142 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



has averaged nearly $7 a bushel net. Commission men have 10 

 per cent, freight is 3^ cents a quart to Chicago, and the girls get 

 2^ cents for picking. 



Peach Tree Pruning. 



Mr. H. B. Beagle, Bricksburgh, Ocean county, N. J.: "What is 

 the proper time and manner to shorten-in peach trees, and will it 

 pay to do it after the trees begin to decline ? What kind of salt 

 is used for land by members of the club?" 



Mr, Solon Robinson. — The shortening-in process may be tried 

 at any time during the growiug season — as well now in June as 

 an^^ time. Cut off all the decaying limbs, or ragged ends, so as 

 to bring the top into good shape. It will sometimes save a tree 

 to prune after it begins to decline. Refuse salt, from packing 

 houses, is the kind used. It formerly, when used, as reported by 

 Solon Robinson, at the rate of 20 bushels per acre, at three dress- 

 ings, cost six cents a bushel. It is now worth 15 cents. At six 

 bushels per acre, it is economical manure. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — We begin early in spring to shorten-in all 

 the defective limbs, and sometimes cut back to a mere stump ; 

 often cutting off half or two-thirds of the growth of the previous 

 year. This seems to prolong life, which at best only continues 

 five or six years. If I were pruning to increase the fruit, I should 

 do it in June or first half of July. 



Tomato Trellises. 

 Mr. S. E. Todd. — If the vines are growing in rows, the best, 

 cheapest and most convenient sujiports for tomato vines can be 

 made by driving stakes into the ground in a line with the plants, 

 and nailing narrow strips of boards on each side of them. Pieces 

 of scantling, two by four inches, three and a half feet long, will 

 make stakes about the correct size. Sharpen one end, and drive 

 them about one foot into the ground, with the wide way of the 

 stakes across the rows. The stakes should be about six feet apart. 

 Then nail three strips of inch board, two inches wide, on each 

 side of the roAV of stakes, so as to allow the tomato vines to grow 

 up between the strips, which will be four inches apart. To pre- 

 vent the vines falling down lengthways between the slats, corn 

 cobs or round sticks eight or ten inches long may be i:)laced on the 

 upper edges of the strips, to support the falling vines. This style 

 of trellis will keep the tomatoes up ofi' the ground, the vines will 

 grow erect, the fruit can be plucked without tearing the vines to 



