The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
HORTICULTURE.

line first growth Of the animal is the
best. So fruit growers should realize
that the health. vigor. size and quality
OF plant and fruit will depend largely
upon good food moisture and care in the
beginning. The fine white roots suck in
the food as does the young animal. and
thrive and grow, or starve and die, in
Just the same way.
The quality and size of fruit on old
bushes is much improved by severe
pruning, or thinning of fruit. and this
applies equally we'll to all tree fruits,
The demand of the times is for quality
in everything, rather than quantity, and
this certainly applies to fruit growing.
When currants and gooseberries have
been injured by the borer as soon as
the leaves start the defective canes are
easily discovered, and should be cut out
as far down as the pith is eaten out, and
burned at once. The egg is laid about
June l, and as soon as hatched the
young borer eats its way into the cane,
and remains until the following season.
Keep the new strawberry bed per-
fectly clean from weeds; keep the run
ners turned so that they will occupy
each alternate space, leaving the inter
vening ones for path in which to walk
while cultivating or picking; and in this
way they are in better shape for cover.
ing should sudden frost overtake them
| in May.
10 manage strawberry field we'll,
divide it into thirds. One bed will be
new, upon which to rely for the main
crop; one old, from which to get what
one can; the other set to new berries.
AS soon as the old bed has got through
bearing, pillow it up and set it to cab.
bages or some other crop which must be
closely cultivated.
Berries require well drained SOIL Both
soil and location have marked infiu.
ence on variety and quality, and one
should know what kinds grow best in
his community. Leave high priced
novelties to the professionals; they are
usually disappointing, and do not fool
with poor plants. The best are always
cheapest.
Grapes should be set out or 10 feet
each way. From each plant may spring
many generations; therefore, set the
parent plant carefully and guard it we'll.
Fine moist earth should be firmly packed
about each root. Do not value the
plant by the nickel it costs, but by the
dollars it may produce.
There is no excuse for farmer not
having an orchard large enough to sup
ply his own family uses. II the old
orchard is dying out, set new one of
varieties which will ripen in summer,
fall and winter. Buy small trees of not
more than an inch in diameter, with a
straight trunk and good bunch of
roots.
Whitewash is not so effective in get.
ting rid of the borers upon the apple
trees as is soft soap. Boil one gallon of
soap in two Of water, and then add
freely of crude carbolic acid. The best
time is to apply it in the spring, soon
after the blossoms have fallen, and you
will then kill the bark lice as we'll as the
borers.
The usual cause of trouble in trying
to grow ounces is that not enough
trouble is taken in growing the trees.
To plant them is not enough; they must
have good soil, rich cultivation and
careful pruning. The fruit can always
be grown with good profit, for there is
ever demand.
Where room is scarce one may often
combine the useful and the ornamental.
A handsome grape arbor is not out of
place upon lawn, and row of currants
may be used to edge pathway. A dwarf
pear tree is as much of an ornamental"
as many of the shrubs which are used
especially for that purpose.
The foreign market for apples seems
to be steadily growing, and when choice
fruit is shipped in prime condition the
| returns are usually satisfactory. There
| is no present danger OF our OVERRIDING
orchard planting, as foreign shipments
grow greater and greater. Apples are
real luxury in many parts of the
world.
There is such thing as clutteriug up
dooryard with things OF beauty. We
want flowers about the home. and plenty
of them, but they should be in their
proper place. Avoid planting them in
| quantities at the expense of the lawn.
A wide expanse of green grass is the
first essential for handsome grounds.
This spring. when setting out your
peach trees cut them back to single
stem, and do not leave this more than
| two feet high. Use trees not more than
one year old from the bud in preference
to older ones. Our anxiety to get some.
thing of size for our money is often the
cause of failure.
1t can be safely asserted that honey
bees do not trouble fruit unless it has
been first attacked and the spin pune
tured by wasps or birds; and their aid
as fertilizing agent is almost indispens-
able. Truly. will fruit culture and bee
keeping go hand in hand, and when you
plant the orchard get the bees also.