FARMKRS' INSTITUTES. 231 



Pruninq. 



The best time, in my judgnuuit, is from the 20th of June to tlie 20th of July. 



A very good time is from tlie 20th of February to the 20th of March. One 



objection, however, to tliis season of the year is, that it induces suckers. All 



sprouts should be kept off the base of the tree, as they greatly retard its growth. 



Washing Trees. 



Would recommend washing young trees in lye in the spring, also in the 

 month of July ; it adds much to the health r.nd vigor of the tree, and is a pro- 

 tection from vermin, 



Pasluring the Orchard. 



The safe way is not to turn in a hoof of any kind, unless it be hogs. Horses 

 that will not gnaw trees may, perhaps, be turned in -with safety. Many a mau 

 has repented, when too late, turning sheep and cattle in the orchard. Unless 

 the orchard is made an object of much care, and man's will brought into 

 requisition, guarding it as he would the apple of his eye, he will not be likely 

 to succeed. 



Cherries. 



The -sweet cherries have not succeeded very well with me, unless it be the 

 more hardy sorts. The Gov. "Wood and May Duke stand our climate very 

 well, but I think our native red cherry and what is called tlie English clierry, 

 are most reliable and give the best satisfaction. 



Tlie Smaller Fruits. 



Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, and grapes, are all indis- 

 pensable to the comforts, nay, luxuries, of the household, and all can be suc- 

 cessfully grown in abundance, with but little care. 



Pears. 



I have long since discarded dwarf pears in nursery and orchard, and quite 

 agree with Gov. Crapo, deceascid. He asked me, years ago, "If I cultivated 

 dwarf pears." I replied that I did. Said he, " You can sell all you grow of 

 them, but my experience is, that they curse both propagator and purchaser." 



There is a gentleman living a little west and north of me, in the township of 

 Flushing, Mr. John Kimmel, a careful and expert fruit grower, who has had 

 considerable experience with the dwarf pear. He purchased, some fifteen years 

 ago, of T. G. Yeomans, N. Y., the following varieties (dwarf) : Blood Good, 

 Doyenne d'Ete, Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, Vicar of Winkfield, Beurre Gifford, 

 Duchess d'Angouleme, and Beurre d'Anjou, giving them for years the best of 

 cultivation and care, and lastly allowed them to lie in sod, mulching them 

 thoroughly, and says, "They have all proved a failure." 



The hardy standard varieties are the ones to plant without doubt. The 

 Bartlett is the only one of several sorts that has failed with me as a standard. 

 In 1874-5, it was killed to the snow line, and has been more or less injured 

 since then. I regard it as too tender for this climate. The most we have to 

 fear from pear culture is "blight," and the best remedy I know of for it is to 

 set out two for every one that dies. 



J lie Apple. 



The history of the apple is as old as that of man, and its attractions and 

 temptations have been felt and realized by most of the human family ; and he 



