Year: 1879

Starting Fruit Orchards.


J. Fitz, of Keswick, Va, writes as
follows to the agricultural editor of the
New York World: 1t is the season to
make observations Us TO what trees we
should select when the time arrives for
planting them out. The mistakes made
by farmers and others in the selection
of their fruit trees are 80 apparent and so
discouraging that we feel it incumbent
on US to make few remarks on the SUBJ
ject, notwithstanding we may have here
tofore said something about this common
error.


If farmers would plant varieties just
suited to their soil and location, what an
increase of production would be realzed
to benefit both the cultivator and the
country. Many of us have fruit trees oc-
cupying valuable ground that are en-
tirely worthless, although good in their
proper places. We see fine descriptions
in the books and catalogues, and. in
making out lists to plant, trees are often
or the soil and location they require.
In this way losses and disappointments
are brought about, and are the certain
result.


1t is entirely in the power of planters
to remedy this by proper selection, which
they may always do if they but choose
to make the effort. 1t is but very little
trouble to look into the neighboring
orchards during fructescience and see
what trees are vigorous and note their
bearing qualities. With this, and from
lhe Information the owners can give,
there need be no mistake. We plant too
many sorts. Select few of the very
best that will constitute asuccession of
summer, fall and winter sorts. If for
market few of each variety is better
than many; for family use we may have
greater variety, but in a great many
sorts you will be sure to get some that
are worthless.


1t is true lot of barren or /" shy-bear-
ing" trees may be changed when young
and thrifty by grating to sorts that
are productive. but this requires time.
and many farmers could not be made to
see this or would not give themselves the
trouble to make the change, and 80 the
trees remain more of a nuisance than
anything else, and their owner takes up
the mistaken notion that there is no
special advantage in fruit culture. With
such trees there must be partial failure,
however proper may be the general
management of the orchard. The diff
ference between trees properly selected
and those that are not is 80 obvious that
any observer with half an eye can see
the disadvantages attending such selec-
tions. The fruiting season is the proper
time for observation. A little good judg-
ment. and the advice of the orchardist,
rs we have already remarked, will en-
able any one to avoid improper trees and
enable him to select the best, both as to
quality and bearing, and thus the value
and bearing capacity of his orchard will
be increased or secured in ratio with the
pains he takes in this direction.


Those having the misfortune ofa frosty
loration should be especially careful OF
v tat they plant. In their case the
la1dy sorts alone should be selected. 1t
will not pay to cultivate trees from which
fruit is not obtained, or that bear only
once in three or four years or at long in
tervals.


From my experience IN raising
layers I would say, when the summer
pruning is done, save the best lower
branches. Do not shorten them if they
grow fifteen feet in length. Do not
shorten them in the fall trimming, ex-
cept to clip off few of the tender buds
that grew late and are liable to be
winter-killed. In the spring, before the
buds have swollen perceptibly, make
the ground fine and mellow whree the
vine is to be laid, and where it will have
%l,n nH,vo nj y
some portion of the day. Lay the vine
on the surface of the ground, and fasten
it there by pins or stones. Let it be in
this position until the buds have grown
two to four inches. Now carefully raise
the vine, and make trench an inch and
q half to two inches in depth under it.
Place the vine in this trench and fasten
it there, then more than fill it with good
loam. A little fertilizer with the loan
will do no harm. In this way it is easy
to raise a good two to four foot vine
from almost every joint. This is much
better way than to cover the vine when
first laid down, as some advise. The
vine then cannot be covered to suffi-
cient depth to root well without losing
many of the buds, The last years vine
is far preferable to one older. The
prominent fruiting buds on the old vine
are all dead, and it is far less liable 10
grow than new vine, and if it does send
forth shoots they will come from small
dormant buds that lie about the main
dead bud. They grow like sprout, and
not like a main bud of a new vine.
After the leaves have fallen, sever the
branches from the parent vine, and care
fully take up the layers, and divide
them into as many parts as there are
strong new vines.-H. o. H., IN Agr'cuI-
urist.


Health Hints.


An application of cold, wet, common
whitening placed on Immediately is an
invaluable remedy for a burn.


Those who have hard, calloused spots
on the hand can rid themselves of them
by holding the spot over the grindstone
for moment or two.


Bleeding of wound in Il man or beast
can be stopped by mixture of wheat
flour and common salt, in equal parts,
bound..on with cloth.


A good wash for the teeth is made by
putting equal parts of borax and cam
phor gum into a bottle of water and let
ting it stand for n short time before
using.


For inhammatory rheumatism take
half an ounce of pulverized saltpeter, put
in half an ounce of sweet oil, bathe the
parts affected, and sound cure will
speedily be effected.


To keep the hands soft, mix honey, al
mond meal and olive oil into paste;
use after washing with soap. CASTLE
soap is hestfor use, as it will cure cut
or scratch and prevents any spots.


To cure sore throat, wrap flannel
around the throat, keep out of draughts
and sudden changes Of atmosphere, and
every half hour take a pinch of chloride
of potash, place it on the tongue and
allow it to dissolve in the mouth.


Gentian root is said to be a tobacco an
tidote. Buy two ounces or more of gen
tian root, coarsely ground. Take rs
much of it after each meal. or oftener, as
amounts to common quid of 'tine-cut." !"
Chew it slowly and swallow the juice:
Continue this few weeks, and you will
conquer the Unsuitable appetite for to-
bacco from which thousands struggle to
be free, but give up in despair.


An Appeal for the Watermelon.


Some people entertain an idea that
watermelons are unwholesome. Yet