Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-28
1anlaster fntelIiqenrer.
LOOK to Last Years Crafts.

Farm and Garden.
LOOK to Last Years Crafts.
Germantown Telegraph.
Now is tho time to examine the gratis
set last year. In many cases it will be
found that the stocks, by the growing Of
the gratis, have split open, exposing the
inner wood, and admitting air and water.
This should at once be tied tightly with
strong twine, and surrounded with fresh
wax, removing any hard substance that
may have got into the split. This will
frequently repair the mischief, otherwise
the work will always be an eyesore and
the parts never become firmly attached
and make good connection, and of course
q perfect union.
Frequently double the number of scions
are set the stock will we'll sustain. These
should be carefully gone over and the ex.
cess removed. Unless the stock is stout
say from three to six inches in diameter
not more than two gratis should be left,
and they should be as nearly as possible
opposite to each other. When the growth
has been rapid the graft should be pruned.
This will of course increase the number of
branches and give the tree moro compact
form.
Growing Cantal0upoS.
A great many farmers still think there
is a mystery in growing this best of all
fruits. In previous years We did great
deal in these cOlums to remove the idea,
and in teaching them the way by which
rs good melons can be grown here in
Pennsylvania as anywhere elso, SO far as
supplying the domestic consumption. In
foot l,.uo ,roico1 Ioftor FOL 1o,v,,oo
upon our own premises than we ever pur-
chased in the Philadelphia market, and
of a far larger size. They require more
labor here, of course, in our comparatively
solid soil than in New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland, &C.. but for home use this is
not to be considered.
The hills should be dug ont foot and
filed with short barnyard manure, soil
and sand, or turnpike dirt in place of sand
Plant five or six seeds in hill about an
inch below the surface at equal distance,
and when the plant is three or four inches
long remove all but two or three. Just
before the vines begin to run give the bed
a thorough hoeing, and if convenient
though it is not indispensablc-scatte
over the bed q coat of turnpike dirt or
sand. After the vines have commenced
to run they should never be disturbed
otherwise the rOOtlets which attach them.
selves to the soil rs the vine grows, and
on which both vine aud fruit depend
mainly for their sustenance, will lose a
large proportion of this support, and
hence will not produce as large melons Or
of SO good a quality.
We prefer level culture, for the reason
that the soil will not dry out SO readily as
when the hilling system is followed. II
wet seasons hilling is best but thu
chances are in favor of rather dry weather
in June, July and August.
Tree Planting
This is a subject that cannot be too Otter
REQUIRED to as the season comes when the
work should be done. Owing to the back
wardness of the present season, tree plant
ing may be done yet for a week or two
Spring has its advantages over the fall foI
this work, though fall also possesses itl
tends spring planting but the hurry ol
work is SO much greater than in the fall
that it is sometimes overlooked, while fall
admits of more leisure. For transplantiDl
large trees the fall is always preferred ant
the transfer should be made as soon as tn,
tree for the season is done growing which j:
ASSAuAy oCSh ViiO OuAutuS Va VAO AC6SCO
In the fall, especially, the::trees should b'
firmly staked to prevent them from being
disturbed and admitting down the stem :
surplus of water. This security can b,
assisted by hilling- up the soil around thu
stem. thus turning off the water, In tn,
spring this can be removed and little
basin formed to catch the rains through
the heated term. BY setting trees out
early in the fall it gives the roots chance
to take some hold and establish themselves
SO that when the spring opens the tree car
goright on growing.
In setting trees at any time, a large hole
should be dug, the soil at the bottom
lOosened, and the roots spread out CAREFUL!
with the hand as nearly in the way they
naturally grew as possible. If the roots
are very long and numerous they should
be pruned, and at the same time the tol
of the tree should also DO pruned t.
somewhat more than the same extent
Frequently the roots are broken off and
bruised in lifting, and when this is the
case the injured portions should be cut of
and the top also correspondingly. Mulch
ing should he applied the first season,
being changed two or thee times, and al
each time, or Oftener, the ground around
the tree should be carefully stirred Al
newly transplanted trees should be stake(
and to do this properly two stakes shoul,
be used, standing them at an angle lik
the letter A, and the stem SO protected a
f..I Inn oh l<A c,,h1>ol