The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-04-20
THE ORCHARD.

Prof s. A. Beach says not to use Bor-
deaux mixture which has been made over
fOrty-eight hours.
The San Jose scale can be conquered by
kerosene spray. This to be applied in
May or June when the insect is active.
A subscriber asks: "How far north is
the native persimmon hardy, and will ii
ripen its fruit?" Who can answer.
For grating wax, use three parts OF
resin, two of beeSwax and one of tallOw;
melt over slow fire, pour in cold water
to cool.
Yes, pillow the orchard. it will do good.
Go three inches deep. Never let sod set
in an orchard, and never grow grain
crop.
If your order for fruit trees has not been
sent in to the nursery, dely no longer. II
left later, your order may not be filled as
promptly as you would like. Impossible,
20 to the nursery to select your stock. 1t
pays. You know best what will suit you
and you can take your pick.
Farmers, take care of your wild plum
trees; their fruit makes good butter, pre-
serves and jelly, and age improves it.
Insects do not injure them as they do
other plums. The trees are not as easily
injured as the most Of fruit trees, and
they are very profitable.
Now is the time to gather the eggs o.
the tent caterpillar. These are laid in
clusters from half an inch to an an inch
long upon cherry, apple and some other
trees both cultivated and Wild. They are
years. growth, and look like tiny band
ages of brown flannel around the twig.
Cut them off and burn them.
QUERY. Will you please explain the
difference between standard and dwarf
pears, and which is the best to plant for
profit; also, would it do to set block of
one kind Of pear trees in place.
ANSWER. Standard pear trees are
those that are grated upon pear roots;
dwarfs upon ounce roots. If you have
q small plot, dwarf pears are suitable, and
yet, as q rule, standards are best every
where. Dwarfs are liable to injury from
borers; standards not so much so. It Is
not wise to set block of one variety, as
partially SO. 1t is best to mix them;
much the best.
Trees should not be grated until their
buds are visibly swelling in early spring.
This shows the sap il rising, and ensures
kAA0 SCAOu rum uA LUZ O<AsS WAAAeA ~ vsAA>A
do If set before the sap was in motion.
The swelling Of the buds is better guide
than any date In the calendar. When
getting sciOns for grating purposes, cut
them from trees which are known to be
good bearers. There are qualities in the
trees which seem transmissible, and that
Of bearing il one. II is much wiser e
get sciOns from tree known to be pro-
ductive than from one that u . pool
be0ror-EATm Journal.
An expert ON fruit matters, Prof. g. +
Powell, is authority for the statement
| that the error Is almost universally com
mitted Of planting apple trees 20 clos
that the brances interlOck In few years
A forest-like apple orchard shuts ont tn
sunlight, keeps the ground damp and =
condition to harb0r diseases i hinder
the cultivation Of the orchard, its spray
ing. and the gathering and production Q
fruit. In farf. many old orchards couIs
not be titled or sprayed until half Ia
trees had been cut out. The experience
in the older apple growing regions be
shown the practical Disadvantage Of clos