The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-11-05

better opportunity for so doing, but
slso because the pruning of the trees
and the removal of diseased portions
can be done less hurriedly than in the
spring. NegleC,ing the orchard IL the
cause OF trees being improbable. but
where farmers have recognized the or
Chards as sources OF profit. and regard
cd the trees as something more than
ornaments. or as occupying the ground
from custom. the returns nave been
satisfactory. The land used for the
orchard is frequently forced TO bear
two crops the year one of grain and
one of fruit, the latter crop coming be-
cause 1t is natural for trees to attempt
10 bear fruit, even under unfavorable
circumstances, while the grain was in
tended for market. When land is thus
taxed II will be but few years before
It Is exhausted. as 1t is better to cut
the trees down and give the land who'll
" TO grain than to leave the trees tu
icduce the grain yield and at the same
time produce only unmarketable fruit.
Grain and fruit crops on the same
land remove the fertilizing materials
Of the soil very rapidly: yet farmers
ccldom Apply manure on orchard land.
rreferring to use il on other fields. The
orchard must take care of itself, be-
coming the prey OF insects and dis
cases. and the trees make but little
growth. or die. when they could. with
care. be made to produce good paying
crops al less cost for labor than grain.
A crop of grain or grass may be
taken from the land occasionally. but
ii requires time TO establish an or
chard; hence 1t is a serious mistake to
neglect trees and allow them to become
diseased wnen the labor Of making an
Cichard ard the loss of time waiting
for the trees to reach the bearing
stage 10 considered. When an orchard
has become overrun with weeds. or the
trees show signs of decay, the first
work should be to cut away all dead
or diseased limbs and then plow the
ground, applying 10 bushels of lime per
acre or % bushels of wood ashes. har-
rowing the land. Work in an orchard
K difficult, on account of the roots,
but II should be plowed as well as
possible, So as to break up the hard
surface sell. Rye or crimson clover
should then he seeded, II in = q fall,
ard the ground plowed again in the
sprilg, turning the rye under. Cow
peas may then be sowed on the ground,
after danger of frost Ia over. and IL
desired tho cow peas may he fed off
hy sheep. as the animals will return a
large proportion Of the crop TO the soil
as manure. With the application of
planure Or fertilizer the orchard may
then bc seeded TO clover. hut no Or
chard should be kept permanently in
glass. The proper plan is to plow the
clover Tor any grass crop) under. and
then grow late potatoes, cabbages or
come other crop fhat is cultivated be-
tween the rcwg and which requires
manuring. Peach trees thrive best
when given clean cultivation, like corn,
crop of any kind sometimes doing
harm. Clean cultivation, with mulch
crop, such as rye. sowed in the fall
and turned under in the spring is usu-
ally beneficial.
ccptibly spread in winter. No mat
ter how careful the grower may be he
will frequently leave fallen fruit, dead
grass, leaves or any other refuse ma
terials around the trees in winter. They
are the vehicles of germs, and as the
winds scatter light substances to other
locations the failure to clean away
a e,,
may cause the spread of disease over
the entire orchard. II is useless TO cut
away dead limbs and burn them IL tho
spores of fungus diseases can be scat
tered broadcast by materials that
could easily be cleared up and in
snort time. Work during the winter
can be done to good advantage in de-
strcying the borcrs, and the eggs OF the
millers which produce worms can be
cleared from the trees; in fact, every
tree will be benefited by scraping and
washing with a strons solution of I've,
while painting the trees In winter with
crude petroleum is claimed to be
remedy for the scale insect. The trees
or an orchard usually show the effects
OF eood treatment. The peach, which
someSpfes appears to succumb to no
cause, Kill respond to severe pruning
and take on new life. Many trees, es-
pecially those in old orchards, are Just
as they were when first set out, never
having been trimmed. They can be
improved by pruning, but it Should be
dcne judlciously, and not BY going into
the orchard with an AK and saw to cut
away the tree indiscriminately. Or
rhards that have never paid dollar
can be made to give good profits If the
same labor is given them as is be-
slowed on grain crops.--Philadelphi
Rapord