The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-07
I, HORTICULTURAL ITEMS.
The Time and Manner of Caring
for GrapCVlnCS.
GENERAL RULES FOR TREE PLANTING
How to Keep a Lawn.--ErrOneOus Ideas
About Plant Watering.

Written for the WEEKLY INTELLIGEEcEe by
Charles Teubner.
"a series OF articles and notes on
horticultural and kindred subjects
may be expected in this paper. Mr..
ATeubner, who is not ouly successful
horticulturist and nurseryman, but
student and authority upon these sub
iects, has promised to contribute from
week TO week something of interest to
our readers. EDITOR.
Grapevines may be pruned, during
mild weather, from the time their
leaves are dropped until eud OF March,
but the earlier this is done the better.
The canes of tender varieties, if
pruned in October or November, may
be laid down and covered with earth,
leaves, corn fodder or other mulch, to
prevent winter.killiug The pruning
of grapevnes isn't easy to make plain
in a few words. AS a rule, cut the
new canes back to four or five feet and
the branches (f there are any near
lead pencil size) should bo cut back TO
two buds. These are called spurs.
Should there be no new canes, then
cut the new wood on the old canes
back to two or three buds. Do not
break or cut off the new growth
during summer, as many do who
believe that the fruit should have
sunlight. The contrary is true. Prune
vines according to strength. Three or
four canes, with dozen spurs, are
sufficient for average vines. Extra
strong ones can carry more. Young
or weak vines less
In planting trees always dip The
roots in water. so they 60 dripping
wet into the hole, fill fine earth care
fully around and over them and then
tramp the soil as hard as you can. But
the last inch of soil should be eft loose
and porous so rain can easily penetrate.
After filing up the hole raise a small
mound, about six inches high around
the tree to keep out borers. Do not
plant too deep. As a rule plant so
the upper roots will be about four
inches beneath the surface. Never
n pour water into the hole when planting,
unless the earth is dry. When plant
ing in sod, e. g. in front yards or lawns,
dig holes at least two to four feet
square and do not replace he sod
Instead place q frame (same size as
hole) of four to six inch boards set on
edge around the tree and fill up with
leaves, straw or other litter, and then
nail laths or narrow strips across the
top of the frame to prevent dogs and
chickens from scratching out the
mulch. II you don't like frames, plan
flowers around the trees The work
ing and watering the former get heI
the latter, and the flowers will be al
attractive feature of the lawn.
A front yard or lawn should no
have shrubs and roses scattered al
over it. These set off lawn bes
when arranged in groups, near th
gate and in corners; also as screen
along one or both sides, or to separat
the front from the back yard. Plan
the tallest shrubs in the center o
groups and small ones on the margin
A lawn should be framed, as it were
like picture.
To grow lawn, first get the surfac
In fine tilth, then SOW pure blue gras
seed thiekiy any time in April whe
the earth is in friable condition, rak
in well and roll II mixture
preferred add sparingly OF white clover
Don't SOW any rye or oats with il fc
protection. These merely rob an
dwarf the gross. 1t IS the silllest {
ideas that blue grass needs protectlo
from the SUMS heat, by shading 1t wit
some robber baron grain. We see
upringing up spontaneously everywheI
and il can hold its own better
drouth and severe freezes than an
gram. Don'tbe afraid to walk on II
grass Or to let hechildron run over !
iiit is well established, because i do'
better in firm soil than in loos
Don't sprinkle the lawn every eyei