Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12
Orchard and Garden.

Now is the time for the spreading of manure broadcast in the orchard.
 Cuttings of quince can be made now to good advantage.
 It never injures a tree or vine to cut out the dead wood at any season.
 Young straberry plants are often killed by the application of strong fertilizers.
 Black rot Is caused by the growth of a fungus upon the affected parts of the grape.
 Under no consideration should water be allowed to stand around the roots of plants.
 Gooseberries and entrants are easily grown, and there is rarely an oversuppiy of them.
 During the early winter is good time to haul out and spread manure in the orchard.
 Successful fruit growers are those that have clean orchards-this means clear of rubbish, as well as weeds.
 Sugar maple is good either as forest or an ornamental tree. It will do well on a rocky hillside.
 No other fruit requires so much manure or such thorough cultivation as the quince.
 Fruit trees, grape vines and bushes have no place in the garden. as they draw nourishment from the soil.
 As rule, it is a good plan to plant the same kinds in blocks rather than pro- miscuously throughout the orchard.
 Don't let sheep have the run Of the orchard. Their propensity is to gnaw the bark of the trees.
 Peach and plum trees are both less liable to disease when grown in the poui- try yard They will make a. better growth and at the same time anord a good shade for the poultry.
 The matted row system of growing strawberries is the most profitable, espe- cially if care is taken not to let the plants grow too thick in the rows.
 Prune feeble trees in winter, as prun- ing when the plant is dormant tends to impart vigor, but if done when the plant Is growing or in leaf it checks growth
 As a rule 1t Is not a good plan to fill up an old orchard with young trees The soil is exhausted by the growth of the other trees. The better plan will be to start a new orchard.
 On most farms 1t will pay to devote a quarter of an acre at least to small fruits. Plant in long rows sufficiently far apart so that the greater part of the work of cultivating can be done with a horse and cultivator.
 DO not leave the brush and trimmings from the trees lying scattered around. Gather all up clean and burn it. Rubbish of any kind in the orchard affords har- bor for vermin of many kinds.
 Deep holes in planting tree are often A disadvantage, especially in clay sub soil. Dig the hole only as deep as the tree Is to be planted, which should be as deep as 1t originally grew In the nursery
 Beyond any question more general devotion to gardening among Americans would help them to lead lives of greater serenity and sanity. They could afford to read fewer books and newspapers if they only learned these lessons of peace which come from contact with nature It would be a solace to poor and rich. It would cultivate the taste and gratify the love of beauty in many a home where costly works of art are not to be thought of.
 Is there any other argument necessary to show the southern farmers that they have made a great mistake in risking their all upon cotton and corn? Does not their own experience these fifteen or twenty years prove to them that they have made a mistake-a huge mistake in not yaising more hogs. more beef. more sheep, more hay. in not making the farm more sustaining? The man who cannot see his mistake now, If he never saw 1t before, Is not likely to make the change soon enough to prove of any real benefit to him, though 1t Is possible that he may inaugurate the change that will bring benefits to his children.
 The SOW with young pigs should be fed moderately at first. gradually increasing the feed. The pigs should be started eating as soon as possible and tried to their full capacity in order to hasten development. For young pigs there is nothing better than skim milk mixed with shorts in the proportion of two ounces of the latter to a quart of the former. Ground wheat, rye. barley or little oil meal Is also excellent As the pigs grow the amount of grain should be increased until pound Is added to every pound and a half of milk In large herd 1t is necessary to separate the larger and stronger pigs from their weaker brethren or to take some measure which will insure each getting no more nor less than his share of food.
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