The National tribune., 1882-08-12


Washington, D. c., will be appreciated.l
SEAsoNABLE OPERATIONS AND HINTS
VegetdbIes.-Many kinds of vegetables may
be had for use in the fall as tender as they
are in the spring by sowing the seeds at this
time. Any good variety of early beet-the
old Bassano is as good as any for this season
ofsown now will form good-sized roots before
winter stops their growth. Bush beans (any
early Variety will also come in good season,
and continue bearing up to frost. Winter
radishes, and, if the fall proves favorable
and the soil rich and properly worked, early
peas, may now be sown. We have seen fine
crops from sowings made at this season. The
strap-leayed turnips are the best varieties
for sowing at this lato period. The best fall
crops of turnips we have seen were sown on
ground from which early potatoes had just
been lifted. A dressing of about three hum
dred pounds Of guano was spread over the
ground and plowed under about four inches
in depth; the surface was then smoothed
with harrow and the seed broadcast thinly /;
then the surface well rolled; light harrow
was passed over the seeds before rolling
Prickly spinach may be put In towards
the end of the month; it will grow rapidly
next month, and may be thinned out as it
increases in size, thus adding to the variety
Of table vegetables at a season when they are
generally limited to cabbage, turnips and
potatoes. The celery crop should be en-
couraged to continued growth by frequently
stirring the soil around the plants. This
will save much watering, which is sometimes
applied in such quantities to this crop as to
be hurtful
At no time is surface culture of so much
Importance as in the dry weather of late
summer and early fall. 1t is evidence of
neglect when the soil is allowed to become
hard and caked among growing crops The
hardened surface is caused by dashing rains,
so that the only mode of keeping the surface
soil in good friable state is to break up the
beaten ground as soon after every rainfall as
the nature of the soil will admit Clay soils
are the worst to manage in this respect, but
there is always period between the wetting
and the drying when clay soils are in the
u
will readily crumble and may be brought
as fine as need be desired. Promptness in
doing things when they should be done is
the key to success in all cultural matters
Raspberries. the fruit has been
gathered the canes which produced it may be
removed, so as to favor the growth of those
for next years crop. The young canes
should be thinned out and the tall-growing
kinds shortened at the ends, which will cause
them to form side shoots, which are after
wards shortened back just before winter.
StraaUberries.-New plantations of these
for the purpose of fruiting next year should
be kept clear Of runners and weeds. It is
too much the practice to cultivate the ground
only when it is necessary to destroy weeds.
But the destruction Of weeds should not be
considered the primary object of culture;
their absence should result from the cultiva-
ton necessary to maintain healthy growth
In the crop in other words, the necessity for
culture should not depend upon either the
presence or absence of weeds, but upon the
requirements of the crop on hand.
o.I running Fruit Trees.-Pruning the
Tog-s Of trees is an operation which is some
times adVisable with the object in view of
airiug barren trees fruitful; but it applies
oaiy trees that do not fruit in conse-
ggeaaa ; their luxuriant growth, and not to
ch are unfruitful because of starva-
GoH my expedients have been adopted
early fruiting in trees, the most
3o.-ioa being to graft them upon weaker
rowing stocks.
IT grated on the ounce is famil-
@ ration; by this means growth is
...oOh,u and Towering hastened. When
irult trees happen to be planted in soil
which has been highly enriched, such as in
aVegetable garden or rich old meadow, they
VIII grow to large size, and yet not pro-
duce fruit. When in this condition any,
thing that will check their growth without
lnIuring them otherwise will throw them
into flower and fruit and root pruning will
effect 1t, If properly performed. Spring is
often recommended as the best season for
root pruning, but it is not so favorable a
time as towards the end of the present
month. BY digging out a trench enc;rclino
20
from the stem of tree say twenty feet in
height with proportionate spread of branches
and cutting through at least all the strong.
est roots, it will Immediately check the
wood growth of the tree, and many fruit
buds viii be formed before the leaves fall.
GroPcs.-TOwards the end of the month
the points of leading strong shoots Of grapes
may be removed, and most Of the weak lat
eral twigs cut out. This will tend to invig-
orata the fruit buds for next years crop, and
The very slight check 10 growth viii favor
The ripcning OF the fruit. If the vines are
nsar'nS a heavy crop, and the punches color
h'esaiarly, it is not yet too late to remove
some o. taen, aud marked improvement
"iil coon be observed in the increase of size
ana more uniiurm ripening OF the remain
ING fruit