1 888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



97 



WALKS AND JOTTINGS. 



BV A. M. PURDY, P.VLMYRA. S. Y. 



IS APPLE GROWING OVERDONE ? 



Yes, as they are generally grown and cared 

 for. No, if properly grown. 



The same time given to an Apple orchard 

 that is given to an acre of Wheat or Corn 

 that brings the same amount of money gross 

 will make an Apple orchard the most paying 

 crop grown by the farmer. Proper trim- 

 ming, spraying witli poisoned liquid and 

 proper cultivation with the right kinds for 

 each section will make orchards pay. 



The Yeomans, of Wayne Co., in this State, 

 gathered from their orchards the past fall 

 forty thousand bushels — most of which, we 

 believe, were evaporated, and probably sold 

 on an average at not less than 10 cents per 

 pound, which would net at least 40 to 50 

 cents per bushel. 



We had an orchard of about 300 trees, 

 from which we gathered 2,000 bushels. 

 These were all shaken off and evaporated, 

 and as help was scarce they were run 

 through without trimming, and sold for an 

 average of s cents per pound, which, with 

 dried skins and cores, is 40 cents per bushel. 



There is an old saying, "fruit trees are 

 growing while we sleep," and now that help 

 is getting so scarce, high and independent, 

 the more a farmer can plant that brings 

 crops without so much labor the better. 

 Trimming and feeding with manure may all 

 be done in the winter when time is plenty 

 farmers having little to do. 



Our orchard of 200 trees occupies only 

 about eight acres of land and on that land 

 we have had crops ever since we set the 

 orchard. Now, if any one can name any 

 farm crop that will bring the money from 

 the same amount of land with less trouble 

 and expense (the crops in the orchard have 

 more than paid the expense), we would like 

 to know what it is. 



Next spring we propose to plant out one 

 thousand trees of the Ben Davis alone; with 

 all of our experience it proves the most 

 profitable of all, making as it does most 

 beautiful white fruit, and hanging on the 

 trees till freezing weather comes, hence 

 one can take his own time in gathering. 

 The trees begin bearing young and yield 

 almost every year a wonderful crop of the 

 finest fruit we have ever grown. Fifty 

 young trees of this sort that we had in bear- 

 ing the past season were the admiration of 

 all who saw them. 



The wood is willowy and tough and the 

 tree as hardy as a live Oak. We shall plant 

 them out one rod apart, and as they begin 

 bearing so young this gives a large amount 

 of fruit from a small space of ground while 

 young, and when trees begin to run their 

 tops together, cut out every other row for 

 wood, which can be sold for a high price to 

 manufacturers if kept well trimmed up, so 

 as to make plenty of body. After these rows 

 have borne two or three years then cut out 

 every other tree, which leaves the orchard 

 two rods apart. A still better plan for the 

 farmer, however, is to set rows along the 

 road and all around the outside of his fields. 

 These get plenty of sunshine and better soil 

 for the same number of trees. 



STRAWBERRIES UNDER GLASS. 



W'e have had many inquiries a.s to forcing 

 Strawberries, and from our own experience 

 carefully endorse the following clipped from 

 the American Garden, and would add that 

 the perfect blossom or hermaphrodite sorts 

 are far preferable. 



When the fli'st runners are fonned by the 

 parent plant in the open ground they are placed 

 in 3^-inch pots and allowed to root; the runners 

 I leyond the pot are pinched oflf close to the pot- 

 ted plant. When thoroughly rooted the young 

 plants are taken up and the runners cut off close 



to the plant. The young plant is then removed 

 to an airy, shady locality and given plenty of 

 water, the pot l)eing set on boards or fiat stones 

 to prevent worms from getting at the roots. 



When the plants have been in the pots for 

 about three weeks they must be shifted to larger 

 pots— 0-inch generally —placing in each pot stones 

 or crocks for drainage ; this is important, for, as 

 a rule, unless thorough drainage is given the 

 soil becomes musty and sour naturally, to the 

 detriment of the plant. After removal to the 

 larger pots they are plunged into the open 

 ground to the rim and allowed to make a rigor- 

 ous growth up to \rithin a few weeks of remov- 

 ing to the forcing-house. Water well up to this 

 period, then withhold water, unless it is neces- 

 sary to give an occasional sprinkling to save 

 from drying. 



When an early crop of fruit is desired the plant 

 may be removed to the forcing-house early in 

 Novemt)er, plunging the pots into the soil. 



The plants must now receive the best of care, 

 regular waterings being of the most importance. 

 PrcY-ent the plants from being soggj' by too 

 much water. The temperature of tlie house 

 should be kept at about 70° to 75° during the day 

 and from i)5° to 6.5° at night. While the plants 

 are in bloom it is a good plan to admit as much 

 air as can be had without materiall,v lowering 

 the temperature. After bloom and Ijefore the 

 fruit begins to ripen is the critical point in their 

 culture. Water should be given in sufficient 

 quantity to prevent the leaves from wilting, but 

 not after the fruit begins to turn, unless the 

 foliage is in danger of wilting. We have found 

 an occasional application of liquid manuie very 

 beneficial while the fruit was in the process of 

 ripening. 



Of course, if it is desired to have a succession 

 of fruit, all of the plants must not be taken into 

 the house at one time. Those not placed in the 

 house for ripening should have quarters in a 

 cool, dry place, where frost cannot reach them, 

 until wanted. By taking out a lot every three 

 weeks a succession of fruit may be had. 



For forcing, a house of the lean-to style is pre- 

 ferable to any other, as by its use the plants may 

 be brought nearer the glass and, as a conse- 

 quence, the fruit ripens quicker and much more 

 evenly. Still, an ordinary greenhouse or prop- 

 agating house may be used to good advantage. 



WORK FOR THE WINTER. 



Trim out old dead wood of Raspberries and 

 Blackberries, and shorten in last year's growth 

 so that canes will stand four to five feet high, 

 owing to stockiness; also cut back all side 

 branches at least one-half to two-thirds. 



Get boxes a foot square, and covered with oiled 

 sheeting, for covering over early transplanted 

 plants to protect from cold spring weather and 

 frosty nights. A few of these boxes for Toma- 

 toes, Cucumbers, Melons, etc., will give a supply 

 of the earliest vegetables for the family. 



Grapes may be trimmed this month, if not 

 done before, although we prefer trimming 

 earlier, or about the time the vine is in full leaf. 



There is no time that Strawberries suffer more 

 freezing and thawing than in early spring. So 

 that mulching with straw or leaves should be at- 

 tended to at once, simply putting on sufficient U> 

 cover plants and ground from sight. We were 

 asked if weeverputnew-made manure on Straw- 

 berries. Certainly ; and this is the best thing to 

 do, scattering it evenly over the ground. 



Grape, Currant and Gooseberry cuttings may 

 be made now, and tied in bunches — say three eye 

 cuttings— and placed in boxes of sand or damp 

 sawdust till setting time in the spring. 



Get the cultivators, hoes and all kind of imple- 

 ments fixed up now, and not have to stop in the 

 drive of spring work to do it. 



Save your coal ashes, and mi,\ to every bushel 

 three to four quarts of salt, and put around 

 each tree a half peck to a peck. It is also excel- 

 lent to scatter broadcast under all fruit trees. 



Gather up all bones that can be found, and, 

 after being broken or ground, dig in around the 

 grape rines or fruit trees. Nothing is more last- 

 ing or beneficial. 



We find nothing more beneficial for keeping 

 Apples fresh and crisp than dry, fine-sifted coal 

 ashes. It absorbs all moisture, and where this is 

 done decaj' or rot is almost impossible. 



Watch closely the young trees, that mice or 

 rabbits do not girdle them. One of the best pre- 

 ventives is to bank earth up around the trees, 

 and another is to tramp snOYv around them right 

 after it falls, as mice work under the snow close 



to the gi'ound, and the hard-packed snow pre- 

 vents this. If young trees are girdled cloFe to 

 the ground by mice, they can be saved by bank- 

 ing up early in the spring with earth alwve the 

 girdled part. 



Haul leaves from the woods to the baniyard 

 and stables to be used to absorb, and save urine, 

 which is the most valuable of fertilizers. If 

 leaves arc not to be had, get sawdust or tanbark 

 for this purpose. 



Nursery trees should be trimmed up now. 



If you have a garden of heavy soil where you 

 cannot grow Radishes, Beets, etc., with success, 

 draw on clear sand to a depth of two inches, and 

 spade fir plow this in in the spring. 



It is essential, if you would be successful in 

 harvesting Raspberries with the new patent har- 

 vester, that all old wood be cleaned out, and the 

 ground made smooth and even under the bushes 

 to push the harvester along easily. 



HINTS FROM MV OWN EXPERIENCE. 



Manuren. Of all we have tried give us well- 

 rotted barn-yai-d manure for fruit trees, and for 

 Peach trees wood ashes. We have alwajs noticed 

 where wood ashes were freely supplied to Peach 

 trees that no borers troubled them. 



himc scattered over the soil is beneficial to 

 Apple trees. In locaUties where Cherry trees 

 grow too fast and do not fruit, seed down. 



Reinuvitiy Large Limhs. We cannot recommend 

 cutting off large limbs to fruit trees at the season 

 when the sap flows freely, unless where ti-ees 

 grow too rampant and rapidly. 



To (lecDinpme honen, put them in unleacbed 

 ashes in alternate layei-s and in one year's time 

 they will be completely decomposed. 



Asparagus. It is not well to allow Asparagus 

 to seed; it should be cut before seed ripens. 



When a Peach orchard gets well under way it 

 should have the entire use of soil. A good plan : 

 SOYV rye in August and plow under in spring. 



Shading hodiea of trees with boards through 

 winter will prevent bursting of bark. 



To prevent mildew in Apple trees, trim out well. 



Grope Rot. An old Grape grower in Virginia 

 informed me last fall that the past two seasons 

 had been the worst he had ever known for Grape 

 rot, and he attributes it to the wet seasons. Our 

 adrice is to plant on high, dry ground. In a Vir- 

 ginia plantation Grapes on two rows near a rapid 

 flowing stream rotted much less than the same 

 kind further away from the stream. 



Oiled paper sanhe-f for forcing beds can be used, 

 if carefully protected. Simply take boUed linseed 

 oil with iilenty of some kind of dryer mixed in 

 and put on two good coats. Thin sheeting is 

 stouter and better. 



Pear Blight. A writer in the Country Gentle- 

 man claims he haM checked and stopped Pear 

 blight by thorough pruning at time of blight. 

 This only confirms our experience in stopping 

 blight by slitting the Umb and btnly on one side 

 from the blight down as quick as blight is seen. 



Blancliing Celery. A correspondent writes: 

 " Why Is it I can't get nicely blanched Celery ? It 

 will be rusty and unbleached." Just as .soon as 

 the stiilks begin to drop over on the ground the 

 earthing up process should commence, and this 

 should always be done In dry weather, when the 

 stalks are perfectly dry, for if compressed to- 

 gether when wet and banked up a dingy rust on 

 the stalks will Ije the result, and, too, great care 

 must be exercised to prevent earth from dropping 

 l)etween the stalks when earthing up. The stalks 

 must be held close together when banked up and 

 the earth packed ipiite firm. 



Rhuharh Growing at the South. A correspon- 

 dent living near Charleston, S. C, asks why he 

 cannot succeed with Rhubarb; that he has culti- 

 vated it in different wa.vs, mulched and manured 

 hearily, and yet without success. Our son at 

 High Point, N. C, informs us that it is not grown 

 there successfully. Complaint is made that the 

 roots decay and rot. Perhaps the soil where 

 grown may require a thorough drainage. This 

 may prevent roots rotting, and then if ground is 

 well fed and mulched it may succeed. 



Red RanpherrifK, South. It is quite remarkable 

 that the Red Rasjiberry does not sucker more in 

 the Virginia soil than it does. We were told that 

 it will run out in a few years, and that plants 

 have to come from a more northern section. 

 We think, however, if the soil is well drained and 

 worked and fed with manure, there will be no 

 trouble in getting all the increase of plants wants. 



Strawberries on Ridges. It will not do to set out 

 Strawberry plants on ridges, except on low, wet 

 soil. As a rule set on level ground and they will 

 get ridged up enough in the course of a few years. 



