Middletown transcript., 1896-02-15
OF Interest
ITO Farmers


WINTER WORK IN THE ORCHARD.
The orchard has its winter enemies
which must be watched and combatte'
and there are summer enemies whicl
are most easily seen and DESTROYED Will,
the leaves are off the trees. Then ther,
are several items Of work which may b.
performed on warm, open days, if sucl
occur.
Mice and rabbits eat the bark O
young trees during hard winters wher
the snow covers all the ground. They
are best guarded against by painting
the trunks of the trees with some com
pound which is offensive to these pests
II the ground is kept entirely free from
weeds and grass, mice do not ordinarily
cause much trouble, and rabbits may
be shot ard trapped. Still some trees
will need protection. A wash contain.
ing lime, cow manure, and aloes OF
crude carbolic acid, enough to give the
wash strong tas' . and odor, will usu-
ally prove effective. Should it be car.
ried off the trees BY rain, il must be re.
newed. Strips of fine wire netting, cut
wide enough to encircle the trees, are
quickly applied, and absolutely effec-
tive. II is presupposed that any one
who will plant an orchard will keep
COWS and sheep away from it during
the winter season.
Insects are easily found and destroyed
during the winter season. All old nests
of the tent caterpillar should be re-
moved from the trees and burned. Clus-
ters Of leaves. or even single leaves ad-
herring to fruit trees if examined v i'll
often be found protecting bunch of
eggs. From small trees these are readily
removed and destroyed. Should the
San Jose or any other scale insect have
obtained lodgment in the orchard,
winter is the season to wage war Of
determination. This is because these
pests are only to be located with accur-
acy at this time; and in the next place,
sucA vigorous treatment may be re-
quired thar only dormant trees may be
able 10 endure it. For the San Jose
scale trim away all super fous branches
and then, at intervals before the leaves
appear next spring, give three thorough
sprayings of whaleoil soap solution.
This is made by dissolving two pounds
of soap to the gallon of water. Apply
it as hot as possible and do the work
in the most thorough manner. IL other
scale insects are present, spray with a
containing one pound of soap
to the gallon of water.
The black knot of the cherry and
plum trees should be sought for and
burned. This should be done before
February, or as early as possible in the
winter. The reason for this is, that the
fungus which covers these knots null
Eiplies in the warm days of February
and March, and the wind carries it
from tree to tree ready to produce a
fresh crop of knots in the early spring.
That This disease may be controlled is
shown by the writer's experience. He
lss found and removed but three knots
rom about fifty cherry tees in the
past ten years. Whenever knot is
seen it is at 0nce removed and burned.
Trees may lie trimmed whenever the
wood is not frozen; but it is better to
leave this work until most of the cold
weather is over, and never trim peach |
.rees until spring has arrived. The
operator should stand upon the ground |
IN doing this work. The tools needed |
Ire heavy orchardist's trimming
inife, a sharp chisel with width of |
,ladB about one and one-half inches,
md mounted on handle of required |
engtb, a mallst. and trimmeIs saw
sittf teeth on both front and back. |
Jut iall the limbs possible with the
inffe or chisel. These tools give "a /
harp clean cut, while the saw leaves
he uIface IF the would ragged and |
puch nioie liable 10 decay. Trim
way all limis that trusll others, and
hen Trim moro 50 lI,at the san may
hine through The Up. This is neces-
any tor the d-velopeulenl -of the finest
ruiz, aid it is also necessary if the
rees a,e to be successfully sprayed for
odiing moth, apple scrab, etc. After
he branches have been removed, all
Wounds n-oie that balf-il.ch in DAM
ter should be covered with some cheap
amt to keep out air and moisture.
large limbs are removed the scars
hould receive several coatings Of
amt.
All rubbish Of every kind which har-
ors insects should Be removed from Ii
- n sls