Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-15

ehect. IL crop oil grass is taken oil
every season without returning any fer
tilizing matter to the soil, it will sooner
or later become exhausted the effect be-
ing n stuntcd growth Of trees and poor
crop Of grass. An occasional top-drcss-
ing Of fine compost will prevent this and
will be constantly benciitting the soil.
Whether commercial fertilizers would ben
eft fruit trees to the extent of other
crops or n)t is question, but there is no
evident reason why they should not, as
all trees call for liberal amount Of pot
ash
As to the pruning OF trees in general,
no rule rs to time or mode can be given,
as the sap rises at different times in the
various trees and as there is n great differ
ence in seasons The orchardist must
exercise his own judgment in the matter.
The most important part of pruning, ii
commenced when the tree il young, is
the removing of the surplus branches in
the centre OF the trec-in other words to
give it an open head. If the trees are
neglected for the first few years, rs they
often nrc, the grower will find the central
branches in many cases so close together
as to almost exclude sunlight ; conse-
qucntly well colorcd fruit is only pro-
duccd on the outside branches. This is
especially the case with varieties OF
close-growing habit like the Green Sweet
and Northern Spy. Although if pruning
is commenced in season the larger part oi
it may be done with the knife, still the
saw must be occasionally used to cut ont
branches that are crowding their neigh
bors.
The insects unless checked in their
ravages will iniuro the orchardists hopes
ia
them altogether The tent caterpillar7
make their appearance IN May OF June,
and unless DESTROYED will dcvour more
or less Of the leaves, which Of course in
| lures the tree and fruit. As soon as their
webs are discovered they should be re-
moved either by use of swab or other
means. The bark louise is very injurious,
though not very common i'll this section
The apple worm is perhaps the worst oi
all, as there is no way Of entirely circum-
venting his movements. 1t is caused by
moth which places its egg in the apple
blossom, when it gradually develops and
pcnctrtcs its way into the fruit. Soon
after it reaches the core it causes ii to
drop of. 1t is recommended that swine
be allowed to run in the orchard and
pick up the fallen fruit, thus destroying
the worm inside. Whether this would
ever rid MS of the pest or not is ques-
tion.
The keeping qualities of fruit are much
impaired by remaining on the tree long
after it is ripe Apples and pears more
especially should be picked before they
have become soft or mellow i'll the least.
The handling and packing Of the fruit
IS also Of great importance. The ordi-
nary farm help need good deal OF IN
s,rlicton and watching or they Will he
found handling the fruit MS II they were
so many cobble stones. As to the meth
, od of treating fruit after picking, there
/ is considerable difference of opinion.
: Some favor the manner OF placing III
' piles for sweating before packing ioi
t shipment. This method, however, has
not been generally adopted, the, usual
custom being to pack Immediately after
picking. Dealers have learned that great
} care must be used i'll putting up fruit for
| market, MS the appearance makes n great
difference in price. 1t has become a
G pretty general custom to use flour barrels
f ior putting up apples, but number OF
D dealers in this section are intending to
h use new barrels the coming season. 10
e be sure this idea was started by the TACT
G that flour barrels were getting scarce,
n but they found upon using new ones that
h they made package SO much neater than
L the old ones that they sold more readily
V consequently they will probably adopt
II adopt the practice generally
!, Although apples are and always will be
:, more extensively raised than any Other
t. fruit in this section pears are being sci
is ont every wear. and since cold storage has
= settled the question Of keeping they viii
Il probably be still more extensively
y planted.
d These remarks have been intended fol
s. the orchard rather than for the fruit gar
S. den, but now Just few words i'll relation
d to fruit for home Use. Although plum
/, and cherry trees are not generally cultiva
G. ted let rs have at least n few trees t'
or give a home supply. \ hall acre of Ian,
le is little enough 10 be given for the smal
of fruits. An abundant supply OF raspbor
e. rios. gooseherries, blachberries, ETC., to
IL gethcr with plums, cherries and grape
Id may be grown on quite small area. !
to managed rightly. The trees should ~
4. set eighteen or twenty ieet apart, Wit
is the rows of berry bushes between.
ii. the latter are six or eight feet apart
he strawberries may be set between. d
y not be afraid OF setting too many crap
Nv vines. There is no fruit more healthfu
as and luscious. As 10. the varieties Of var
en- ous fruits but little used to be sait
re Among the apples, although there is Il
ll- extended list, the market calls for hu
ON very few. These are well known. viz
ot Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, Nortl
ed ern Spy, and the early sorts, such rs lie
nv Astrachun, +. Harvest and Fameust
he With pears the list is not MS long. Tll
an Bartlett, Nirgalian, Scckel and Clapp
". Fayorite are standard sorts. For plum
We the Lombard is usually selected, fc
,es what reason / do not know, as there n
SIS other varieties much superior, such Il
,se Green Gage, Goes Golden Drop an
Jlc Smiths Orleans. The cherries are nca
th- ly all good, there being some choic
III however. L. Richmond, T.. Purple al
if Goes Transparent are excellent sort
ny Among grapes there are plenty OF move
m. ties and many standard sorts, such !
nat Delaware, Concord and Moore's Earl.
For raspberries select Gregg, Tyler ar
es, Muam. Cluster black caps and Cutlper
Al. Philadelphia and Clarke for red, III
ct blackherrios do not do well here for son
". reason. The Snyder and kittatinncy v
,cl rieties are as good rs any. The latt
of needs winter protection. Goosebcrri
raj are not as much subject to mll'lew AS 10
ch. merly. Downing and Mountain Seeding
md are the best sorts. Any OF the curnn
rec if given high culture will give remark
the BILE results. Fay's Prolific is II new So
be which we have not fruited yet
nee With strawberries we can but give IL
ing threadbare advice, Choose varie
low adapted to your soil and location st
md there are some that have adapted thel
the selves to a wide range of locality. L
ery Charles Downing, Wilson's Albany n
on Sharpless are such The latter shou
an, have high culture, inns wiil Apply
are all fruits. By hl8h culture we uo y
!. mean simply heavy manuring, but :