The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-01-30

phS SiOSll COudlJiOh vi GllS sui, llISb III
making it finer and thus preventing
a greater feeding surface for the roots
by increasing the depth of the soil,
by warming and drying the soil in
spring, and by reducing extremes in
temperature and moisture.
Tillage also saves moisture by max
ing so many small particles the aggre-
gate of which presents vastly great
er water-holding capacity and further
it saves moisture by keeping finely
pulverized mulch of soil on the sur
face, thus preventing evaporation.
Again tillage augments chemical
activity; these chemicals. nitrogen,
potash and phosphorus, with the ten
other soil elements are present in
quantity but often in a form not
available, or they may be too deep
in the soil, the surface supply having
been used for some other crops. So
tillage may aid in setting free these
elements, by tearing up the supply
sources, by fastening decomposition
of vegetable matter.
In the tools used lies great deal of
the success of preparation. The pillow
increases the surface for feeding and
for holding moisture as well as max
ing greater depth for the holding of
moisture and raking up of supplies
of food.
After a blowing the spring tooth
harrow or cultivator, acts about the
same in furnishing a pulverized
mulch. Ridges will allow too great
evaporation and so a shallow cult
vator or a smoother may be used.
But without discussing tools, a few
suggestions on tillage may be timely.
Begin to till an orchard early in its
history and begin to cultivate early
In the season. Be sure to stop cult
waiting in late summer or early fall in
order that the new growth may be
discontinued before the frost catches
it. Till so that the land may have
uniform cultivation, and with these
suggestions it must be remembered
not to over do. A safe growth of new
wood is to be encouraged, but too
much or too watery is sure to bring
bad results.
FertiIizerS.-This matter depends
on the locality and the need of the
soil in each locality. OF course the
essential elements must be there or
they must be supplied. Humus is
most generally lacking of all fertiliz-
ers. This can generally be supplied
by green Qegume crops crops turned
under or by manure. Three excellent
fertilizers for the orchard are-barn-
yard manure, supplying nitrogen in
small quantities and humus; wood
ashes supplying potash; and good
green crops, especially clover, COW
peas, sofa beans or similar crops, but
never grain crops.
PtGnting.-Herei is where absolute
lack of Judgment often shows. If set
for commercial purposes, see first
what the market wants. At present
the following may be named as the
market varieties:-Ben Davis, York
Imperial, Grimes Golden, Albermarl
Pippin, Baldwin, Greenling, North
ern Spy and some few others. After
knowing what the market varieties
are then see if your locality will grow
them. Do not set over four varieties,
at most, for commercial purposes.
Another thing, people often wonder
why they do not have fruit after
their trees bloom full. This is due to
the fact that certain varieties do not
pollenate themselves, but must be
pollenated by trees of "a different kind.
SO to avoid this the sterile kinds must
be known. AS a result of experience
the following list is given as more or
less self-sterile:-Of apples-Bell-
flower, Strawberry, Gravenstein,
King, Spy, Rambo, Astrachan, Rox,
Russell, Spitzenberg and Falvian
Sweets. Those given as mostly self
sterile are Baldwin, Goblin and Green
ling. M. B. White, of the Department
OF Agriculture, says varieties of APP
pies are more liable to self sterile than
are pears. With apples, a great ma
jority of trees produce no fruit when
allowed to pollenate.
In pears the following are more or
less self-sterile; Anjou, Bartlett, Clair
gian, Clapp, Columbia, Du lie Chene,
Howell, Lawrence, Louis Bonnie,
Pound, Sheldon and Wider. Those
generally selfsterile: - Angoulene,
Bose, Butfum, d'Alencon, Flemish,
Beauty, Heathcote, Keiffer, LeCoute,
Mannings Eliz, Sickle, Tyson.
Other fruits:-Many native plums
as Wild Goose, Miner, Wayland,
Golden Beauty, Mananna and Deep
Creek.
Strawberries often lack stamens al
together and as is well known, are
classed as stammate or pistilate.
Ounce does as well when self polli-