236 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



which are performed on the branches or shoots of 

 trees, it would appear the period immediately be- 

 fore, or commensurate with the rising of the sap, 

 is the best. Barry says, we are not permitted to 

 be very definite on the point of pruning. In west- 

 ern New York, we prune apple, pear, and other 

 hardy fruits, as soon as our severe frosts are over, 

 say the latter end of February or beginning of 

 March. 



Dr. Thacher says, in general the months of Feb- 

 ruary, and March, have been considered as the 

 preferable season for pruning. Forsyth says, the 

 best season for pruning apple trees in England, is 

 in the month of April or May. Whenever the ap- 

 ple tree needs heavy pruning, says Jaques, the 

 work may be done at any time from the latter part 

 of autumn till early in spring. Col. Pickering's 



Eractice was, to prune in the spring, when the 

 uds had scarcely begun to swell, and ending be- 

 fore the expansion of the leaves. 



We see from the many quotations we have 

 made from persons who have written upon the sub- 

 ject of pruning, that a great variety of opinions 

 prevail. We are of the opinion, it may be done 

 successfully, at most seasons of the year, if care 

 be taken to perform it well, and immediately ap- 

 ply a composition, or paint, perhaps several times 

 repeated, in some cases, to the wounds caused by 

 the operation. With some persons, the rule is to 

 prune when they have leisure, and their tools are 

 sharp. For many years, fruit trees have been 

 pruned in Massachusetts, in the spring months. 

 This was the universal practice of our ancestors. It 

 can be done perhaps more conveniently at that 

 season, than at any other period. It is in the 

 spring that we devote the most time to the culti- 

 vation of our fruit trees. In summer and autumn, 

 farmers are busy with other occupations. In the 

 winter months, should there be mild weather, fruit 

 trees can be pruned to advantage. When per- 

 formed at this season on trees planted in ground 

 laid down to grain or grass, you do not injure the 

 crops, as you would seriously do, if you pruned in 

 June. We have never pruned our trees more easily 

 or safely, than when we have done it on the hard 

 crust of a deep snow, in February or March. Af- 

 ter all that has been said or written upon the 

 proper season for pruning, farmers will continue 

 to prune very much as they have done. Much 

 can be said, as we have seen, on both sides of the 

 subject. s. p. f. 



Danvers, New Mills, January 23, 1852. 

 |ro be continued.] 



For the New England Farmer. 



STONE BARNS. 



Mr. Brown : — I wish to obtain through your 

 paper some information concerning stone barns, 

 built of common field stone, laid in mortar of lime 

 and cement. I wish to ascertain whether the walls 

 will accumulate moisture sufficient to injure hay. 

 Knowing that your paper has an extensive circu 

 lation, 1 thought it might fall into the hands of 

 some one who has a barn of this description, who 

 could impart the desired information, and you will 

 oblige a subscriber. a. 



Winchester, March 22, 1852. 



f^** The gem cannot be polished except by fric- 

 tion, nor man perfected but by adversity. 



BRIEF HINTS. 



Potatoes designed for planting, and especially for 

 early-use, should be taken from the cellar and 

 spread upon some floor where the sun may fall up- 

 on them part of the time. They will vegetate 

 much more readily, and can be brought to maturi- 

 ty earlier by so doing. A few could be started in 

 the hot-bed or by placing them in a warm situa- 

 tion and covering them with horse manure. 



If you want good radishes, spade in a good quan- 

 tity of manure, so as to make the ground light and 

 rich. They will then grow rapidly, and of course 

 be tender and nice. You can have them in this 

 way, without the trouble of mixing half sand with 

 the soil, as some old cultivators contend. 



In setting young trees, after the holes are dug, 

 make a little "/«7/" in the hole upon which to 

 stand the tree. Press and work it down so as to 

 fill up perfectly among the root3 on the under side, 

 that there may be no vacuums or hollows. 



Recollect that the high price of butter is owing, 

 in a great measure, to the vast amount of poor 

 butter. If it were not for the tons of rancid, worth- 

 less butter, we should not hear of its being sold at 

 37 1-2 cents per pound. The remedy is very sim- 

 ple, loork out all the buttermilk ! 



Farmers are mostly agreed in the opinion that 

 small potatoes are just as good for seed as the 

 larger ones. But as the "eyes" are the germ of 

 the plant, and as a small potato may have nearly 

 the same number of these that the larger have, 

 care must be taken not to seed too highly. High 

 seeding will certainly produce a small crop of small 

 potatoes. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 RENOVATING OLD APPLE TREES. 



BY DANIEL LELAND. 



In your paper of the 28th of February last, your 

 correspondent, S. P. Fowler, speaking of old cider 

 apple trees, says "the question is often asked what 

 can I do to renovate these old trees, and make 

 them produce good fruit ? Will grafting them an- 

 swer a good purpose, and will scions do well in 

 these old limbs 1 In answer I would say, as a 

 general rule, it is labor lost to graft these old 

 tops." 



I know not the writer of the article, nor do I 

 know whether he has come to the above conclu- 

 sion from theory or practice ; the writer of this 

 article has come to a different conclusion, and iny 

 opinion has been formed from practical experi- 

 ence. 



With the exception of two years, 1803-4, I 

 have spent my days upon a farm left me by my 

 father, and he was early engaged in raising an 

 orchard ; consequently I came in possession of 

 one raised by my grandfather and father. Many 

 kinds of fruit raised by them was not as good as 

 some kinds which have come into notice in later 

 years. 



One very fine table apple, which had its origin 

 in Sherburne, bore well for a number of years, and 

 was highly esteemed by all, did well until 1810 ; 



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