1871.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



331 



;RUIT and IEGETABLE mRDENING. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



So much has been said in this journal on the 

 proper preparation of the soil for orchards, that 

 it need not now be repeated. We should only 

 say, that a light drjdsh soil is the best to choose 

 for the peach. The pear does best on a strong 

 loamy soil. Plums much the same as the last. 

 The apple prefers a heavy loam, if on limestone 

 so much the better. The cherry does well in 

 soil adapted to the peach. 



If, however, a fruit orchard is dry and proper- 

 ly top dressed annually, there is not much differ- 

 ence in the value of soils for fruit orchard. 

 With rich decaying vegetable matter abundantly 

 supplied to the treses, they will do well enough in 

 most kinds of soil. 



Whatever pruning trees may require, is best 

 done early if one have the time. On this ac- 

 count, however, it is generally deferred to to- 

 wards Spring when there is more leisure. 



Probably most of our fruits do best in partial 

 shade. The gooseberry and currant certainly do. 

 The former must have shade; and if on the 

 moist northern aspect of a wall, so much the 

 better. The raspberry prefers a rather moist 

 floil, and partial shade. 



Where currants, gooseberries and raspberries 

 are not to be disturbed, old low stalks thrown 

 thickly in about the plants and allowed to 

 remain and rot away, keep the roots cool, and 

 make a condition of things in which these three 

 kinds of fruit luxuriate. 



In cultivating raspberries on a large scale 

 they do best in hills, as the cultivator keeps 

 them from crowding each other so much. For 

 garden culture they are better in rows, the 

 suckers to be kept hoed out occasionally as thej'' 

 grow ; enough only being left that will be re- 

 quired for fruiting next year. Where canes are 

 required for new plantations, of course a portion 

 of the crop must be sacrificed to the suckers. 



In choosing pears, select those that have been 

 budded close to the ground, as when they are re- 

 planted the stocks should be buried an inch 

 below the pear scion, which prevents the attacks 

 of the quince borer. If a long stem has to be 



buried, the usual consequences of deep planting 

 result, and do as much injury as the quince 

 borer. Also in choosing, select, if possible) 

 plants that have been raised from cuttings ; for 

 layered stocks have almost always a long, deep 

 tap looking root, on which dwarf pears do not 

 do well. If we have to use such dwarf pear trees, 

 better shorten some of this long trunk root 

 before planting. Never plant what appears to 

 be the stem of a tree far beneath the surface, 

 under any circumstances, for disease will be 

 most probably an ultimate consequence. 



In making new vegetable gardens, a south- 

 east aspect should be chosen, as far as practica- 

 ble. Earliness in the crops is a very great de- 

 sideratum, and such an aspect favors this point 

 materially. Too great a slope is objectionable, 

 as inducing to a great run of water in heavy 

 rains. The plots for the crops should be laid off 

 in squares or parallelograms, for convenience in 

 digging, and the edges of !he walks set with box 

 edging. If water can be introduced, it is a great 

 convenience. 



Sometimes broccoli does not head before there 

 is danger of frosts, especially if growing vigor- 

 ously. If taken up with small balls of earth, 

 and set in a damp cellar, they will still perfect 

 themselves. 



Asparagus beds, after the tops have been 

 cleared off, are better covered with litter or sta- 

 ble manure. The plants shoot easier for it next 

 season. 



When the ground becomes frozen, or no other 

 work offers, preparation can always be made for 

 advancing prospective work when it arrives. 

 Bean-poles may be made ; and if the ends are 

 charred, and then dipped in coal tar, the com- 

 monest material will be rendered nearly equal to 

 the best cedar. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



WHITEWASHED PEAR TREES. 



BY J. S. COLUNS, MOORESTOWX, N. J. 



The whitewashed pear trees referred to in are- 

 cent issue of the Monthly under the head of 

 " Proceedings of the New Jersey State Horticul- 



