The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-12-01
THE FRUIT CuLTuRlsT.
Scoring Appls.- o.t-rensr.IIas the Rose


Storing Apples-Oat-gensrnlIR the Rose
Issa.
Storing Appies.-Ci Cider.-We are now
In the midst OF apple picking. and the
crop, though small in numbers, is quite
a large one in bulk, as the fruit is far
above the average in quality. Thanks
TO spraying in early summer there are
very few wormy specimens and the
skin Is clear, making a crop that is
ValuAble this year as they are bring
ing a good price In open market. The
best way to store apples for home use
ls to spread them out, not too deeply,
ON shelves, FIRST spreading over a thin
layer Of hay, as this prevents bruisins,
and If the room be cool, as In FROST
proof cellar, they may be kept plump
and good well along into summer. Last
spring we had good specimens OF Rox-
barry RuHsets in May, and the Golden
Russet kept equally loag. The culIs OF
these two kinds were used for cider
making, aad where cider Is made for
home use, it is best to save such fruit
torfthis purpose, as the qualities In the
bppae that go to keep it for late use also
keep. the cider good for long time
without its becoming too hard or too
acid to be pleasant. Nothing but good
sound apples should besused for grind
ing as the quality is impaired as well
rs the keeping of it by the use Of un-
sound fruit; and we have also found
that it pays to get fresh barrel each
time, as one that nas held dregs that
have turned to vinegar, is very apt to
impair the favor of the new.
Grapes. The grapes are about gone
now, and it is a good time to make
notes, while the matter is fresh In ones
mind, about destroying kinds that are
non-productive We find that some OF
the newer ones are far in advance OF
the older ones, and there are some that
must go to make room for their betters
1t is well at this time to get them out
and to prepare the ground for the new
ones to be set, either this fall or next
spring, as best suits the locality. Here
we would not care to plant in-the fall
IS the winter would surely make trou-
Bile. but in more favored locations it
may be safely done. Grape vines, how
ever, start so late IN spring that there
Is long planting season, and If the
soil be well dug and manured now, it
is very small matter to plant at the
proper time in spring.
generating the Rose Bug.-Very
many people complain of the havoc Of
The rose bugs when the grapes are in
bloom. We never had grape until the
vines were lifted and set out on the
sunny side OF the barn and over the
chicken houses. The rose bugs in their
flight seem to avoid any obstacle, and,
seeing a barn, will steer clear of it and
atack something else The vines, do
40 harm to the buildings as we first
put up some chicken wire netting tack
ed here and there to nold it up, but
not too often as it has to be taken
down when painting. The young
shoots we trained upright at about
shree feet distance; from these the
fruit bearing laterals are taken out
horizontally, as often as need be to
cover the space, it is an easy way to
train vines as very little tying is re-
luired. and great crops OF fruit are
raised with a surety Of its ripenins,
sven in untoward seasons as the heat
is attracted to the fruit by the build
ings and winter killing Of the shoots
is rare, owing to the way the wood is
natured even on an east aspect. We
dnd also that the shading of the chick
IN houses by the foliage in hot weather,
mere than compeHsates for the damage
that may possibly result to the build
ing. in the rotting out OF the shingles
1t an earlier date than would take place
an an uncovered roof. There are many
ansightly buildings that could be
covered by vines that would bear a
profitable crop Of fruit, especially where
space ia limited and where rose bugs
attack the blossoms.