

palei^dar for -AligUst 



O. M. LORD. 



Nearly all fruit growers advise us to discontinue cultivation in 

 August to allow the wood to ripen, as cultivation has a tendency to 

 prolong the growth, leaving the wood succulent and more liable to 

 winter-kill. Nurseries and fruit fields that were cultivated late last 

 year and kept clean, suffered more from the winter than those that 

 were not so well cared for. But we know that last winter was excep- 

 tional, and in a series of years it pays best to keep the ground free 

 from grass and weeds, especially with young stock. A week of 

 rainy weather in July upset our work in cultivating, and although 

 we kept the cultivator going when we could every bit of grass and 

 the weeds started into growth with the cultivation; so that if we do 

 not cultivate more or less in August we shall be overrun with weeds. 

 Especially is this true of nursery stock. Strawberries, of course, 

 must be kept clean, but we shall be glad this year to see the frost to 

 help us master the purslane. The winter was not so destructive to 

 insect life as it was hoped. With the exception of black aphis and 

 web worm, insects injurious to fruit are very prevalent. It pays to 

 gather and destroy fallen fruit during this month. 



Our old strawberry bed could not be burned over this year after 

 the picking; the weather was too wet for several days after mowing. 

 We used the horse rake, instead of burning, and then run the plow 

 between the rows and harrowed, as usual. I would prefer to burn if 

 I could in season. 



Though there is no disease nor injurious insects to be seen, a 

 good many of the older fruit trees, though leafing out this spring, 

 have not vitality to stand the July heat and will probably be found 

 dead next spring. The young apple orchards are making a vigor- 

 ous growth, and if a succession of moderate winters occur we may 

 again look for fruit in abundance. And yet the severity of the 

 winter may not always be considered, as some of the so-called tender 

 varieties fared better last winter than some that have been con- 

 sidered very hardy. Why this is so we do not know. 



Grapes need very little work this month. They are later than 

 usual but at present appear to be doing well. 



Currants. If a second brood of worms appear, now is the time to 

 destroy them. Paris green is the best application, either with water 

 or the dust gun. The currant worm appears to be the only serious 

 drawback to plenty of the fruit, and the worms are easily controlled 

 if taken in time. 



Gooseberries are becoming more popular. They also are liable to 

 destruction by the worms and need the same treatment as currants. 

 Some kinds are subject to mildew, and it is doubtful if it pays to 

 plant them, but the Houghton and Downing are comparatively free 

 and do well in most places. 



