The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-05
FARM. GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Selecting and Transplnntlns Trees.

Selecting and TransplnntlnR Trees.
A Pennsylvania nurseryman tells us
that the German element of the popula-
tion in parts of his State will, as rule,
have nothing in the tree line unless it is
large, and this partiality for overgrown
stock is of great advantage to the deal
ers, who would be forced to destroy an
nually many hundreds of just such
specimens we're it not for this demand.
Believing that they thus get the most
for their money, they are really obtain
ing the least, as young, thrifty trees,
with smooth bright bark, and straight
leading shoots, will give bearing or.
chard in advance of the overgrown ones.
Young trees with forked tops will be
the first to split during hard storms,
therefore no matter how handsome in
other respects, always avoid this defect.
Before setting examine we'll at the base
of the trunk where the roots emanate;
should any "borers" be found. out with
them, so that the tree may start fair.
As health in any case is preferable to
show, the young tree with long shoots,
Indicating conclusively the evil effects
of strong stimulants, is much inferior to
one with short, well-ripened branches.
OF course it is hardly practicable to
attempt to save all the rootlets at Dig
giDg time, but it is quite possible to
follow each large root very near to its
end. If planters would only consider
the uses of roots there would be much
fewer instances OF mutilation, and con-
sequent ill.success in orcharding. Occa-
sionally, however, roots will get bruised
in digging, and then the bruised portion
must be cut away .moothly. In setting
the tree never jam the roots into little
hole insufficient to hold them in a natur.
al position, but insist on having every
little rootlet as near as may be just as it
grew. AS to depth, better plant too
shallow than 90 to the other extreme,
as in the former case there is small dan
ger of injury, especially if protected by
mulching.
Few things are 80 important as firm
ing the soil around newly-planted trees;
a neglect here is principal cause of SO
many vacant spaces in young orchards.
If pressed down as solid as possible, the
soil will retain moisture far greater
length of time than if merely thrown
loosely into the hole, promote an early
start of the rootlets and small 6bers,
and prevent loss which would follow
cessation of growth.
Something plausible is said on both
sides of the question Of pruning trees at
the time of transplanting; but the weight
of argument seems to favor reasonable
shortening in. As a generally accepted
rule, trees seldom make much growth
the first season after removal, and if the
roots have not worked properly in their
new home, the consequence will be small
yellow foliage. Now if portion of the
shoots are cut away in advance, the top
will usually present better appearance
at the close of the first year. Pruning
will cause accelerated growth, whether
the tree has been moved or not, hence
it's importance when other agents are at
work to retard growth. Some orchard
lists prune too much; others not at all.
The happy medium brings best results.
Mulching rarely receives attention
except from those whose long experience
has clearly indicated the necessity of
preserving the roots at a regular medium
temperature, avoiding alike excess of
drought aud moisture. The necessity
for it is equal-winter and summer-in
winter to guard against sudden extremes
of temperature; in summer, as protec.
tion from hot sun. Be careful not to
bury the roots in a mulch several inches
deep, as this would certainly injure the
tree, and instances are known of speci-
mems killed outright - victims of too
much kindness. The material (Which
may be anything light. open and porous)
should extend, in o newly-planted tree.
as far as the roots spread instead OF
being heaped close around the stem.-
New York Tribune.
Household Hints.
When a drying rack is used dishes
should not be wiped.
Fine china should never be put into
hot water, as it spoils the enamel.
Cool rain water and soda will remove
machine grease from washable fabrics.
Tortoise she'll and horn combs last
much longer for having oil rubbed into
them once in awhile.
A tablespoonful of ammonia in one
gallon OF warm water will restore the
color OF carpets.
A polish for black walnut may be
made of quarter of pint OF raw llnseed
oil, one tablespoonful of muriatic acid,
and little vinegar.
When ivory.handled knives turn vel.
low, rub them with nice sand-paper, or
emery it will take off all the spots and
restore the whitcness.
Do not have flannel or wooden dish
rags, as they retain the grease, and 80
keep putting it on instead of taking it
off. Old towels are the best for this
purpose, and they should be washed
and boiled as regularly as the napkins
and towels themselves.
Do not sweep carpets any oftener than
is absolutely necessary. After dinner
sweep the crumbs into dusting.pan
with your hearth brush and, if you
have been sewing, pick up the shreds
by hand. A carpet can be kept very
neat in this way and a broom wears it
very much.
1t is q good plan to put new earthen.
ware into cold water and let it heat
gradually until it h lis ; then cool again.
Brown earthenwara in particular may
be toughened il this way. A handful
of rye or wheat bran thrown in while it is
boiling will preserve the glazing 80 that
it will not he destroyed by acid or
salt.
The lest way to clean. wash leather
gloves is to wash them with nearly cold
soap and water on the hands, and rinse
we'll. When hall dry, stretch them and
pull them till they become quite SOFT;
they require constant attention from the
commencement of the washing until
they are dry.
AS far as it is possible, have bits OF
bread eaten up before they become hard.
Spread those that are not eaten, and let
them dry, to be pounded for puddings.
or soaked for brewis. Brewis is made OF
crusts and dry pieces of bread, soaked q
good while in hot milk, mashed, salted
and buttered like toast. Above all, do
not let crusts accumulate in such quanti-