Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-06-17
SeasonabIe Orchard Hints.

ne taSs iDinNlLb OF tGb orchard mas
by this time been done, even in the
colder am more elevated portions CT
California, AID unless irrigation be
needed there is Only some cultivation
required hereafter. The exact method
of handling al orchard in this climate
depends So much upon soil and location
that no exact Iuie cun DC laid down.
Though apple, pear aid ounce trees
will for some years 30 pretty well With
grass, clover, OK alfalfa about their
roots, and forming g close mat over the
surface III Wei! waiarec}, yet The rule
of most general application here is
"clean culture AID no crops between
rows Occasionally on rich soil in
which trees run too much TO wood,
cropping is allowable, but if there is
the slightest reason to fear slower
growth in consequence, not beet nor
corpstalh, nor beau-vine should he
grown within the boundaries Of the
orchard. IS children insufliciently fed,
and kept at too hard work IN their grow
ing years are smaller aud weaker than
they were meant to he, even so the fruit
trees badly nourished during the first
low yea = ukC ACNCh acAc Nv III dSo "a
fine fruit. nor as much of it, as they
might otherwise have done.
Part Of the work of curly May in the
orchard is to go along the rows and rub
Off surplus buds just sprouting where
no limbs are desired, and also the Wa
ter sprouts around the trunk and base
of the tree. 4 moments attention to
this matter now will save much work
hereafter, and avoid unsightly scars
left by pruning. Superiuous or mis-
placed shoots, which must ultimately
be removed, are much better pinched
out now. Next to fruit-beariug the
most exhaustive thing tree does is to
form woodfber and it muat be saved
this waste as much as possible. By
pinching or rubbing eff misplaced
bud the sap is directed into other more
useful channels.
The slaughter of weeds in each cor
ner and angle should continue merci
lessly. The type of prevailing weed
changes in an orchard, or in an entire
neighborhood. First, it may be NAL
lows each spring for miles, then red-tOp
then pig-weed, then knot grass. wild
morring-glOries, or some other very
ntrocious weed-evil. Hence the course
of treatment must vary. AS fast as
one weed is measurably rooted SO that
it merely fingers in obscure corners,
another species long unnoticed. Comes
to the front. Perhaps, too, one seasor
is more favorable than another to q
given species. If any weed seems to
hold its own or gain nuder the or linary
orchard-culture, the farmer should lose
no time in trying new plans and more
persistent attacks.
In the warmer parts # California il
is time for fruit-thiIninc. Peaches
apricots, plums, and nearly every Other
fruit are at times OverorOwded, causing
the product to De poor aud unmarked
able. In many sections such warning
is not needed this year at least AS the
frost has already shortened the croE
from one-half to two-thirds. There il
also complaint that the fruit is falling
badly this year owing to climatic inha.
ences. Apricot-growers speak of this
as great drawback some seasons. The
blight on the pears does not seem to be
as bad asst was last year.
In many apple and pear orchards the
rsvages OF the codling moth have been
so enormous that whole communities
are being aroused to the emergency.
This is the season for immediate and
energetic action. Scrape the bark, use
q destructive wash and apply the cloth
or paper bandages or traps. The ex-
pense is small and the profit exceedingly
great. Mathew Cooke of Sacramento
is the duly elected officer Of the horti-
culturists of the State, to urge this
work upon the farmers and to help them
with advice and Investigation, in all
raids upon the insect enemies of or
chsrd. garden and vineyard.
Some attention must be paid to the
grapevines. On trellises tho shoots
need securing to their supports. In
win yards the surplus young wood
must be thinned out. The plants are
to be sulphured we'll by means of q
hand bellows.
This is good season for planting ont
the semi.tropic fruits. the soil being
warm and kindly. Oranges, lemons,
lines, citrons aud also the mango
wampee, banana, pineapple, coffee and
every sort of ornamental plant which
needs tropic air and soil thrives best il
transplanted either this or next month.
Eaas.-With good-lsying breed Of
fowls eggs can be had plentifully in
autumn and winter, as we'll as spring
and summer. Vegetables in variety
should be supplied in abundance al
every meal. They are cheaper and
more wholesome than so much salt
meat. as is usually found on farmers
tables; and those men psrtaking freely
Of them are as strong and enduring in
all outdoor work as others consuming