The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-14
SOME EXPERIENCES.
Goth with Fruits and NcgctabkS
Raising.

Goth with Fruits and Ncgctnbk
Raising.
One-fourth to one-third of the limbs
In the tops of an old apple orchard are
dead, and the owner wonders what is
best to do to put it in the best condi-
ton. Our advice is that the trees
which are in the best shape receive q
load of well-rotted manure, to be scat
tered evenly over the surface OF the
ground as far out as the limbs extend.
Prune the trees severely, and cultivate
well during summer. Dig out those
trees which are badly affected.
A village lot was planted to pota-
toes last spring having been plowed
last fall; about the same amount of
ground alongside was planted the same
time. 1t had been plowed in the spring.
Both plots were given the same care.
On the fall-plowed ground the potatoes
are making a much better growth and
are much superior to those on the
spring plowed. II seems that the fall
plowing proved the best for retaining
the moisture.
. There is fine patch of the Wilson
and Warfield strawberry grown In hills.
The plan is to grow alternately in the
row a hill of Wilson and one of War
field. There is no doubt that Warfield's
No. will be laden with well-tormed
fruit.
In layering plants of Schaeffer rasp-
berry, II Is we'll to have the tip point
almost straight down and not to layer
too early. IL layered at too much of an
angle, it pushes out of the soil, often
making but a few roots, and when lay
cred too early, the little germ at the
crown starts in to grow in the fall,
the severe winter weather freezing the
tender shoot back.
In improving varieties of small
fruits We select out of each variety
those having the highest number of
good points and propagate plants from
them.
After good shower we like to start
the cultivator to hold moisture, but we
do not start until the soil is in a
'mealy'' condition or not to wet.
One gentleman generally has a good
crop of apples and raspberries on the
same ground, but he keeps the ground
covered the year around with heavy
mulch of straw and marsh hay, so the
sell cannot be seen at any time. The
mulch is well loosened up in spring
and fall to give air to the soil before
putting on more.
Many growers in Michigan being dis.
gusted with the price of small fruits
this year, are plowing under a part OF
their plantations. This means n fair
chance for those who keep at it.
With regard to asparagus. we find
there is more in the richness OF the
ground than in the variety.
We have found by experiment that
black raspberry plants should not be
set too shallow, the plants which were
set three or four inches deep -four
inches on sandy soil is none too much),
staEd up straight, but on those which
were set scant three inches deep, the
,anes Will have 10 be staEed and tied up.
Il is profitable at this season of the
year to cultivate the late cabbage early
In the morning as possible while the
dew Is on, especially II the weather be
dry.
Not weed should be allowed to 20
TO seed on the lawn.
We must have good pile of sods
piled UP with alternate layers Of poul-
try manure; it IL one of the most sat
sfactory OF fertilizers when allowed to
rot end shoveled over a few times
oefore next summer.