Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-12-29

market than small sized fruit. IN
fact, small sized fruit is most always
sold at far below it's real value. There
are three chiefs things, says Farmers
Review, that the orchardist can do 10
help his trees produce large fruit.
One of these things is to give goou
cultivation The system of cultivation
should be thorough and should be con-
tinued year after year and as often
each season as it is necessary TO keep
the weeds down. 1t is surprising now
quickly the weeds will take possession
Of a young orchard after the cuitlVa-
tor has stopped its work. in an ola
orchard the weeds do not bother so
much, as the shade Of the trees does
not encourage their growth.
The best method is to pillow the
land in the spring, if the orchard Is
young. Then put in the cultivator and
later the harrow, keeping up the Gull
uvation till the middle of the summer
at least. During this time the fruit IS
increasing in size and SO are the Duds
for the fruit crop next year. The land
being Kept free from weeds will be IN
shapa to receive the air and the mols-
ture, and the roots will get the bene-
fit of both. The fruit on the tree will
therefore have supplied to 1t the plant
food ir the soil to the extent that the
roots can take it up, with the assist
ance Of the water Later in the sea-
son cow peas or even field peas or
soy beans should be planted. Ii
vetches can be grown so much the
better, but the seed of the vetch IS
expensive. In the spring this winter
covering should be plowed under and
the old regime recommended. Unless
the land is very rich stable manure
should be used, as this will help keep
up the supply of plant food in the soil,
which must go into the fruit.
The second good means of increas-
Ing the size of the fruit is pruning.
This is matter that is too much neg
lected. Nearly all orchardists prune,
but good deal of the work is done in
very unscientific manner. The work
can be done in the winter or at any
time when the tree IS dormant. A
mild dav in the late fall is a very good
time. Cold days IN winter are hardly
suitable in which to climb about
anon" the limbs of trees. Our prun-
ing is generally too mild. In the care
Of apple trees about one-half of the
last years growth should be removed
and the terminal shoots should be cut
back. In the case of peach trees the
pruning will have to be even more Sc
we're. The tops of the trees should be
thinned, so that the sun can get in to
,olor each individual fruit and to add
iavor to it.
The third great means of improving
the fruit is thinning. This is coming
extensively into use with our tree
fruits where it is desired to produce
fruit of good size and appearance.
The thinning of plums and apples has
been practiced to some extent by the
horticulturists at our agricultural col
leges, and has given good results.
Inc pTdCIlCS mas nOL, however, De-
come common with the people. 1t is
otherwise with peaches. They have
other fruit and with greater returns.
The peach is largely water anyway
and the taking away of half the crop
on a tree results in the very pro-
nounced development of the remain
Ing part.
SHEEP BETTER THAN CATTLE.
I think if we take a series of ten
years together it will commonly be
found that there is not much differ
ence between the market price of fat
sheep and fat cattle. if we compare all
classes, wethers, fat ewes, yearlings
and lambs. with steers, fat COWS, heif-
ers and calves. The fat cattle are
now about 81 per hundred less than
a year ago, still choice fat steers are
now considerably higher than fat
wethers and yearlings, but fat COWS