Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24
FARM AND GARDEN.
Subjects of Interest to Growers of Fruit
Trees and Vines.

The weather has been SO unfavorable Tor
many fruits this summer that all of the care and
attention possible are needed to make the fruit
crop fair. Old established trees have not
shown as much signs of suffering as the young
ones and those that are planted on light sandy
soil have succeeded far better than those situ-
ated rich, heavy loamy soil. 1t is usually the
trees planted in sandy soil through which the
water Sits easily that suffer most during our
summers, but the exceptionally wet weather of
this year has made the very reverse the case.
THE PEACHES SHOULD BE
given clean culture all through August MP to
September l. The trees should be watched
carefully for any signs of yellows, and all dis
eased trees taken up and destroyed this fall.
Whole orchards Will be lost if the diseased
trees are allowed to stand and contaminate the
others. There is a difference, however. be-
tween yellows and yellowness While the
former is a disease the latter is merely a con-
dition and may be due to soil-exhaustion, poor
culture, severe winters or to borers. The soil
ever, will resist any disease better than poor
soil, and a liberal application of phosphoric
acid and potash should be put in the soil an
nuaily. There is nothing like heterogeneous
manure in the form Of sulphate of ammonia
or nitrate OF soda to stimulate new wood growth
in peach trees.
THE APPLE TREES
have been greatly handicapped this season by
the number Of worms. The fruit has conse-
quently been injured by them. The apple tree
worms have been in our orchards for nanv
years, but in 1888 they suddenly developed
enormous numbers, and this year il is vastly
worse. 1t Is evident that little can be done at
this late stage to save the trees from their
ravages, but measures should now be taken to
UnNaf H..
most beneficial results have been obtained by
WITHDRAWING apple trees with caustic lime.
IL the moss and rough scales are rubbed off
the trunks first, not so to injure the bark.
but Just enough to make the outer skin moder-
ately smooth. and then a good application of
caustic lime made the heathfulness Of bark and
tree will be increased.
THE PEAR TREES
may be treated in the same way, for the rough,
scaly bark on these fruit trees is also the shell.
tering place of many injurious insects during
winter. The pear crop has not suffered SO
much from the wet weather as some of the
other hardy fruits. The early pears did mot
iruit 50 abundantly as the latter ones; but on
the whole the crop is far. Some of the stronger
shoots on free stocks may require pinch
ing back now, but young ones having
space to fill should be allowed to extend. Some
shoots may also require pinching back to keep
proper balance, but beyond this the new
to grow freely this autumn they win flower
next year.
CARE OF GRAPE VINES.
With the exception Of the phylloxera the
mealy bug is the worst pest that the grape
grower has to contend with. At this season of
the year wineries infected by the bugs should
be carefully attended to and lunches of grape
examined to see if the bugs are in them.
Pieces Of wadding tied around the stalks bear.
ing clusters Of grapes unaffected will often
Keep the fruit clear Of the bugs until it Is ripe
Steps should then be taken to kill the burs
and prevent their return the next season. The
branches that are affected the most should be
trimmed back, and the pieces cut OF DESTROYED
by fre. Then syringe the vines with warm
water, In which one ounce Of soft soap and one
tablespoonful ofparafine per gallon are mixed.
This Swinging operation should be repeated
several times. The loose bark should be pulled
on from the big stalks and the creyices and
spurs scraped with q knife Even the treIiis
should be washed with . solution Of warm
water and soft soap. The top soil can be re-
moved to the depth Of several inches and nav
put in its place. The bugs often conceal them
selves near the base OF the trunk, lust below
the top soil Such work win usually be The
means of destroying all the bugs and nrevent.
ing recurrence Of their ravages another sea-
son. Q. & WArrrpa