The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-06
JOUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural ReaderS
Thinning Fruit.


Thinning fruit now on the trees will ia
many cases be quite as important TO good
fruit in the harvest as has been the spraying.
With trees overloaded much of the fruit will
be small and will be as inferior in quality as
in size. Trees overloaded do not seem to
have the power 20 store up in their fruit
those delicious havors natural TO the va
riety when produced under n less burden.
This has been more noticeable in pear
growing. where high davors are the chief
merit, and for this reason the thin
ming OF pears has had far more attention
than of apples But the effect is the same
with apples The Baldwin and the North
ern Spy, as examples, with the trees over
loaded, much of the fruit will be so inferior
in flavor as TO bear but slight resemblance TO
fully-perfected specimens.
Experience has shown that the thinning
Of fruit does not reduce the gross yield
That which is left on the trees viii grow
much larger, while it's higher perfection
gives It's greater value.
There is work involved in thinning fruit.
1t is no small task to 90 over large Bald
win tree and snip off half its specimens.
a
tie thinning has been done with apples.
But since our markets are growing critical
over the fruit they handle, and as a result
little of value Is realized out of that of Sec
ond quality, it becomes matter of inereas-
ing Importance to harvest only choice fruit.
Hence the grower is called upon to give his
fruit special attention and all the time its
proper care calls for.
One of the most satisfactory substitutes
for green corn fodder found thus far has
been vetches sometimes called tares IN
England. The seed can be obtained of any
scotsman, and is not very expensive. 1t IS
generally mixed with oats, about half and
half or bushel and half of oats TO one of
vetches, and drilled in with an ordinary
Grain I'LL Two to three bushels are sufi-
eient for an acre. In some instances, one to
two hundred pounds of phosphate to the
acre has been found an excellent thing on
soil not in a high state of cultivation. The
oats serve to keep the vetches from the
ground, as they are inclined TO run like pea
vines, and render the gathering easier. The
crop can be sown very early in the Spring,
ard is ready for cutting a month earlier
than fodder corn.
Vetches are not only excellent for produc.
ing an abundant flow o. milk when fed to
cows, but are also hearty and fattening, and
especially good for work horses and hogs
In some parts Of England the work-h0rses
receive almost nothing else, and are always
sleek and far. If not allowed to rIpen. the
oats and vetches may he cut and cured, and
make excellent hay, about As good as clover,
and the yield per acre in an average year ID
at least a third more than clover
Canada peas and oats are raised to a
considerable extent, with very good re-
suits. They are excellent as green fodder,
but more usually are allowed to ripen. The
proportion sown is about the same as IN the
case of yetches. If sown too thick they are
apt to drag the oats down and render cutting
difficult. About one bushei of peas to two
of oats has been found most satisfactory.
Horses do not usually like the peas mixed
with the oats, but soon become accustomed
to them.
Some attempts have been made to grow
rape for early feeding, but it is not so satIs-
factory. Itgrows large and makes exceifent
sheep pasture ifhurdles are provided. Grim
son clover was ali the rage for a time, bus
little OF nothing is heard of it now. 1t re-
quires very rich, moist land, and even then
sometimes fails.
Good Use for Barrel.
Pasture springs become foul mud-holes IT
left for cattle to drink from and tramp
through. Moreover, the water gets very
warm in Summer. Cut q barrel IN two
parts Put one over the spring as shown