Pruits and CnUurc. ^77 



can be secured by cutting back and thinning out the branches, thus 

 throwing the whole vigor of the trees into those that remain and 

 giving them thorough cultivation and plenty of manure. 



For the top-working of large trees, the use of the cleft graft is ad- 

 visable, cutting the branches back to stubs from one inch to one and one- 

 half inches in diameter, and inserting two scions in each stub. All out- 

 door grafting is done in the spring just before the buds open, but, if for 

 any reason is delayed after this time, the scions should be kept dormant 

 by placing them in an ice-house or cool cellar. 



THE APPLE CROP. 



AT END OF THE SEASON. 



(By G. T. Tippin, Nichols, Mo.) 



As we have just completed harvesting a remarkable fruit crop in 

 South Missouri, considering the unfavorable circumstances under which 

 it has been grown, a review of some observations made while in constant 

 contact with a great many orchards, both peach and apple, in this section 

 during the past three months, may be of interest to some of the readers 

 of your valuable paper. 



At the time of our last communication to the Fruit-Grower the peach 

 crop was very promising, and while an abundant crop was harvested, 

 there was a time during July and August when the grower lost hope and 

 his courage yielded to what he then thought inevitable disappointment. 

 As the drouth became more severe, the peaches seemed to stop growing,, 

 and we all conceded that the crop was ruined. It was a time when a se- 

 vere test was being made ; one under which the advantages and disad- 

 vantages of cultivation or non-cultivation were fully tried. A great con- 

 flict was on. Would nature fail in her part, or would she yield a bounti- 

 ful crop to the keeper of her fields ? was the question in every mind. The 

 drouth continued, but when the peaches began to mature the hope of vic- 

 tory began to rise in the minds of those who had faithfully performed 

 their part in the care of their orchards. 



While our peaches were not large as usual, the quality was the best, 

 both as to flavor and carrying qualities. We do not mean to say that 

 there were no good peaches on uncultivated orchards, but as a rule the 

 orchards that were well cultivated, with well pulverized surface, were 

 much more satisfactory and the yield went beyond the expectation of the 

 most sanguine. There was but one query. How was it possible for ai 



