THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 



91 



THE HOME LOT. 



KEEPING BEKS AND RAISING SMALL FRUITS. 



Every happy home is greatly depend- 

 ent upon its siuTOLindings. The lot of 

 good soil, containing thirty or forty 

 square rods, besides a snug, neat house 

 and a small stable, should have a small 

 patch for vegetables, several apple and 

 pear trees in the corners, a few grape 

 vines in the sun, six or eight currant 

 bushes by the fence, a cluster of rasp- 

 berry bushes in the shade, and on the 

 sunny side a "Sweet Home" for the 

 bees. Such a possession, unencumbered, 

 should be the ambition of our young 

 men ; and when properly enjoyed, it 

 will be made profitable, beautiful and a 

 source of untold pleasure. 



The ideal, enlarged or diminished, 

 may be realized in the city, in the vil- 

 lage, or on the farm. 



After the lot and buildings are secured 

 and made cosy, a small outlay and a little 

 care each day will insure all the rest. 



add one more for early fruit, the Red 

 Astrachan is very desirable. 



The first pear tree for the Maine home 

 lot should be the Clapp's Favorite, and 

 the second should be the Sheldon — one 

 early, and the other later. To secure 

 such fruit as we desire, will frequently 

 require 



GRAFTIXG. 



Every owner of trees should know 

 now how to graft. It will take only fif- 

 teen minutes to learn this ait, and then 

 it will be such a pleasure and profit for 

 every man and every boy to do their 

 own work. Cut your scions at any time 

 from November to March, keeping them 

 in green sawdust until used. Make your 

 wax of one part beef tallow, two parts 

 beeswax and four parts rosin. Take 

 some old half-worn cotton cloth, dipped 

 in melted beeswax, for strips half an 

 inch wide to wind and carefully cover' 

 the whole head after the scion is set 

 and waxed. Graft in May. 



FRUIT TREES. 



All trees around this home, except a 

 few evergreens on the north side, should 

 be both ornamental and fruit bearing. 

 If only one apple tree can be afforded, 

 that should be the Rolfe which, with 

 ample space and good culture, will fill 

 the bill for all purposes, from Septem- 

 ber to January. 



A few years ago in Piscataquis county, 

 where this apple originated, I knew a 

 farmer who chanced to have a fine large 

 tree of this variety standing near his 

 barn. It was an annual bearer, and it 

 was the admiration of all beholders 

 when loaded with fruit. Its cro[), always 

 quick in the market and commvndiiig 

 the highest price, not only supplied the 

 small family with the richest dessert, 

 but a few selected barrels were annually 

 set aside to pay the farmer's taxes, if 

 two trees can be alTorded on the home 

 lot, the second should be the Rhode 

 Island Greening wliich, with the North- 

 ern Spy, is among the richest winter 

 apples we have. To these, if you can 



GRAPE VINES. 



The earliest and best grape vine I 

 have ever known is the Haverhill, which 

 is a modern seedling raised in Haverhill, 

 Mass., and sold in that city at $3 each 

 for small vines. It resembles the Del- 

 aware in color and quahty, but is larger 

 and much earlier. Next to this variety, 

 I should select the Brighton for dessert, 

 and then the Concord for other pur- 

 poses. 



RASPBERRY BUSHES 



will bear every year ; will do well in the 

 shade, and will flourish without care. 

 The same is true of some kinds of black- 

 berries. Currants require care. 



On the sunny side of the lot — except 

 at hioh noon in a hot day — the bees 

 should have the full blaze of the sun ; 

 provided the hive is protected by a cap, 

 that will keep off intense heat and rain. 

 The hive, of approved and modern con- 

 struction,, should be painted some light 



