1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEIMER. 



279 



formed horn again removed. Generally two or 

 three applications are sufficient for a cure." 



We liave seen somewhere a statement that a 

 couple of boards placed on a saw horse and fas- 

 tened to its sides, in the form of the letter V, 

 makes a convenient bed for a sheep to r«st in, 

 back down, while operating on its feet. 



SETTING OVT FOREST TREES. 



I am somewhat interested in setting out a row of 

 forest trees by the roadside, and propose to set a 

 number ot ShellbarlvS which can be found in some 

 of our fields and pastures. There is some authori- 

 ty for believing that ic will be difhcult to make 

 them live, and finding no one who can speak from 

 actual experience, I have concluded to ask your ad- 

 vice. What is your experience? Will you, or 

 some readers, give their information as early as 

 possible, as the time for setting trees will soon be 

 along, and oblige a subseritier. Crocus. 



Hopkinton, Mass., March 25, 1869. 



Remarks. — The shellbark and common chest- 

 nut are among the trees most difficult to transplant 

 and make live. We liave tried the shellbark re- 

 peatedly, but have hp.d very little success. Both 

 these varieties have long tap-roots, and they seem 

 to be trhe ones upon which the tree principally de- 

 pends. In taking up a shellbark you will find 

 very few small roots, and so with the chestnut. 

 If trees are selected from pastures, the tan root 

 must be preserved in its whole length, if possible. 

 We think it would be cheaper to purchase the 

 trees from nurserymen who have prepared them 

 on purpose for transplanting. 



PRUNING APPLE TREES. 



Much has been said and written by orchardists 

 in regard to the best months for pruning fruit 

 trees. Some recommend doing it just as the frost 

 is leaving the giound, and before the buds burst; 

 some while the trees are in bloom; while others 

 contend that fall is decidedly preferable. From 

 more than twenty years' observation I liave become 

 fully satisfied that no season of the year is so ob- 

 jectionable as the spring, when the "buds are ex- 

 panding, and the sap tlim and in full flow; the 

 sap is quite injurious as it oozes out, and causes 

 the wound to assume a dark, unhealthy appear- 

 ance, which is a sure omen of decay. 



Every season has its advantages as well as dis- 

 advantages, but none is preferable in my opinion 

 to summer, when the days arc the longest. Tlie sap 

 then is not so thin and watery as in the spring, 

 and consequently less liable to flow out, and 

 wounds heal much more rapidly. I am of the 

 opinion that very light pruning is much preferable 

 to heavy for the health of the tree, and even none 

 at all I sliould prefer, rather than to kill trees tiy 

 inches, as some do by luavy pruning. But let 

 pruning be done when it may, I think much bene- 

 fit is derived from applying a coating of cement 

 to the wound to exclude the air and prevent its 

 cracking. 



My grandfather told me when he was alive, he 

 had tritd various kinds, and found nothing more 

 economical tlian to melt four pounds of rosin in 

 one pmt of linseed oil, and apply warm with an 

 old moderately stiff paint brush. I ^hall be very 

 happy to hear from others upon this subject 

 througn the Farmer. a. c, jr. 



Bethel, Me., March 28, 1869. 



Remarks.— We agree, mainly, with the writer 

 of the above remarks, and hope bis suggestions 



will be considered. Without understanding some- 

 thing of the nature and habits of the tree, we 

 shall rarely judge correctly of what is best to do 

 for it. It certainly will not answer to allow it to 

 take its own course. What shall we do ? Study 

 the tree and work upon it according to the knowl- 

 edge we gain ; learn when the sap does not flow 

 freely and then prune if the tree needs it. That 

 will be in midsummer, and in autumn after the 

 leaves have fallen. More orchards are injured by 

 untimely pruning than by any other cause. 



ashes and sand for borers and mice. 



About sixteen years ago, I set a few apple trees, 

 with little expectation that they would amount to 

 much, for nearly all fruit trees in this section were 

 badly infested with borers. Having seen a recom- 

 mendation to use sand as a preventive for l)onTS, 

 I concluded to try it, and having some ashes 

 on hand, mixed them at the rate of two parts 

 sand and one part ashes, thinking the ashes would 

 be an improvement, and put a mountl of the mix- 

 ture from six to ten inches high about the trunks of 

 the trees in the spring, leaving it till September, 

 when I spread it, that the bark might harden be- 

 fore winter. My trees have been thrifty and have 

 made a good growth. I have never been iroubleeJ 

 by mice, but should think banking the trees with 

 the same mixture just before the ground closes up 

 for winter would be a good preventive and not in- 

 jure the trees. I should suppose any thinking far- 

 mer would be careful about putting strong alkaline 

 or other similar substances in large quantities di- 

 rectly against a tree or other growing plant. 



Wendell. 



South Randolph, Mass., March, 1869. 



NORWAY OATS. — SWEET RUSSIAN TURNIPS. 



In the spring of 1867, 1 sowed one pint of Norways 

 on ordinary ground, — the product was one busheL 

 Last spring I sowed thirty quarts on half an acre 

 ot ground, in fair condition, but dry. On one and 

 a half acres of similar ground I sowed nearly five 

 bushels of the variety known as the Potato Oats. 

 The product of Norway was twentv-one bushels, of 

 the Potato Oats forty bushels. Weight of the for- 

 mer thirty pounds; of the latter twenty-eight 

 pounds. The weight of the old common variety 

 being twenty-six pounds, or nearly two pounds 

 lighter. They all sulfered severely from drought. 

 Hence the light weight and small crop. As far as 

 I have been able to learn, all who have tried the 

 Norway oats in this vicinity, with perhaps one ex- 

 ception, are pleased with them. In this exceptional 

 case, sixteen quarts were sown on half an acre of 

 very dry ground. The product was about twelve 

 bushels. 1 am inclined to the opinion that if as 

 much more seed hi^d been sown the result would 

 have been satisfactory. 



Can any of your correspondents inform us where 

 the Sweet Russian Turnip seed can be obtaim d ? 

 William Burbvnk. 



Bloomfield, Essex Co., Vt., March 18, 1869. 



SCRATCHES — WARTS — HORN AIL. 



I have lately cured a case of scratches or grease 

 on a horse, after a large number of remedies had 

 been tried without success, by four applications of 

 white lead and linseed oil. 



For some twenty five years past I have kept a 

 little spirits of turpentine in a pint flask, wiiji a 

 small quill through the cork, by which I can 

 readily apply as small a quantity as I desire. By 

 three applications to a very large wart on one of 

 my heifers, I was able to remove it in ten days 



