The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-16
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for 0H
Agricultural Readers
In the Orchard.

Inc 4fult trees winch were planted this
Spring or last Fall should be frequently and
thoroughly cultivated, and this cultivation
should continue for four or FIVE years.
or until the trees have attained sniff
Gent size to keep down the weeds with
out the aid of cultivation. After this thf
ground occupied by the larger kinds may be
seeded to clover, while that on which
are being grown the small-fruits should
still be cultivated. It is suggested that the
ground between The rows be utilized and
not allowed to be idle, but vegetables
such as cabbage, potatoes, and other small
varieties be planted, as the land, being in
constant cultivation, is well adapted for such
purposes.
The best plan of pruning trees is to re-
move branch whenever it is seen to be out
of place OF to be crouding Others. The
earlier this is done the better, ~ il will pro-
duee less injury 10 the tree. There is prob
ably not much difference as TO the time when
! regular pruning is given to the orchard
Some prefer Spring to the Autumn or Win
ter. Possibly the early Spring is the safest
time for this work. Pear trees need vsry
little pruning, and cherry trees do not endure
severe pruning. Suckers must be carefully
| removed from the apple trees. Peach treas
may have from One-third to ene-half Of each
years growth removed with profit every
Spring Peach trees, like grape vines, stand
q good deal of pruning and are benefited by
it. Raspberries, blackberries gsozebsrries,
and eurTants all do best when thoroughly
pruned. Stakes are unnecessary for any Of
these bushes if the young shoots are cut of
when they reach the hight Of two or three
feet. Extra fine crops are to be secured only
through liberal use Of the pruning knife.
The soil in the fruit garden should be fairly
good before the trees have been set. After
ward stable manure should sot be used in
large quantities except on the berry bushes.
Wood ashes, bone dust, and the salts OF
potassium will give the best results applied
10 grapes, apples, pears, peaches, and plams
These plants ara little benefited by stable
manure, as wood is produced at the expense
of fruit.
Many persons do not grow frsit on their
farms, thlgking that it is no longer posi-
bic to control the ravsEes of insect pests.
In this they are mistaken, fer ut present
almost every form of insect may be quite
perfectly controlled The fruit trees should
be examined every Spring for the eggs of
caterpillsrs, and then By serapiHg the earth
away for few inches around the trunk
of each tree, search should be made for
borers. Ii the ground is kept Issse and free
from weeds about the trunks of trees,
and heaped up three or fsur inches at the
base of each trunk, there is usually very
little trouble from borers TIE currans
wOrm is sasily csmbafod by 1astisg both
the currant and gsosoberry bushes with
powdered hellebere. This Substances destroys
the worms con- pletely, and is net poisonous
to human beings. For the carculio and
the Goblin meth, the best treatment is to
spray the trees just after blossoms fall in the
Spring, aad TIVE Or three times subsequently
during the growing In this way
these pests can be kspt in csBtroi. Some
growers still practice jarring the insects of
the treas upon sheets spread BON the ground
to receive them.
Spraying at tho New York Station.
That paris green and kerosene emulsion
still remain the leading Insecticides, and
that bordeaux mixture is the best remedy
for Plsst diseases, is the experience of the
Now York Staten at Gessys. The KNAPP
sack spraysr is generally useful, thsugh ex-
tensive growers nSsd = machine ct greater
capacity. The suctisn pipe skssld always
enter the tank at the top, AID the pump
should be made of brass or be brass-lined.
the body to be used on the handle while
at work. Vermorel nszzles give a bet
ter spray than the disk machines. For
spraying potatoes and tomatoes a nozzle is
needed that can be lowered between tho
rows and directed so as to fierce the spray
up thrsEgh the vines. The sgitat0r is
needed 70 keep the poison ia solution. The
best forms work mp and down in the up
right tank, like the dash in the old churn.
Where the pump piston has a packing this
Should be often renewed. For killing cab
bage worms and insects, no liquid can be-
found equal to dry paris green applied with
. hand sitter. Powder guns are used for
applying dry powdered peissns, pyrethrum,
tobaeco-dBst, and sulphur. Bamboo extern
sions should be used in spraying large trees
About the Farm.
Get the start on the weeds OF they will
get ahead of you. The first cultivation
given a crop is the most important, for if
it is not done thoroughly, and any weeds re-
main, the hoe may be required to clean
them out. A little extra care at first and do
ing the work at the right time will save labor.
Weeds can be destroyed when they are
young and the fed easily cleaned One or
two thorough workings will leave but few,
if any, to annoy you as the season advances.
The best test of q cow is to weight the
milk and butter she produces. If cow is
well-bred she will give good account of
herself on the scales, but no matter what
her breeding may be, if she gives a salts
factory yield, keep her. 1t is much easier
to hold on to good cow than to run the
risk of getting one in her place when she
becomes dry. Every COW should be tested,
and scales should be conveniently placed
where the milk can be weighed as soon az
it is drawn from the COW.
The large amount of labor required in cul-
tivating hoed crops makes it all the more
important that they should be pushed for
ward as rapidly as possible, and also in ways
that will not lesson the moisture in the soil
For this reason the concentrated fertilizers
available nitrogen are preferable
10 stable manure. There is always in coarse
manure great amount of vegetable matter,
which will only rot when the soil is wet.
Under the furrow this manure holds up the
Toll. creating air spaces, which dry out both
The manure and soil, so that the manure will
lot rot. The commercial fertilizer furnishes
nitrogen without making the soil dryer.
This often means, with q hoed crop, the
Inference between failure and success.
Farms In Tennessee.
W. A. Hampton, Pomona, Tenn, says his
1ounty is 1000 feet above sea level; "a
lealthful q section as there is in the South.