Connecticut western news., 1885-04-29
FARM AND GARDEN.
HINTS ABOUT SPRING WORK ON THE
 FARM.
The Fruit Garden-A siIo thnt Pays-secd-
 ing with Orchard Grnss.


 
 early and heeled-in in a cool and shaded place, planting may still be continued. If any trees have started, they will need careful handling, and should not be cut back at the time of planting. Newly planted trees will endure the drouth much better if the soil around them is mulched; frequent stirring of the sur face soil will answer the same purpose. Grating may be continued, even if the buds have begun to expand, but great care must be taken, as the bark slips readily, and bad wound may be made. Buds that appear below a graft should be rubbed off as soon as the buds upon the scions begin to grow. Give straw berry beds mulch of straw, coarse hay, or even corn stalks, to keep the fruit from being soiled. Sawdust and tan should not be used, as they adhere to the fruit. In Southern localities, fruit for northern markets must not be picked too ripe; if to be over twenty-four hours in traDsit, no berries should be full -colored when packed. New shoots of black berries and raspberries will start from the roots; select three or four from each stool for next years fruiting, and hoe up the others. Currants and gooseberries should be mulched. Upon the first ap- pearance of holes in the leaves, kill the worm with white hellebore, using a tablespoonful of the powder to a pailful of water; apply with syringe or garden pump. Newly painted grapevines should bear but a single shoot the first year; rub of all others, and keep that tied up to a stake. The leaf.rolling caterpillar, found among the leaves of a growing shoot, is best destroyed by handpicking. If rose-bugs appear at towering time, shake off early in the morning, and catch in pan containing water with little kerosene. Thinning fruit for the benefit of that which re- mains, is worthy of trial. Remove from half to two-thirds of the crop soon after it sets. The fight with insects must be kept up. The webs of the tent-cater- pillar will be spread, and should be de- stroyed while small. The caterpillars | are in the nests in early morning, and the webs are most readily seen when the dew is on them. They are quickly removed by the hand, with or without glove. If fine sawdust is seen on the ground near the trunk, borer is at work and must he removed, using a strong knife and wire probe. The cur culio attacks the plum soon after it is set. Jarring the tree and catching the insects on sheets spread below, is the only remedy. Paris green is now used upon fruit trees, to kill the canker worm and codling moth or apple worm, using 8 tablespoonful to barrel of water, and applying with a pump. On the very first appearance of the black knst, cut it out.-Americdn AgricultiTiSt.
 A Sno THAT PAYS IN MASSACHUSETTS. T have every reason to think more of ensilage than ever. The 9th of Au- gust last my buildings were burned, in- cluding wooden silo filled with rye en- silage. When the smoke cleared away 1 found it was burned in but little way, and fed my COWS on 1t for more than two months. My corn WAS growing in the field, so you see had something to winter my forty head of cattle on. I | ha,,o foupJ a diffararna ,F 4a,, orork, n day, this last winter, in favor of two feeds day of ensilage, instead of one of hay and one of ensilage. Last summer was very dry in these parts, and many farmers did not cut half crop of hay and sold their stock for what they could get. have not over twenty-five acres that can till or mow. was able fast winter to keep thirty-fve head of cattle Gall but five large cattlel and sell ten tons of hay, while many farmers with twice the land cannot keep over ten and cannot sell any hay. What hay I sell buys my grain and my farm is growing richer every year. The silo is also great labor saving, as I put in my clover and rowen.-DR. l.. w. CURTIS, Globe Village. Mass.
 SEEDING WITH ORCHARD GRAss.-As a rule orchard grass is best sown by itself in July or August. It takes root better, and the ground can be better prepared. It is far better to SOW it in this way than in the rough and wasteful manner of scattering the seed on the hard ground with the fall grain and with out any covering. The ground is pre- pared by shallow blowing or thor ough narrowing as soon as the grain is taken of. A dressing of fertilizer, say 300 pounds of superphosphate of lime, or fine bone dust may be given, and the seed sown directly after. The surface is then brushed over with plank smother and brush harrow, and if the weather is dry it should be rolled.