The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONS

Is desirable TO encourage the growth of weeds
and II you do not purpose to plant the land
until next spring it is better to let the weeds
remain ON the surface till after Christmas
rather than turn them under green
j. D. c., Dalton, Co.: 1. What is the best season
for trimming grape vines in general, ana the soup
re!nong III particular?
What is the b4st season for topping shade trees.
an trimming them in severely where the branches
are much too long?
s. Are farmers " no use the Bradley compost, rat
ented some years ago, likely TO be benefited by the
tive dollars which the right to make it costs?
Formula half a ton each of stable manure and
swamp dirt, two bushels strong ashes twenty four
pounds each Of sulphuric acid and sulphate of am
MONA, and two pounds alum.
l. From first of November to middle of De-
cember for most grapes; from middle of Octo-
Der to middle of November for scuppernongs.
Begin with the latter as soon as the leaves turn
yellow and are falling off.
2. About midwinter.
.. Not much. Alum might be left out en-
tirely and no loss ensue. The money expende ed
Tor suiphuric acid and sulphate of ammonia
would be better spent in acid phosphate. The
latter contains all the sulphuric acid needed
by plants, and the stable manure will supply
enough ammonia.
Bluebell, Russell Valley, Ala: have a small
farm on railroad, about twenty-five miles from
sheffield, Ala, and six miles from smaller but
thriving village About twenty acres of this farm
is elevated, rather sedge land somewhat gray
ely, clay subson. Another twenty acres is kind
OF basin also worn out to great extent but is cult
waited in corn and cotton every year. would like
you to tell me if it would be advisable for woman
with small means to try fruit raising on this farm
can't tell you any more of the kind of SOIL only
that it is easily reclaimed oak hickory and ash are
making pretty growth on it. would like you to
tell me if two acres each of peaches, pears and
apples can be made to grow on this land proftably
t. recommend several good varieties of pears for
market and reliable book on culture of southern
fruit. Is LeConte really good pearl Tell me what
are the best early and late peaches2 Llso how far
apart to plant trees, and when; if on the upland
bottom? (Which is easily draned. How is 1t best to
cultivate young orchard2 viii it do to plant in
early corn? Can the corn be cut from around the
trees while green? What manure shall be used with
different fruits? If you think such venture can be
made by woman so as to secure an income in four
or five years without very great expense any advice
given by you in the line of my questions will be
gratefully received by this one and perhaps many
others anxious for some employment suitable for
them. What do you think of large number of
black walnuts being planted among the young
timber growth2 There are some trees there already
They grow to enormous size in this region and bear
well. would be glad for you to tell me best time
to plant fruit trees.
Whether woman" will succeed or not in
venture such as you describe depends very
largely on the business tact of the woman; it
is a question to be decided by personality, not
by sex. Mrs. Bryant on Lookout mountain,
in Georgia, succeeds admirably as fruit
grower. Diminishing that view Of the matter
then let us look at it simply as a business ven
Ht,-a 1a,.d &C. o{,,,0 H.
by the growth-oak, hickory, ash. The ridge
land, if not in locality where late spring frosts
occur and kill the young fruit, would grow
peaches well, without manure but would
require good cultivation, such as cotton crop
must have. Pears and apples require better
land than peaches, and you would have to give
them dressings of ashes, lime and little COW
manure and woods earth. This, with good
cultivation, would make pears and apples grow
well ON your land. 1t is difficult to make out
list of fruits for any given locality. That
which grows we'll in one region fails in another.
Of pears that grow we'll over extended areas of
country, the Bartlett, Duchess, Seckel and
Clifford may be mentioned. No book on cult
ure of southern fruits has been published.
Whites Gardening for the South contains q
good deal about fruits, but it was published
more than twenty years ago and is behind the
times. The LeConte pear is a very vigorous,
healthy tree in lower Georgia; bears young
and bears abundantly; fruit second rate.
Does not do we'll in upper country with stiff
clay soils. Peaches, IN order of ripening,
Alexander, Beatrice and Tillotson among
early, and Heath's cling, or White English,
and Picquet's Late, among late. Plant peaches
25 feet apart each way, pears standard, and
apples 80 feet, dwarf pears 10 feet Plant pears
and peaches on upland. Apples thrive well
on bottom land if well drained. 1t is best to
plant nothing in young orchard; plow it il
early spring and continue blowing at intervals
of few weeks till the last of July, then SOW in
peas. Corn or cotton may be planted among
the trees without much injury if they are ma
nured and the rows run not less than five feet
from the rows of trees. Ashes and COW manure
is the best manure for fruit of all kinds.
Plant fruit trees in November. By all means,
plant the walnuts.
sc. F., Merit Texas: l. Can you tell me how to
break balky horse entirely from baking, and
make him pull at any and all times?
2. Can you tell me how to make gentle COW lead,
either on foot, or on horseback, behind wagon?
/. No, we cannot; we have seen balky
horses partially cured, but never fully reliable
under all circumstances. Tho secret of man.
aging balky horse is TO divert his attention
when he is tempted to balk, and not to irritate
or excite him. The patience of Job is required.
Light loads should be put on him at first, and
gradually increased, and especial care should
be taken not to check him whilst going up hill.
Urging on and loud talking while going up a
hill are equally Objectionable. Be as quiet
and gentle as possible in handling him.
2. Let one person go in front holding the
halter rope and another follow behind and
drive her. Do not lose patience because she
daes not go kindly at once. After this has
been done number of times COW will usually
suffer herself to be led. If this fails get pair
of nippers and put in her nose, and you can
lead her without much pulling. These nippers
are made for the purpose and can be had at
implement stores at the north, they are seldom
used at the south. They consist of two crooked
arms terminating in a knob and jointed to-
gether so they can open apart or approach each
other A wire spring on a shaft behind holds
the two arms together after they have been
placed in the cows nostrls. We have had a
perfectly unframed COW follow wagon for a
long distance with one of these in her nose and
a rope attached to it tied on to the wagon.