The record-union., 1894-05-03
FARM And ORCHARD.
The Orchardists Should See to the
Thinning Out of the Fruit.
should Peaches be Peeled for Curing :
Try 1t This season-Farm
Notes of Interest.

practiced there is danger of the yield
being cut down more or less by reason of
dry weather Much may be done, as We
have previously stated, to offset the un-
favorable conditions by close attention
to cultivation of the orchards. Frequent
but shallow cultivation thoroughly done,
to the extent of pulverizing very finely
LAYER of two or three inches of top earth,
will do much toward retaining the moist
ure already in the ground. Cultivation
should be commenced early, and should
be frequently repeated, so that the surface
ground shall be as smooth as possible,
and the earth as finely pulverized as the
tools will allow. But there is another
thing to which we earnestly invite the
attention of fruit-growers all over the
State. 1t is always well TO thin fruit vig-
orously, for experience has shown that
nearly all our California fruit trees are
ambitious and make preparations for
more fruit than they can properly ma
ture. Especially in this dry year. there
fores is it necessary to thin out the frult
more unsparingly than usual. Some
difficulties we are aware always present
themselves in determining what amount
and what specimens of fruit to remove IN
such a season as this. hard and last
rule can be given governing all cases, but
it may be said generally that more than
the usual proportion should be taken off
this yeare In all fruits except citrus, the
larger the fruit the better, other things
being equal. And it is found that the
same weight of fruit taken from tree
that has been so handled that the fruit is
very large and fine, will always sell for
much more than where the fruit is OF
smaller size. Besides this, 1t is less ex-
pensive TO pick and handle large fruit,
and the strain upon the vital forces OF the
tree is much less, for il is maturing so
great number OF seeds that draws so
heavily upon the life OF the tree. In
view, therefore, of all the conditions at
this time, we would especially emphasize
the prime necessity Of extraordinary
care in the cultivation of orchards, and
the absolute need of thinning the fruit
with unsparing hand.-California Fruit
Grower.
SHOULD PEACHES BE PEELED FOR CUR
ING?
During the past two or three years
cured peeled peaches have been gradu-
ally growing out of favor with consuln-
ers. The trade will purchase all lines of
fruits or food products for which there is
consumptive demand, but during the
past season the trade demand has been
very light, showing that consumers
have not generally bought peeled
peaches but have given the uDpeeled
fruit the preference. Just why peeled
peaches have been consigned to pre-
mature grave and have become back
number we cannot say, except 1t be that
consumers object TO paying the extra
cost. at present and in fact all this sea-
son unpeeled peaches have not only been
given the preference but have been pre-
ferred even at the same price per pound.
The quantity Of peeled peaches cured in
this State at any one season has never
been large, but from this time forward
Will no doubt became much less until
this mode of preparing California
peaches will have fallen into state of
innocuous desuetude altogether.
1t may be that consumers have not
only discovered that they were losing
both money and material by purchasing
peeled peaches; but that the best and
most nutritious portion of the peach lies
close to the skin, and that this nutritious
part as well as the fine flavor is lost by
removing the skin before drying. Crow
ers are spending valuable time and vast
ing precious material by peeling their
peaches before curing. The difference in
price has seldom paid for the great differ
ence in labor and loss of fruit. But with
peeled peaches at the same price as I'M
peeled, it is evident that growers cannot
afford to take the trouble to prepare
fruit in that way. Our advice is, for
this season at least. do not peel your
peaches, but cure them with the skins on.
taking extra care that they are properly
cured.-California Fruit-Grower.
FARM ITEMS.
The comb of the fowls is a true index
to their health. Ii the comb is bright
red it indicates that the fowl is in a
healthy condition. but ii pale or dark it
shows that there is something wrong.
There is nothing else which pays so
well for tie money and labor expended
on it as a patch of small fruit well
cared for. There is no other manner in
which the farmer can get so much in the
way of good, wholesome food from so
little ground. And yet there are many
vino give this important matter no atten-
ton, thinking that 1t is not worth while
for them TO bother with 1t.
Colts are generally fed too much hay
and not enough OF other things. As
writer says, they eat enough, but the
feed is not of the right quality; it feverS
instead of nourishes; 1t stunts them in
stead of giving growth. The remedy is
corn and more bran, oats, roots, oil cake,
hnseed meal, ensilage, clover, hay and
chance at a reserved blue grass pasture
or in field of green wheat or rye.
Where the kerosene emulsion is
needed only in small quantities. the
methods recommended, which are usually
Tor large supplies, are cumbersome. A
correspondent of the Farm Journal gives
the following plan: Put in a demiohn,
jug or large bottle TWO ounces of any hard
soap. shaved fine, then pour in a quart OF
hot water to dissolve it, and while hot
add half pint of kerosene. Shake the
bottle violently until a milky fluid is
formed with no free oil visible. Before
using this dilute it with twice its bulk of
warm water.
Heard'S DairyBean gives these hints
olNn .for, oil a.
wooden bowl or butter printer in the sun
or by stove to dry. They last much
longer if dried slowly. Also wet these
things before using them for cream,
milk or butter. If the pores are filled
with water they cannot absorb grease and
so got tainted. Wood will absorb the but
ter fats in milk ana milk products, and
they will not dry out as does water"
A hen that is two years old will fatten
more readily than puliet. hence caution
should be exercised in feeding corn to
hens. The pullets will continue 10 grow
until they are fifteen months old. but
they begin TO lay before maturity. A
Plymouth Rock or Brahma pullet should
lay when months old and a Leghorn
pullet at months. Much depends on
how they are led. Do not make them too
fat. Eat hens are poor layers and more
liable 10 disease also.
Many farmers have found by expert
ence that top dressing is the best method
OF applying manure under all circum-
stances. The plant food is given where
it must be the most available and will
reach the roots, which are mostly near
the surface, Immediately. 1t comes the
nearest TO the natural methods, for in
nature all the plant food that the land
receives is by the annual top dressing
with the leaves or the withered herbage
that tails on the ground at this season OF