The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-08
summer work In the Orchard.

There is a great deal of work to lie
as a matter of fact. but very little is
DONE says the Practical Farmer. Much
of the hard work which orchards entail
when the trees get large. such as the
cutting away of large limbs. could be
avoided if a little time were given to the
orchard in the summer while the trees
were young. Look at the many leaning
trees to be seen in many an old orchard!
They are only there because the owner
did not plant them firmly at first, and
then neglected to straighten them as
soon as they blew over. 1t is hard work
to straighten tree after IL has had Il
years growth in It's leaning position. To
straighten 1t then requires the breaking
off of some young roots perhaps, but 1t
is better to break them than to have the
tree out of line. If in a very windy sit
uation, IL is better TO stake II for a year
or two until assured that II Is firmly
rooted When a tree is young is the time
to prune 1t to bring 1t into shape. 1t can
easily be seen whether shoots are being
made which are too close to one another
or which will cross each other. These
should not be permitted to get larger
than what a strong pocket knife can cut
out. Sometimes a newly planted tree
needs pruning in order TO assist its re-
covePy from the check of removal u
may have pushed into growth feebly,
showing that the roots have too much
work to do. There may be no more
branches than required for the good Of
the tree, but its life is what is wanted
first OF ALL and to effect this, more prun-
ing must be done, either by shortening
in some of the branches or cutting some
away altogether. AS a rule planters are
CO tfa6pd ~ 1tfGhae mt -
maintains them through the season.
even though no length of growth be
made. Mulching a freshly set tree is of
great advantage to IL. There Is nearly
always moisture below a coat of mulch,
and the soil under 1t is cool in summer.
Next to this there is nothing like the
constant passing of the cultivator. This,
too, cools the soil and keeps it moist,
and is of very great help to trees. Spray
ing of fruit trees will be work for early
summer. Just as soon as the flowers fall
have mixture ready, composed Of about
four pounds Of copper sulphate, fifty gal
Ions water and two pounds of quick lime,
and syringe the trees with it. and do 1t
again in about three weeks, and for the
third time six weeks later, and the
chances for a crop of fruit will be good.
Where blight of foliage is feared, add
about three ounces of Paris green TO the
fifty gallons of water, and both Insects
and blight VIII be destroyed. Those who
have not tried spraying win be delighted
with its efficacy. Later in the season,
when the fruit has set, If spraying has
been successful, there will be fruit to be
thined out. Trees which have been graft
ed need attention. Ortentimes shoots
from the stock will spring out near the
cion and overlap IT., taking from IL the
strength 1t should have. These shoots
must be cut back until the cion is the
leading shoot. and after It gets strong
and vigorous the other shoots spoken of
must be cut away altogether. And see
that where cions have been tied that the
strings are cut, after growth starts.
Sometimes CRAFTS fail 10 grow, and again,
other trees may be found which IT rs &C.
sired should be changed to other kinds,
and in these cases budding affords the
chance to accomplish the object. This
work is done toward the close of sum-
mer, but before the sap ceases to flow
freely. great many can be set in about
the tree, and when the next spring comes
they grow as gratis would do. Borers add
a little to the summer care of an orchard.
They should be looked for IN June and
September. AS their borings are easily
seen, 1t has always seemed to me easier