The Canadian HoRxicuLtURisx. 



245 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



/ 

 / Weed Destruction. 



F all farms the fruit farm should be the best culti- 

 vated and most presentable to visitors. There is 

 a great deal of monotony about visiting farms 

 devoted to grain, but the successive plantations 

 of apples, pears, peaches, small fruits, etc., in 

 endless variety, are a constant and unfailing source 

 of interest to the visitor, and satisfaction to the 

 owner ; providing he is able to give it proper care. 



The Canada thistle is one of our troublesome weeds, but in 



the orchard it can usually be destroyed by mowing in the 



blowing season. Where a field is badly overrun, there is no 



better plan than plowing them under in blooming time. Stray thistles may be 



destroyed by the spud, a chisel-like blade, about eight inches long attached to a 



handle about five feet long. 



But more troublesome than the Canada thistle is the Burdock; for, though 

 it may be easily destroyed, it matures its seed at a very busy season on the fruit 

 farm, and its burrs are so easily entangled in the horse's manes and tails, and in 

 the hair of the dog, that if neglected, it is soon widely distributed. Many 

 people are satisfied by simply mowing them off, or cutting with a hoe at the 

 surface, a useless method, because the crown will send two stalks out for one 

 cut off, and these will mature the seed burrs. The seeds themselves have great 

 vitality, and if once shed upon the ground, will spring up successively yearly. 

 Perseverence, however, will finally conquer. They must be cut off every year 

 well beneath the surface of the ground, in order to destroy the crown, from 

 which fresh shoots would spring. The spade will answer for this work, but the 

 spud is the best tool, and must be faithfully used. 



Treatment of Peach Leaf CufL— Peach Leaf Curl is caused by a 

 fungus known to mycologists under the name of Exoascus deformans. It is 

 widespread both in Europe and America, occurring to a greater or lesser extent 

 in all regions where the peach is cultivated. It is often noticed on nursery 

 stock and upon young orchard trees, causing the loss of nearly all the foliage in 

 severe cases, and upon bearing trees the dropping of the first fruit. The " curl " 

 is usually limited in duration to the period of growth when the young leaves are 

 most tender. After the foliage has matured the attack is not continued. It 

 manifests its presence as soon as the first leaves appear, and runs its course by 

 the end of June or while active growth is taking place. Affected leaves even- 

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