The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-10

nathead Dorer. "A good wash oil soft soap
is a good preventive. 60 over our trees
in May, dig the dirt away, and il 1 should
find the trace of borer extract it by the
aid If q wire. If would do what We all
ought to do-po over the trees in the same
manner in the last DAYS of August
would not find any borers-but at that
time am TOO busy with other work.
Now / take my tree wash, protection
against borer in peach, apple, and plum
trees, and preventive for body blight in
pear trees, spread this on the trees with
whitewash brush After / finish my tssk
l cover the exposed trunk above the roots
again and pile the dirt around the trunk
higher than it was. At the first good
hoeing in the beginning of June, we dig
turb this little mound. If any eggs were
deposited the young worm cannot crawl
close to the trunk any more, but if some
found the chance the poison in the white
wash will kill them.
Peach trees will begin to bear little
the second year after planting, according
to soil and location. The fruit must re-
main on the tree until ripe. If the tree
is too heavily loaded it will be good poll
lcy to thin them when the fruit is small
yet. You will get finer, larger peaches.
DO not pick the tree clean, as the fruit RI
pens unevenly. Early varieties want to
be picked before soft, as they begin to
ripen from the pit; late kinds ripen from
the outside first. Hence if you pick for
home market leave them on few days
longer.
Now we are coming to the last topic,
the grapes. 1t is one of the earliest fruits
mentioned in the bible. Noah planted
vineyards and made wine. The grape is
every where in the sacred scriptures al
luded to as the emblem of fruitfulness
and prosperity. Roman history also tells
us of Cincinnatus, the Roman dictator, as
toiling among his grapevines.
Grapevines need good, well drained
soil, but get along with little help any,
where on side hills and stony land. II
does not hurt them to prune their roots
severely when planting. Ifyou are plant
ing for market 8x8 ieet will be a good dis
lance, although 10 feet will be more con-
venient in driving through the rows.
After firmly planted cut off to two buds
which after both have well started yor
will have to reduce to only one shoot, Sc
lecting the strongest for the remaining
one. This one will have the chance tC
grow thrifty and the roots will get wei
established. 1t is we'll to place a stak,
beside each vine.
Any one owning little land can spare
few feet therefrom for grapevine o
two, as they are modest in their wants
soapsuds, dishwater, little ashes or lea
mulching will reward you with lusciou
, fruit after few years. Our success il
grapes is due 10 steady cultivation, sever
pruning and one of the finest varieties t
begin with.
How to Prune-The first year you viii
raise one bud; this you will cut down il
the fall or winter (any time after tn
leaves drop until the lst of March t
two buds. The second fall, If your vine
made good growth, you will raise on
good cane, which you let reach up to tn
first wire so you can tie it firmly; other
wise cut down to two eyes. In the sprin
leave shoot each way, but the growtl
below these two arms you want to rub of
Next fall choose two of the best arms an,
+ leave on each arm four buds (never let
young vine bear too heavy bend one arm
to the right, the other to the left.
You all know, suppose, that it is las
D years growth that will bear the fru
The fourth year and after take four arm
: and shorten to suit you. There are man
): different ways and systems. One grape
r grower advises to leave altogether rs bud
: for one vine; some make use of all tn
g new growth, but shorten it to two bud.
which would leave in the average abou
g thirty buds. The previous year we ha
" four arms, each with six buds, maxim
It twenty four eyes for one vine. As war
g to increase the quality, if possible, an
n not the quantity, lam shortening tn
g year the four arms to four buds, whic
d will leave only sixteen buds in all. Ian
g sure there are ladies and gentlemen
It the present audience who have taste
g our grapes, and there might be some VII
n saw the vineyard with its trailing.:vin,
It above the wire. Those will admit tn,
this is close pruning.
e To make it palmer to you brought
e few vines with me. If you have an o.
y vine well established and you care mo-
II for quantity, shorten six or eight arms
k last years growth to a quarter of the
r length. This will give you an abundan,
'r of nice fruit We desire big punches al
rs big berries to keep up reputation. "
d harvested 32,657 pounds, or over sixtet
tons, which were all consumed in Shi
re wassee county. l can not say yet if N
t. present pruning will be beneficial
10 huk sf mo lz.t& A