April (Calendar, 
J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. 
ORCHARD AND NURSERY. 
No pruning should be done in this month except to cut back limbs 
that have been broken by the winter’s storms or accident to a good 
bud or sound branch, and remove any dead limbs that have been 
overlooked. Wounds made should be covered with grafting wax or 
white paint. . 
Examine every tree carefully for borers and the eggs of other in- 
sects; probe the burrow of the borer with a wire, or cut the grub out 
and cover the wound with grafting wax. Destroy all insects’ eggs 
found. Washing the trunks and larger branches at this time with 
soap suds or kerosene emulsion destroys the eggs and young larvae 
of insects and at the same time gives the trees a healthier appear- 
ance. 
Look over the nursery,ifit was not done last month,and if itis found 
that the winter has killed or discolored the terminal growth of the 
one and two year old trees, they should be cut back to sound wood 
before the circulation of growth starts, or the trees will become 
permanently black-hearted. If older trees are seriously injured they 
had better be cut off just above the roots and grafted toa hardier 
variety. 
This is the best month for grafting, and any worthless varieties of 
apples, crabs and plums, where the trees are reasonbly hardy, should 
by grafting be changed into good fruit. The boys and girls can do 
the work if given a little instruction. Apple trees may safely be 
grafted until the blossom: buds begin to open, but plums and cher- 
ries should be grafted before any circulation starts. Trees for spring 
planting will begin to arrive from the nurseries by the time 
frost is out of the ground. They ought to be immediately 
heeled in to prevent their becoming dry and _ shrivelled—the 
nurseryman is too often blamed for the result of our own neglect 
or carelessness. The trees should not be set out until the ground is 
dry enough to work without leaving it in a lumpy condition. 
Young trees or limbs of trees that were budded last fall ought to 
have been attended to as early as the 20th of March. If not done 
already, cut them off at once to four inches above the bud, andabout 
the middle or last of June cut off close above the shoot that grows 
from the bud. 
The first spraying for leaf scab and other fungus diseases, should 
be done before the buds begin to open, using Bordeaux mixture or 
the copper solution. If trees are found to be infested with the 
scale or oyster shell bark louse, a thorough spraying with kerosene 
emulsion will be found very beneficial. 
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