Miscellaneous. 337 



The first season little pruning- is done until late in fall or early in 

 spring. Train each tree to a straight whip, cutting back the very small 

 ones to the ground, and let them take another start. When the young 

 sprouts and leaves get abount an inch long, put on leather gloves and 

 rub each tree about two feet high. If at any time you find anything to 

 ■come off the body break or rub it off while young and tender. 



Those dug at one year old should always be dug with a spade. When 

 two-year-old trees are to be dug for early fall orders, you must first strip 

 off all the leaves, but after the leaves have frozen they may be left on. 

 The tree plow is the proper thing to dig with if you are going to clean 

 the ground, but if only part of them are ready to dig you will find it 

 best to use a spade, as those which are to be left until spring of the third 

 season will not do so well if disturbed. Handle carefully after digging, 

 haul to the packing ground, heel well and do not let them be exposed 

 to the sun, dry or cold wind. — Orange Judd Farmer. 



THE CARE OF THE APPLE ORCHARD. 



(Written for the Star by the practical pioneer orchardist. Col. C. Aul, 



Smithville, Mo.) 



In selecting varieties to plant an orchard, as said before, much de- 

 pends on the soil, surroundings, uses apples are to be put to and many 

 other things. One thing to be borne in mind is, to not run after the high- 

 priced new kinds, that are always for sale by agents and tree dealers. 

 See what your neighbors raise successfully, consider the soil, situation 

 and location of your orchard, compared with others around you, then 

 see what use you can put the varieties to that they successfully raise : 

 and consider their hardiness, bearing qualities, and the value of the 

 fruit after you get it. Think also what you will be likely to want to do 

 with it after you have it. There are some new varieties that have merit, 

 iDUt I have not felt it best to plant those varieties that were not well tried. 

 I have found for winter apples that the earliest apple to grow was the 

 Ben Davis. I do not regard them as the best apple, but where there are 

 "hundreds of thousands of children that so much want fruit, and when it 

 is such healthful food for them. I would by all means advise planting 

 them in preference to none. They come into bearing young, and bear 

 nice apples — not of the best quality, but are still a fair apple. Another 

 of the old tried kinds that is really a good apple, a good keeper, a good 

 bearer and hardy, adapting itself to different kinds of soil and long-lived, 

 is the Winesap. I regard the Jeneton as one of the best apples we have, 



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