The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-19
When to Plant Fruit Trees.


Fruit trees may be planted with success
either in the fall or spring. We have had no
difficulty in planting at either season of the
year. We think that generally the farmer
has more time in the fall than in the spring
but it is not best to move the trees till about
the first of November, and they should be
denuded of leaves before moving. The next
important operation is digging the holes.
Too many dig them a good deal like post
holes. removing the smallest amount of dirt
possible and then crowding in the roots.
Should the trees die under such treatment,
as they may be expected to do, the blame is
placed anywhere but where it belongs. The
holes should be made so as to receive the
roots in the same form and order as they
grew before being transplanted, and if
anything a little deeper. The center of the
pit where the tree rests should be higher
than the sides-a little soil thrown and
made into the form of mound: then raise
the roots, and grasping the stem of the tree
and the roots gathered around it in one
hand, have your attendant throw in the
earth while you let the roots down into the
soil in the position in which they originally
grew. Continue this till the roots are all
disposed of, then press the soil down firmly
round them, leaving the earth around the
roots little higher than you intend to have
it remain. This will settle so that in the
spring you may have little to remove 1
you have loan from the bottom of an old
stone fence, it is best to use it in immediate
contact with the roots. We have always
found that little extra labor expended in
planting meets with its reward in the thrifty
manner in which the trees grow and the
greater certainty of their living. The same
rules of setting out will apply, whether the
work is performed in the fall or spring.
There is no place on the farm where extra
work pays better than in setting out trees.
The above directions are applicable in set
ting out currant bushes, and particularly in
handling the roots, and always avoid setting
them too near wall. Have them in open
ground where you can work around them.
Currants do best in rather moist ground !;
apples and pears on a clay subsoil. There
are few kinds which succeed well on light,
sandy lands. bnt these as a general thing,
are summer and fall INSTRUMENTATION
Cultivator.
Washing Sheep.
The custom of washing sheep before
shearing is an English one. Its continuance
here is partly due to the fact that so many
of our manufacturers, or the overseers in
our mills, have come from England; but the
principal reason why the custom is retained
is, that the buyers of wool can, or think
much better when washed. Whether from
custom, prejudice, or sound practical rea-
sons, the majority of manufacturers are I'M
doubleday opposed to the abolition of the
custom OF washing sheep preparatory
to shearing. On the other hand, vast
majority of the wool-growers of the country
would unquestionably prefer to have the
custom of washing abolished. Their senti-
ments upon this point were very distinctly
brought out at the famous Syracuse convent
ion, the largest and most important assemb-
ly of growers and manufacturers ever
brought together in this country. The I'M
contradicted testimony offered by the
growers there was to the following effect:
The brook washing is almost impracticable
in certain districts from want of streams
In the more northerly States and in high
latitudes the GOODNESS of the water makes it
impossible to. wash until early summer,
which is too late for the best season for
shearing. Even in States as far south as
Ohio the water is too cold to wash early,
while it is very desirable to shear early.I 1t is
cruel to the hired help to compel them to go
into the cold water; it is cruel to the sheep.
who often dies from the rough handling re-
ceived in being caught and held for washing.
And the universal testimony is that the
sheep do not gain but loose al the time from
the day that they are washed until they are
shorn. The cost of getting the washing
done is more than the increased cost of get
ting the wool to market with the dirt still in
the fieeces. The wool growers agree that
the custom Of washing required by the
arbitrary distinction in prices of washed and
unwashed wool made by the manufacturer
on wool, is loss on them and injury to
their focks.
Drouth.
1t is well known to gardeners that seri-
GUS check is often given to vegetables which
require water in their first stages of growth.
by severe drouths early in the season. Irri-
CATION at such times is rarely practicable.
The best remedy, therefore, is to plant early
and give well enriched soil. Early plant
ing will often push the plants so far in
growth that their roots will sustain them in
dry times. But still more helpful is a rich
soil-in two ways-one, by pushing the
young plants on, and the other by holding
more moisture than a thin soil can do. Very
early planting can be practced only on
hardy plants. Tender ones are less injured
by drouth. Take the onion crop. for in
stance, which will bear very early sowing.
Nothing hurts it more than a drouth when
the plants are the size of goosequills. Hence
the most certain and heavy crops come from
early planting and rich soils. Weeds are of
course more or less fatal, but no good cul-
ttvator need be advised to keep a perfectly
clean surface.