Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-31
TIE WEEKLY UNION
FARM AND FRUIT.

S. D. Pratt, of Penn Yam, n. Y, writes
the Farmers Club of the American Insti-
tute, concerning the care of fruit trees, as
follows " Remembering Professor Liebigs
theory that when a vegetable is burned the
part which came from the air in the pro.
cess of its growth returns to the atmos-
phere, and the part which came from the
ground Is reduced to ashes, l came to the
conclusion that ashes would be beneficial
when applied to the roots of trees. They
were standing in a soil strongly inclined to
clay, with turf around them which had
mot been removed for several years. After
pruning them properly, removing every
indication of worms, etc, and washing the
body and branches with sospsuds, | began
operations below-irst removing the turf
about two feet around the tree, then with
a garden pick the ground was loosened
from six TO twelve inches in depth. taking
care not to injure the larger roots. Twenty
or thirty quarts of loose dirt was removed,
leaving large cavity shaped like sau-
GER, with the tree standing in the center.
About one pint of unleached ashes were
sprinkled about the tree, and upon this
chip manure was placed, nearly filling the
cavity. Another pint of ashes was sprinkled
upon the fertilizer, which was gently
pressed down and the whole covered with
the loose dirt taken from the cavity, leav-
ing the surface nearly as it was, excepting
the turf. a young orchard was treated
in a similar way. The effect was wonder
ful. Plum trees that were goin' to the
bad revived. Peach trees that had pre-
sented small and shriveled leaves threw
out luxuriant foliage, and cherry trees
gave fruit larger and fairer than ever be-
FORE"
This year England had, so says the Chi
cago FaTmsr's ReUiel0, 100000 acres in
wheat. The wheat crop of the United
States this year embraced 80, 900, 900 acres
Great Britain's oat crop is put at 2, 975 900
acres, and the oat crop of this country at
80, 900 600 acres. "We," continues the
ReUieO, "have Ga, 900, 900 acres in corn, of
which crop none is grown in Great Britain.
She has 6,000 900 head of cattle and 25,-
900, 600 sheep. We have 80 900, 900 cattle
and 80 900, 900 sheep. She has 8 popula-
tion of 81, 600, 900 to feed, while we prob
ably have 90, 100000. She is always short
of food, We are always with surplus to
supply not only her deficiency, but that of
Continental Europe. But Great Britain
raises on an average twenty-six bushels of
wheat to the acre, we an average of twelve
bushels. Were our average production per
acre as great as hers, we should this year
have harvested wheat crop of over ,000,-
900, 900 bushels, instead of a little more
than 400, 900, 900. Her cattle and sheep
average much better in quality, taken as a
whole, than ours, while In horses and hogs
it is doubtful if she possesses any advan-
tage over ours. But her farmers pay an
average of SO to SIS rent per acre per an
mum for the farms they occupy. Ours
largely own their own farms and call no
man landlord" In some respects this
statement is not quite satisf actory. The
writer for the ReUie1o does not in this case
appear to understand that England and
Great Britain are very different quantities.
It is a rule in fruit culture, that tree
should not carry any greater weight of
fruit than its branches can sustain. S5ill,
with some rapidly swelling fruits, peaches
and plums especially, however thoroughly
thinning may have been done, it is often
found, as the fruit ripens, that the weight
is too great, and the branches, unless
they are supported, will break down with
the load of fruit. The usual method of
supporting overlsden fruit trees is to
place long stakes, with fork at the top,
beneath them. A much better and more
simple method of effeeting the purpose,
is suggested by Dr. J.SH. Mease, of Leb-
anon, Pa. Instead of using several stakes,
one to each principal branch, he places
single strong pole against the trunk of
the tree. The lower end of the pole, if
desired, may be sunk a few inches in the
soil, for additional support, but usually it
will be sufficient to secure it to the trunk
by means of straw bands, or other ties
that will not bruise the bark. The pole
being secured, the drooping branches are
relieved by means of ties made fast to it.
DR.. NJ. states that this method of tying
up the branches of overloaded trees is
especially useful in storms, the support
being central, and more natural than
where several props are used.-[American
Agriculturist.
It seems that an effective enemy of the
apple worm or Goblin moth, has made its
appearance. w. A. Cassidy says of it in
the Petaluma Courier: ''In removing the
bands from the trees and killing the worms,
I discover in every place where worm has
been destroyed, an insect from one-half to
three quarters of an inch IN length, dark
brown, long, slender neck, rather large
black head, body apparently jointed, and
very active. l supposed for long time
that the insect had merely sought the old
cocoon as a refuge, but on investigating
more closely discovered worms that had
apparently undergone a squeezing process,
and others half destroyed in that manner,
and invariably found one of these In
sects at the squeezed end Of the worm so
that the question that rises In my mind Is,
while washing our trees with lime, caustic
soda and other Ingredients, and destroying
q portion of these worms, are we not in
turing ourselves more by destroying our
friends in the shape of those small insects!
I should advise a close observance Of the
bands around the bottom Of the trees, and
az the same time hanging cane of syrup
and vinegar in the trees but as to the
washing process, am as yet undetermined.
I should like very much to hear from
others who have tried and experimental. "
The committee upon the subject of grain
bag demand and supply submitted the fol-
lowing resolutions to the State Grange at
the close of their report
WHEREAS. Believing that it subserves the inter
ests of the tax-payers and those who are compelled
to use bags in the handling oil their products tnat
it is necessary for the welfare and reformation Vi tS
convicts Ia he kent at some regular occupation and
that it encroaches upon department OF free aoor
TO its detriment; therefore, be 1t
Resolred That it is the sense Of the State Grange
Of California, assembled in yearly session ae o4n
jose that the manufacture of jute or fax bags
should be continued by the prison labor OF the
State.
ReSolued. That our representation in CONGRESS be
again urged to procure an abolition, or, failing IN
that modification Of the import duty upon raw
I{zss fhsr.
The following preparation for healing
cuts, wounds, sores and bruises Oh horses