The National tribune., 1882-02-25


tings depends upon the preservation of their
juices until roots are produced.
There are many other plants which may be
propagated by cuttings of ripened wood among
others may be mentioned the fig, willow; OF all
kinds, poplars, Spireas, Forsythias, mulberrles,
and most of the RIDES family.
Orchard Trees-In pruning apple pear, cherry,
and plum trees all that is required is merely to
remove branches where they are overcrowded.
No nnnre miscshevous operation can be performed
yxpon these trees than that of cutting Oft any
norton of the leading shoots, as they are technl-
callv termed; in other words, the points of the
branches or shoots of the previous years growth.
The shortening-in or cutting off portion of the
Young wood only tends to the production Of
multiplicity of slender shoots and prevents the
formation of the spur-like processes from which
fiower-buds and fruits produced. 1t Is safe
to presume that, far as pruning influences fruit
production the less of it that is done the better
for the trees unless it is under the control of a
skillful operator.
But while in many cases pruning is rather
overdone, it is equally true that efforts for the
destruction of insects and blight diseases are
sadly deficient. No time should be lost in care
fully removing from the trees all caterpillar
nests, cocoons and especially stray clusters OF
leaves which may be found adhering to the
branches and which almost invariably contain
a lurking enemy only awaiting the genial in
fuences of the warm spring season to awaken
and develop into destructive agent. Orchard
trees of all kinds would be materially benefited
by dressing of lime wash applied to their
M
stroys all scale insects but preserves the trees
from blight. The great drawback to the culture
of pears is their liability to blight, and many
promising orchard has suddenly been destroyed
by this malady. Whether this so-called blight
is the result of low vegetable growth (fungi)
or of low animal growth (bacteria) is inmate
rial to the fact that it cannot exist under cover
ing of lime wash, and it is the part of wisdom to
adopt remedy which is both cheap and easily
applied, and which promises so good results.
This wash is made by placing half a bushel Of
shell lime and four pounds of powdered sulphur
into tight barrel shaking the lime with hot water.
The mouth OF the barrel should be covered
closely with a cloth of some kind to preserve
the heat and encourage ebullition. After cool
ing the mass is to be reduced to the consistency
! rough woodwork If the white color is obiec-
iectionable a matter Of taste, ii may be toned
down by SCOT or lampblack: but so far as being
beneficial to the trees the white color is prefer
able So far practicable the tree should be
coated with this wash, for it is not claimed that
the parts OF the tree not covered will be exempt
from blight. Exceptions have ben made to the
utility OF this as preventive, but inquiry it
has been found that only on the portions not
covered has blight been discovered which, in
stead OF being condemnatory OF the proscess,
rather proves its efficacy.
Branches not treated with the application may
become blighted; these should be cut out and
removed. We know orchardists who cut out all
trees upon which there is the least appearance
Of blight, under the impression that when once
blight attacks even a small limb of tree that
it cannot afterwards recover. This is a great
mistake We have known trees so badly blighted
that all the branches had to be removed so that
only stump was left yet these trees would
push forth shoots and continue to be healthy and
fruitful. More than this, we have cut down
blighted pear trees within a couple of inches Of
the point of grating and they have produced
shoots from the surface of the ground and ulti-
mately become healthy, fruitful trees, in all
respects as good as trees upon which blight had
never made its appearance. 1t is very evident
that blight is not a constitutional disease.
Wheat FTelds-The pressure of winter SHOWS
and the beating spring rains have tendency to
consolidate the soil and thus prevent the free
access of air to the roots of the growing plants
especially is this the case soils Of tenacious
tendency. 1t will be found profitable expedi-
ent to pass harrow over the young wheat to
break up and pulverize the surface of the ground.
For this purpose the so-called Thomas smoothing
harrow is most efficient the sloping position of
the teeth Of this harrow, while they have supe-
rior pulverizing effect on the soil, are free from
the injurious tearing up and dragging of the
roots, which renders the common class of harrows
so Objectionable when used for this purpose. If,
previous to narrowing, an application of common
salt at the rate of four bushels per acre be
equally sown over the surface, it will have ten
dency to strengthen the stems, and add to the
value of the crop so far as it lessons the tendency
of the lodging of the straw at the time Of ripen-
ing.
Oats should be sown at the earliest opportu-
tunity, so that the crop may be well advanced
before the hot, dry season Overtakes it. The oat
requires a comparatively cool season for its
greatest perfection. This grain becomes larger,
and its nutritive qualities are greater in cool
lima in eli ofoc