Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03


food, such as corn, In any shape; but bran, oil
cake meal, and oatmeal in cruel, VIII be health
full and nourtshing for the eve and the lamb. In
stormy weather the eve and lamb may be kept
under cover, but in fine, sunny days, they may
run in dry yard; but not with other sheep.
Early lambs for market should be pushed ahead
as fast as may be safe
PIGs.-Store pigs will thrive well on roots with
a slop OF bran, sour milk and water. supply
OF roots on hand Will greatly reduce the cost OF
feeding store pigs. Trntps that cannot well be
pigs warm dry bed.
LICE.-The irritation Of lice keeps young ami
mails poor and miserable. TO rid them Of these
pests, brush the skin all over thoroughly with a
brush dipped In a mixture OF linSeed-oil and
kerosene, shaking the excess OF oil out before
using the brush. Work the greese down to the
skin; II this is perseyered In the lice will soon
disappear
PoULTRY.-Hens and early pullets will now
be laying freely. They should be encouraged by
giving them warm food. Baked small potatoes
taken direct from the oven, and hot, are much
reliShed by the fowls; Scalded corn-meal corn or
wheat parched In the oven, crusts OF bread or
with some stimulating condiment, like Cayenne
pepper, vii! be found to add greatly to the store
OF eggs all through the stormiest weather. but
the fowls must lave cry. warm, clean, shell
tered place to rooSt and lay In.
Reject in supply OF ice as early as posi-
bic. A stock in the house is worth two in the
pond. supply has often been missed by wait
ing one day too long. When ice is or s inches
".
ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
AN OLD ORCHARD is as unproductive as it is
unsightly, and to one who really loves a tree,
many OF the orchards one sees In going about
the older portions of the country. Y. present mel
ancholy examples Of cruelty to trees" The
cause of the present condition Of these trees is,
partially neglect; mainly robbery. The trees
could hardly been brought to their present con-
dition had not the land for these many years
been made to bear two crops. The act of plant
ing an orchard Is promise that thatrees should
no fn1 fi.,rt tI,or,N
have had yearly crop Of grain or hay taken
away from their land, except on those where the
grass has been taken away by the animals pas
tured in the orchard. No question is more fire.
quently asked us than
How TO RENovATE AN OLD ORCHARD?-There
is previous question" in this case-''is the
orchard worth renovating?" should be first con-
sldered. This can not be properly decided by
one who has not seen the trees. When trees are
very old and badly decayed, with trunks and
larger branches more or less hollow, it is not
worth while to eXpend labor upon them; the
Wood-pile needs them. But If merely badly
shaped, and, though sound, are unfruitful, 1t
will generally be profitable investment to re-
store them. The
WHAT TO Do, will vary with circumstances.
Often putting down few rows OF drain tiles,
with the necessary pruning, will be all that is
needed to overcome the original mistake OF the
planter, who set his trees on land not good
enough for the usual farm crops. Many OF the
bad orchards never could have been good with
any aboveground care. If the soil was good,
u.
great want is food; supply it by
MATURING THE SoL--Such orchards general
ly are in grass. Spread heavy coat of manure
over the whole surface, and turn over the sod in
the spring. When the sod has decayed, then give
a deep blowing, and spread ashes If theycan be
obtained, or good dressing of lime, and har-
row. Thus far we have attended to the roots.
The abOve-ground portions need care The
trunk and larger branches are usually covered
by scales of old bark. growing upon which are
moses and lichens, and hidden beneath them
the eggs and chry salidS of insects.
SCRAPING THE BARK with Short-handled hoe
Will remove portion, but to make complete
job, use strong homemade soft soap, made IRON
ley or potash Thin this with enough water to
apply readily to the bark, and leave the rain to
do the rest. Do this work of scraping etc., early
IL the spring.
PRUNING will generally if not always. be
needed. How, and how much, will depend upon
the state of each tree. EndeavOr to open the
tree TO let in light and air all through 1t, and
also to bring the head to well balanced shape
II may require the removal of some large
branches and the shortening back of others.
This may be done at the end Of winter; cover all
large wounds with some dark-colored paint II
large ragged wounds have been made by the
use OF drawing knife or stout chisel, to make a
clean, smooth wound and paint it. We have as
sumed that the variety Of fruits is good. If the
tree Is sound, but of worthless variety, renew
it by grating.
PLANTING ORCHARDS. - One concentrating
planting an orchard, should first determine to
do well by the trees by giving them the first and
kept is bad investment. Next, use great h care
in selecting the varieties Of fruit. Do not make
too long list.
VARIETIES OF ApPLEs.-A dozen varieties is
ample, and may be thus divided: two early.
four autumn, and six winter kinds. OF course
the number In each division will be governed
somewhat by individual taste, and whether the
difficult to give list Of varieties that Will suit
all persons and all localities. The following may
be OF some aid to those about to make a selec-
ton. Early-Red Astrachan, Early Harvest
Golden Sweet, Williams Favorite Autumn
Gravenstein, Porter, MaidenS Blush Duchess of
Oldenburg. Winter-Rhode Island Greening,
Red Canada, Golden Russet, Ben Davis, North
VARIETIES OF PEARs.-For orchard planting,
the list may be: For Early-Doyenne d'Ete
Manning's Elizabeth. Summer-Bartlett,C lapp's
Favorite, Beurre Giffard. Autumn-Beurre
Hardy, Doyenne Boussock, Seckel, Duchesse
d'ADgculeme, Belle Lucrative. Winter-Wfnter
Nelis. Lawrence, Vicar OF WINFIELD, Dana's
Hoyey.
PEACHEs.-In every peach region. the selec-
lions for market vary with each locality. The
following is a good selection for home use: Early
York, Early Crawford, Old Nixon Free and
CHERRIEs.-Early Richmond, Black Tartarian.
Goes Transparent. are the leading varieties
OUNCES are often put in some out of the way.
spite of ii; they should Have as good soil and
culture as any fruit, and when thus treated, few
fruits are more profitable. The old apple Or
orange ounce is best known, and good. Rea's
Seeding is very line, and new Connecticut
variety, Champion, gives high promise.
PuRCHAsING.-By all means purchase of re-
liable nurserymen, that you may be sure of good
stock, and trees true to name. Other things
being equal, it is best to buy as near home as
possible, as there Is less danger of injury in
transportation.
INsECTs.-The clusters of eggs OF the tent cat
erplllar are most conspicuous now. and should
be found and destroyed. They are always glued
in a band near the ends OF the small twigS and
are best seen in dull weather.
PRoTECTIoN.-YOung trees must be secured
against the attacks or rabbits by smearing The
trunks with blood, Or by placing common laths
around the trunk, and fastening them in place
WIN wire. In deep SHOWS, mice may work be-
meath the surface, and gnaw the bark-to pre-
vent This, tread the snow down firmly about
the trunk.
MANURE may be drawn out and spread in the
orchard at any time. When the snow is on the
ground sled can be used with advantage be-
ing lower than a wagon, and passing more
easily under the trees.
THE FRUIT GARDEN.
FOR the benefit Of the new readers, 1t NAV be
SAID that under the "Fruit Garden" we include
what are generally known as small fruitS-the
various berries, grapes, dwarf pears, etc. The
NUT garden ought TO be reality on every farm
large or small, for the enjoyment 1t gives and
the health, and even profit which it brings when
well cared f0r-glving succession OF delicious
fruits from the time Strawberries come until the
late grapes are gone. II Is an unpleasant fact
that the fruit garden is much neglected on many
farms with the good resolutions OF the new
year, we hope that many Will resolve TO set
apart portion OF ground to be devoted TO the
culture OF small fruits.