^alei^dar for Qctober. 



O. M. LORD, MINNESOTA CITY. 



The typical days of October are among the most delightful of any 

 season of the year. The later fruits are yet to be gathered and 

 stored, and active preparation is making for the coming winter and 

 for next year. 



The new strawberry beds need now special care. In some seasons we 

 have freezing at night with bright sunshiny days, which injures the 

 plants more than steady and severe cold. A light covering of mulch 

 will now be found very beneficial, to be followed with more when 

 the ground has frozen hard. There is usually such a growth 

 and weeds in the old beds that mulching is not so necessary. 



As soon as the blackberries have shed their foliage, 'they are ready 

 to be put down. Thesooner this is done after the leaves have fallen the 

 better, as the canes soon become hard and brittle and more difficult 

 to bend without breaking. A round bladed, long handled shovel is 

 the most convenient tool for removing the dirt from the roots. The 

 bushes should be laid lengthwise of the row, and as the dirt ie 

 removed from the roots use it to fill the hole of the bush already 

 laid down. Covering the tops with sufficient dirt to hold the bush 

 in place will generally be found sufficient. 



In some parts of Iowa, it made little difference last winter whether 

 plants were laid down or left standing, as they were all root-killed. 

 This condition is not likely to occur where we have more snow. 



In laying down red raspberries it is not necessary to remove the 

 dirt from the root nor to cover the whole bush. By giving the 

 whole bush a half twist to hold the canes together, a little dirt on 

 the top will hold the canes down. If the whole bush is covered and 

 the spring weather unfavorable, the buds are liable to be rotted. If 

 the tips are injured, they can be cut back. 



The Turner rarely needs covering in this vicinity; the Marlbor- 

 ough and Cuthbert are more secure with covering. The Loudon is 

 probably the hardiest of all we have. 



Currant cuttings can be taken as soon as the leaves have fallen. The 

 best plan is to cut into eight inch pieces, tie in bundles and place 

 on end in a pit, secure from standing water and covered with soil. 



Fall planting of any fruit trees or bushes in Minnesota is not 

 profitable, except blackberries and red raspberries. Apple and 

 plum seeds may be safely planted for nursery stock at any time 

 before the ground freezes. 



Mr. Gideon's peaches attracted a good deal of attention at the 

 state fair and received great praise for their size and appearance. 

 There is no difficulty in growing them, but the early varieties are the 

 most desirable, and they must be laid down for the winter. This is 

 not near as much work as is generally supposed, but the precaution to 

 place poisoned grain for the mice underneath the trees must be 

 observed, or the trees will be destroyed. Hay or straw should be 

 placed under and over the trees, as dirt is likely to kill the fruit buds. 



Great care should be exercised this month for the preservation of 

 all seeds needed for planting next year, as success depends in a 

 marked degree upon the quality and condition of the seeds. 



