The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-02
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Grain In Orchards,

FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Grain in Orchards,
In q recent issue of your paper ]
notice an article in which the writer is
desirous of becoming familiar with the
project as to whether sowing small
grain (oats) in an orchard would prove
satisfactory. I think not, should he be
dealt with similarly to myself. Though
the raising OF such had only once been
engaged in, and it's proving by far con-
trary to my expectations, I unhesitat.
ingly abandoned the idea of raising
small grain in an orchard of any age in
the future. I now take pleasure in
giving my experience to young farmers
and any others of your numerous read
ers. -
In the spring of 1876, having an e1-
tensive and superior selection of choice
fruit trees, variously mixed, I concluded
the trees being widely set apart and
planted in virgin soil) to experiment in
raising oats. As the ground needed
cultivation, I though the oats would be
beneficial instead Of injurious. Sowed
them in March, and gave the matter but
little attention until June 1st, when, to
my surprise and dissatisfaction, I OBJ
served the trees were very scaly, bark
dry and in places scorched-caused, as
T thought then and know now, by the
reflection of heat or rays of the sun.
The straw was fast maturing, and capa-
BILE of reflection. But my neighbors
frequently persisted in causing me to
believe otherwise, but of no avail. I
afterward confirmed my belief. Becom-
ing dissatisfied at the turn things were
taking, had the oats harvested. But
it was no Improvement, for the stubbs
seemed as forcible in returning heat as
did their better hslf. Finding there
was no chance of saving them except by
hard work and diligent nursing, re-
solved to adopt the two latter methods,
thereby saving more than half of my
trees.
"Young Farmer" will observe by the
foregoing that the oats paid dear for
themselves, and were worthless. If he
should still feel inclined to raise q crop
in his orchard, l would suggest the
raising of corn or potatoes, or other
crops with green foliage.-M 4. &ieS,
in Rural World.
Household Hints.
Clean oil.cloth with milk and water; a
brush and soap will ruin it.
Tumblers that have had milk in them
should never be put in hot water.
A small piece Of charcoal in the pot
with boiling cabbage removes the SMELL
Musty bottles or jars may be sweet
ened with lye or dissolved soda. Let
either remain in them a short time,
then dry and scald out. Salt will keep
off must, if placed in jars or bottles.
A tablespoonful Of black pepper put
into the first water in which gray and
buff linens are washed will keep them
from spotting. There is no objection to
it, and it softens the water like soda.
In damp weather, fiat irons, unless
kept on the stove, are apt to gather
moisture, get rough, and sometimes
rusty: and it is not well to keep them
hot all the time, for a good many
reasons-they are liable to get knocked
off and broken, and after a. while not
retain the heat as we'll, and they are in
the way. If you occasionally rub the
smooth surface with 6 bit of beeswa1,
and then rub on a piece of cloth, they
will always keep bright and smooth. If
they do ever happen to get wet, and 30
rust, lay little fine salt upon smooth
board and rub them over it quickly
while hot.
Fowls in Orchards.
Last fall We visited an orchard in
which fowls were kept, the owner OF
which told US that before the fowls we're
confined in it the trees made little or no
growth, and only corresponding
amount OF fruit was obtained. But
what a change was evident nowl The
grass was kept down, the weeds killed,
and the trees presented an appearance
of thrift which the most enthusiastic
horticulturist could not but admire and
envy. The growth of the trees was
most vigorous and the foliage remarka-
bly, luxuriant; the fruit WAS abundant,
of large size, and free from worms and
other imperfections. The excellence
was accounted for by the proprietor,
who remarked that the "hens ate all the
worms and curculio in their reach, even
the canker-worm. He fonnd less
trouble with their roosting in trees than
he expected, and that picket fence six
feet high kept them within bounds. His
orchard was divided into three sections,
and the fowls were changed from one to
another, as the condition of the fowls or
the orchard-sections seemed to require.
Poultry World.
Pruning Trees.
Set q green hand to prune trees where
limbs OF any size are to be removed, and
the chances are, ten to one, that he will
commence at the top and saw through
the limb until it falls of it's own weight,
tearing down the bark and wood, in
hicting great, ugly wound, which may
require years to heal, and which, if not
carefully protected from the weather,
will cause such decay as to destroy the
tree. The method commonly recon-.
mended to prevent injury is, to begin at
the bottom and cut half way through,
and then finish at the top or with very
large limbs, to have them supported by
crotched pole or pitchfork held by an
assistant below; but we have found a
better plan, and quite as easy, to be to
make two cuts, the first at a convenient
distance, say a foot, from the point
where we wish the limb removed. This
short stump can, except in the case OF
very large limbs, be easily held in one
hand, while the final cut is made with
the other. r.-Fruit Recorder.
nI.a n,n. nu ON Lrfinln Of Eaad