The best
preparation that we know of for remov
ing old bark, moss, and lichen, is good
home made soft soap, made from lye or
potash. Thin this with water, so that
it may be laid on with a whitewash or
other brush. Then, in one of those
moist, thawing times that occur late in
winter or early spring, paint over the
trunks and large limbs with the soap,
putting it on freely. The later rains
will do most of the work, but before
spring opens, it will be we'll to &c
around with the scraper-an old, short
handled hoe will answer--remove what
ever loose bark remains.
Pruning omitted last fall, should bt
attended to now as soon as the weather
will allow. Grape vines need the frs
care, and should be pruned longed be-
fore the buds begin to swell. Ourrant'
and gooseberries start early, and SHOULD
be pruned early.
Preparatory work in the way of trel
lises and other supports may be attend
/ ed to and the materials got ready. Ii
the family garden, the best support fol
! raspberries is single wire strained be
) tween two posts at the ends of the rows
and we think that the best grape-vin,
J trellis, is that with horizontal Stats fou
t feet apart, with upright wires wher,
3 needed. d.-A,uerican AgriculturiSt.