The record-union., 1893-03-22
Proper Pruning of Trees Before
Planting--Peach Trees.
Goose Raising on the Farm-The Goose
is Very Remarkable Fowl and is
not so Hard to Raise as Turkeys
Education for the Farmer-sys-
tematic Farming and its Reward
General Farm Notes.


every spring and fab never grow, or live
only a few years to die, dwarted and
worthless, and this for the sole reason
that they have not peeived proper care
when planted. There is no difficulty in
learning how to prune O tree correctly
before planting it. Nurserymen try to
demonstrate clearly every detail to the
buyers of trees, that the stock sent out
may make a handsome and thrifty
growth. But buyers continue to demand
the largest trees, as if such trees could be
removed from the nursery without de-
struction of part of the roots, and as If
q large tree, with mutilated roots, were
worth more than a small but perfect one.
Having obtained their trees, many per-
sons persist in planting them, without q
semblance of pruning. often by proxy,
trusting the work to some careless or
unskilled laborer. Let us take thrifty
young apple tree from the box, as re-
ceiyed from the nursery, and see how we
can improve the tree. Nv hat" says
somebody with raised hands, Improve
on Nature!" Not at all. Nature does
not tear UP trees at three years OF age ana
then expect them TO live. Mans neces-
sity does this, and his art must then per-
Sudu6 LnGlIl nOb Olll " AAN Gs bbS w iii =
SO well that their growth is not even
checked. Here IS tree OF medium size,
but still it has nsngled root or two.
We will begin at the root and work up.
The mistake of using the AK to trim off
broken or bruised roots Is sometimes
committed, but we VIII not make 1t, re-
meinbering that a downward blow IS un-
desirable for two reasons. Unless the ak
is very sharp it crushes the root some
what and loosens the bark. The result
ing cut surface does not face right and is
not as smooth as if made with a knife. a
smooth cut calluSeS over and throws out
rootlets soonest. The LETT hand should
grasp the trunk of the little tree ana not
release it until the entire pruning OF root
and branch is completed. Nothing equals
. sharp knife, not even the nursery
shears, although these are permissible
for the branches. w hen cutting oil a
root let the edge OF the knife enter the
bark on its under side, and emerge on
the upper, leaving the wound lace down.
In this position water Will not remain
upon the cut surface to prevent calluslng
and roofing. 1t is seldom wise 10 cut a
root that is not injured. This rule does
not hold good, however, with the top,
which must be shortened materially with
all apple and some other trees, i'll special
cases reducing theulsto mere whips. The
reason for this is that the head, supported
by the roots of growing tree. cannot be
sustained when those roots are removed
from the soil. The top must be cut back
to point where root support is possible,
and IL is better TO do more than sufficient
work with the knife tltan not to remove
enough OF the top. Younger trees will
have still less top in proportion TO root.
Sometimes Il tree that has bad its roots
badly broken or wholly destroyed may
be saved, If not too dry, by summary and
severe top pruning, leaving nothing but
q portion OF the trunk, cutting this Oft
above the place from which the second
limb was removed. The SCARED stump
of a root remaining will, of course, lie
carefully smoothed with a sharp knife
Several things should'be noted about the
correct system OF pruning. First, any
twig that is noticed upon. the trunk, as
we leave the perfected root and glance to-
ward the top, is removed, as well as the
first low branch or two OF the top, how
ever low we may wish to head the future
tree, because these growths Nare uwar1ed
and weak. Second, the leader and lat
erals are shortened, each being LETT with
the end bud turned in certain direction.
The leader was inclined to the right.
Had the final bud, from which the new
leader will grow, been lett upon its right
side the result would have been ms
shapen tree. The highest bud is seen,
however, upon the left side of the leader,
and as it grows 1t will cause the tree TO
conform to the perpendicular. The prin-
ciple is remembered in pruning each
little shoot, the last bud being lett point
ing towards the outside OF the tree
usually, that an open head may be pre-
served. Occasionally it Is necessary to
train branch to one side or the other TO
improve the globular shape OF the head.
10 DO this the last bud is left upon the
side where the open space is TO be filled.
Length OF branch is OF less importance
than position of buds upon the branch,
provided that IL is not left too long.
A tree pruned improperly at planting
will never grow satisfactorily. That the
shape of young trees head may be inn
proved, graft is sometimes inserted at
the side OF the trunk where bud is
deemed desirable. This, however, is
rarely necessary.
When planting peach trees cut them to
@ rod, if two years old, and to a shorler
rod with only bud or two upon it if but
8 single year old. \ peach tree is espe-
cially likely to work III the wind If it
have q head, until a hole is made in the
earth about the stem. In this, havoc is
made by insects. water and tnen ice, Do
not encourage a leader in a peach tree.
The preference is given the bush form
1or head, and pruning yearly, or oitener.
To force stocky growth OF branches in
stead Of length, as the tendency OF peach
tree is to become heavy and to split
down, destroying itself. Cherry trees
have few branches, and require but little
trimming unless these are abnorinallv
long, when they must be cut back one
third to one-half All trees to which a
top is left should be firmly supported by
stakes during the first few years.-Ho oils
ter Sage OF Connecticut in American Agri-
culturst
GOOSE RAISING ON THE FARM.
No moro profitable fowl can be raised
on the farm than the goose. 1t is popu-
lar error that the goose requires plenty of
running water TO paddle and swim in.
Ali the water that is necessary is plenty
OF water to drink. If geese are Kept ont
OF the water they will iatten better, and
the feathers will be more oily, and last
longer, nor does it require so much grain
10 keep them when they do not run in the
water. One-fourth OF a pound is an av-
erage per picking. They ought to be
picked every six weeks or eight times a
year. This makes each goose produce
two pounds OF feathers worth one dollar
and a half each year, and the goose is left
which is worth from fifty cents to one
dollar. The goose is q very renaYkable
fowl, and is not so hard 10 raise as the
turkey. 1t does not require the care In
the winter il will feed with the cattle,
take care of itself among the hogs unless
they acquire a taste 1or its blood and
thrive, if it have a low, warm coop in
which to huddle with its mates at night
In the summer it will feed on oats and
wheat stubble and same pastures Thus
it is seen that the cost OF its Keeping is
small the year round. Hatch the goose
eggs with hen, as she will make bet
ter mother than the goose. Make the
nests on the ground, as jars will easily
kill the goslings in the shell. Thunder is
sometimes known to kill them when the
nests have been in the chicken house or
other building. Give each hen from five
to eiuht eggs. 1t is said to be good idea