Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-24
Farm AND ORCHARD.
VALUABLE INFORMATION ON PRUN-
ING THE PEACH TREE.
Rules for Planting Trees-Bad Shooting
of Horses-Feeding Poultry for
Eggs-General Farm Notes.


in pruning the peach; one is to obtain
wood only, and the other for fruit and
enough wood to produce the proper num-
Der of leaves to sustain and mature the
fruit that season, and cause plenty of fruit
buds to be set for the following season.
The first of these objects is sought in
pruning the young tree the first and second,
and often the third seasons. When a
peach tree is first set out, it is better if it
consists of only single straight, branch
less stem with good leaf buds. If such a
tree, cut the top to within twelve or six
teen inches of the ground, leaving four or
better FIVE buds near the top to grow out
for limbs. If the young tree has branches
that are within eighteen inches of the
ground il would do to let the third or fourth
bud from the base grow on five of the
branches symmetrically arranged about
the stem, cutting the stem off close above
the fifth branch, so there will be no one
lea1ing branch. If however, the tree is
but one summers growth from the bud
and the branches are too far from the
ground, cut the whole top off to within
eighteen inches of the ground. This prun-
ing is done at time Of setting out in win
ter, or just before the growing season be-
gins. No one of the five branches should
be allowed during the summer to outgrow
the rest. Keep them all with about the
same amount OF leaf surface, and the trees
by fall will De well branched. The follow
ing winter prune each branch back to
within twelve to sixteen inches of the
stem, having the lowest branches some
longer than the topmost one. Allow but
two buds to grow from each of the five
branches, giving preference to those that
spring from the sides of the branches.
During the summer It will surely pay to
go over the orchard and pinch back any
that is outgrowing the rest, to keep the
trees symmetrical. The second winter will
find each tree with ten main branches for
foundation on which can be grown fruit
lag branches. Some of them no doubt will
have small twigs with fruit buds on. From
fourth to a half of the wood of these
twigs should be taken off beyond them
cut the main part back from one fourth to
one-half, and allow but two buds to grow
into the wood. All of these wood branches
should be summer pinched when from
twelve to fourteen inches long, that they
may send out fruiting twigs from near their
bases. 1t is best during this summer to go
over the orchard second time, to pinch
back twigs that may be growing too long
from near the end of the previously
pinched branch. If they are allowed to
grow too long, the twigs near the base will
consequently be too stunted in their
growth California Fruit Grouer.
RULES FOR PLANTING TREES.
A valuable sort is worth more than
merely handsome tree.
Good, healthy, bracing roots are of more
importance than a symmetrical top.
The roots should be long and strong
enough, and the top made light enough
TO avoid any stalking
Manure should never be placed in con-
tact with the roots in setting out tree.
but used for mulch or top dressing.
Trees should always be set about as deep
as they stood in the nursery, or two or
three inches deeper, to allow for the set
ting of the earth.
Spread out the roots nearly equal on all
sides, SO that they may brace the tree we'll.
Avoid particularly any small cavity next
the roots, but fill compactly against them
on all sides with fine, mellow earth
small, thrifty tree, with copious roots
when set ont, will be a good bearing tree
sooner than large one with mutilated
roots.
Watering in dry weather crusts the sur
face and does not reach the roots.
Young trees should not be set in a grass
lot, or among any crops of sowed grain ::
but the whole surface kept clean and mel
low
Sh elled trees, before planting, may be
mad, ump by covering for several DAYS
comp ~ with moist, mellow earth.
If gly-set ones suffer from drought,
mulch the ground about them, and fire.
quently sprinkle or shower the stems and
branches.
The roots extend as far from the tree as
Its entire highth. Clean and mellow Guilt
walton should therefore cover a circle
twice as wide as its hight.
As general rule, cultivation should be
continued for SIX, eight or ten years from
planting, after which closely-grazed or
lawn-mowed grass may be permitted, with
frequent top-dressing
The amount of manuring or top-dress-
ing must vary with the vigor of the trees /;
young trees should grow two or three feet
yearly, and bearing ones one or more.
Keep an eye TO the future shape OF the
tree, and timely remove small. needless.
crossing or crooked limbs THIS will OBJ
viate heavy pruning in after years.
Pruning when dormant tends to impart
vigor, but when growing or in leaf II
checks growth, and therefore feeble tree
should never be pruned after growth COM
a.ag
growers may be lightly pruned at either
season.
Mos; of the dad luck" with Young trees
and orchards is the result of negleeting
the preceding rnles.-Coaaty Gentleman.
FEEDING FOR EGGS.
On this snhiect we find an excellent ar
ticle in the Country Gentleman, which we
commend TO our poultry raisers as con-
tanning vast amount of common sense
1t reads rs follows
Americans, as a people, are too hurry
ing; too much haste and not enough dis
patch marks our movements: we are an
impatient, nervous, excitable people. Our
British cousins are slow, cool calm and
deliberate, moving with caution and pre-
cision, counting the cost at the outset We
too often enter upon enterprises. and fol-
low out calculations that prove utter fail
ures. We do not rely sufficiently on our
own powers, but are too often led astray
following the examples OF one another.
Because one has entered upon a pursuit
and become successful in it, a hundred
Others in every direction endeavor TO do
likewise and fail.
The successful ones are the exceptions.
As branch of business, or rather OF pur-
suit, in conjunction with other business
the keeping of poultry has crept in as a
means Of money-getting, whereas ii was
formerly done for pleasure and home ben
eft. 4 desire TO rear and keep fancy
poultry, for the sake Of fabulous prices