(^alei^der for J lily. 



J. S HARRIS. 



Ordinarily, from the beg'ianing' of the strawberry season until the 

 last basket of grapes is gathered, the commercial fruit grower is in 

 the midst of a busy time; insects and diseases must be watched for 

 and headed off; the trees, shrubs and vines that are to bring fruit 

 the next and following years must be carefully and skillfully at- 

 tended to, while the crops of the season from their very perishable 

 nature must be gathered and marketed as fast as they mature, or 

 loss is sure to follow. In all this season it looks difficult for them 

 to get away from their work for a single day, and yet there is no 

 class of men that stands in greater need of recreation than they. 

 They need to get away from their work for the double reason of se- 

 curing rest and to get new ideas in regard to it. The horticulturists 

 of neighborhoods should be organized into clubs and get together 

 as often as once a week during the fruit season. An occasional 

 picnic held upon the grounds of neighbor horticulturists is always 

 beneficial. Every one engaged in the business should, if possible, 

 and they generally can by proper planning, take a run away from 

 home and visit a few of the leading fruit growers who are engaged 

 in the same branches as themselves and see what they are doing 

 and how they do it, exchange ideas and keep no secrets, and they 

 will return home refreshed and better fitted for the extra work that 

 will have accumulated. 



Orchard and Nursery. The season has been such that it is 

 only in rare cases that the thinning of the fruit will be necessary, 

 but in ever}'- case where a tree is over-bearing a portion of the fruit 

 should be removed. It would be better economy to thin too tuuch 

 than to tax the tree to mature an excessive crop. Much of the cal- 

 ender for the last inonth is still in order for this, and need not be 

 repeated here. Grafts that are growing too vigorously and throw- 

 ing up long, slender shoots, will need to be checked by pinching 

 out the tips; and this will also cause them to form side branches. 

 Suckers and surrounding shoots upon the stocks must be kept out 

 of the way, as the grafts are of the most importance. This and light 

 pruning can safely be done all through this month, but better in 

 thefirsthalf of it. Some varieties are inclined to make thick, bushy 

 heads. These should be trained to grow somewhat open by remov- 

 ing the surplus limbs while young. They will fruit earlier for it 



