Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31


be Of another.
fRUNNG.-Large branches may be cut away
from fruit trees In mild weather. saw should
covered with paint or m melted Grating Grating wax.
| The objects in pruning an old orchard are to
| remove unhealthy branches, and to thin the
sunlight and air. In case trees have grown one
sided, they may often be brought into good
shape again by judicious pruning.
| TREE PLANTING.-The work OF selecting the
trees for planting should be done at once, that
| the nurserymen may have the orders in hand,
and I'LL them promptly. Do not buy of tree
| reputable nursery. Most of them are frauds,
| and their statement OF the value Of new and
high sounding varieties are fiction. Should the
trees be frozen when they arrive, place them in
| cool place TO thaw slowly.
THE CANKER WoRM-On mild days, the canker
| worms may make their appearance, and the
females, which are wingleSS and always crawl,
| must be prevented from ascending the tree and
depositfng their eggs. The devices for effecting
| this are numerous; they generally consist in
placing some barrier around the trunk which
l the insects can not pass. Some have cutters of
| Oil, others smooth surfaces which they can not
| travel The simplest, and as effective as any is
| stout paper smeared with tar or printers ink
| Blowing dust and dead insects will bridge them
| over in time, and to be effective, they must be
| looked TO every few days, and renewed as nee led
| The Tent Ctte1ptlId1's Eggs are deposited in
| rings on the small twigs of apple and other
| trees near their ends, and can be readily seen
on dull days; they should be cut off, taking the
end OF the twig. and burned, thus saving a
much larger amount of work later in the sea-
son.
THE FRUIT GARDEN.
/ That which has oeen said Of selecting trees,
In the "Orchard and Nursery" holds equally
| good in small fruits of the ''Fruit Garden"
ply upon new and not thoroughly tested varie-
ties. 1t is well to "take on trial. some of the
| most promising sorts, and if they succeed, There
will be basis for future increase by progaga-
ton. II INDUCED in judiciously this experiment.
| ing with the ''new things is one of the chief
pleasures of the fruit garden.
PRUNING that may have been left undone last
| fall, can be attended to now. Prune the grape
vines on the first mild day. and long before the
buds swell. The currant and gooseberry bushes
need to have last years growth shortened and
the old stems thinned out before they start to
grow Give an application of manure or ashes
between the rows.
STRAWBERRIES may be planted in localities
where the frost is out Of the ground, as may
also be done with
BLACKBERRIEs AND RAsPBERRIEs, both of which
start to grow very early, and are better If
KITCHEN AND MARKET GARDEN.
The great range Of climate our country pre-
sents is shown by the fact that while one gar
dener is looking forward for his work to COM
mence In a month or two, another is tending his
growing crops, and is thinking about markets
and transportation. Wherever he may be, the
successful gardener will be found in readiness
for the busy season when it comes with its rush
OF work. FREQUENT inspection of the stored
crops in the cellars is necessary as spring ap-
proaches to avoid loss from an excess of either
heat or cold; the pits must be inspected to see
that damage is not being done by mice.
Roofs still In the ground, as parsnips and sal
silly, should be dug as the thawing Of the soil
will permit. Such roots are improved by freez-
ing, being Kept fresh and made Sweeter. and
more tender.
COLD FRAMES need daily attention, especially
when the weather is warm, as there is danger
OF the plants starting too soon and being in
Jured or killed by the return OF severe cold. The
sashes should be removed altogether on all mild
days.
VEGETABLE PLANTs.-There are so many per-
sons who had rather buy the plants needed for the
vegetable garden, that the few who desire to OBJ
tain reputation for always having good sup
ply can make the growing of them source of
considerable income. To such this is sugges-
ton in season.
THERE is 70 MYSTERY about hot-bed, yet
farmers, and many others, do without this con-
venehce, from some supposed difficulty in
making and caring for 1t. Sashes, few boards
and some horse manure, are the materials re-
quired. Regular hot-bed shashes are by feet
and may be bought ready glazed at the sash and
blind factories; old window sashes will answer
as make-shift, but are far less convenient. Sc
lect place sheltered by building or fence from
cold winds; dig pit 21l feet Deep as wide as the
sashes are long, and as long as the number of
sashes TO be used require. Line this pit with
rough boards nailed to posts driven down at the
corners The rear board should extend foot
above the surface, and the front one inches
above. The front or lower side should face the
SOUTH Nail strips from front TO rear for the
SasheS to slide upon.
HEATING MATERIAL-Put In the bottom of the
pit layer OF inches of leaves, or corn litter;
then put Oh Stabie-manure, which should have
been turned once or twice, TO bring 1t to a state
OF uniform heat. Put on the manure evenly
and tramp ii down: the manure should come TO
within SIX inches OF the top of the pit; upon
this is TO be placed six inches OF fine, light SOIL
and the seeds SOWn in that, or preferably put on
two inches or SO OF common earth on Which to
set the boxes in which seeds are sown. Put on
II q, he maj hnrrins tn,
heat. test it with a thermometer; when the heat
Is declining from 1O0o, seed may be SOwn In the
sill, or the boxes in which they have been al
ready s0wn should be placed il upon the surf ice
OF the hot-bed.
WHEN THE PLANTS ARE Ur, give them air
every day by lifting the saSheS at the rear, not
Jorge; ting 10 smut down the SaSheS at night: give
water as needed
BOXES IN WINDOWS is an excellent way OF
starting plants for early setting, though it
must necessarily be on small scale Fora Small
garden good supply may thus be procured. In
sowing the seed avoid putting them In too deep
half-inch Is ample for all. and less depth is
better for the small seed. Press the soil closely
around the seed.
VARIETIES TO Sow.-The irstplants to 90 into
open ground are: Cabbage. Caulfiower. and Let
tuce. For early cabbage, Jersey Wakefield" is
the leading variety. seconded by early York"
and second early is ''WinningStadt," for gene
raj use. OF cauliiower, the Early Erfurt7 is
standard; and the Tennis Ball" and Boston
Market are the fayorte leading market sorts Of
early lettuce.
1APLEMENTS.-The time spent In repairing and
painting tools is always we'll employed, at the
same time one can take an inventory OF stock
and see what is needed for the coming season.
A seed-sower should be in USE even In garden
o. moderate extent and now * the ti'aa "a o.
that and other implements. In fact, there is
much work during this month that comes under
the head of
GETTING READY.-Bean poles may be wanted
and there Is no better time than now to haul
them from the woods TO a convenient place near
where they are to be used. and the brush for
peas should be procured before the leaves start.
The man who so plans that his season OF work
extends through the whole year rather than
Just few months when the crops are growing
is the wise and successful one.
FLOWER GARDEN AND LAWN.
There is not much work outside during the
winter months. When heavy SHOWS conc and
they often do in February-the evergreenS must
be looked to, and the snow removed While ii Is
fresh, and before II bends down and breaks the
limbs. II the snow is ep 1t Will be ne:a5s Try
10 shovel II away from the lower branches OF
eVergreenS. II manure has not been SprHl1
upon the lawn 1t can be done now, but il should
be well rottcd and entirely free from weed seeds.
Make all the plans for new paths, drives, flower
BEDS etc, and II these are 10 be OF much extent,
draw up plan ormap OF the grounds as guide
In the work. CannaS and other large ROOTS
st red in the cellar will need attention, and all
decaying parts removed The seeds for choice
ANIMALS should be selected, and for early growth
may be started In window boxes, as noted for
vegetable seeds under the Kitchen Garden.