m THE FARM. 



with sheep shears in the right, every bunch of apples is cut off, leaving a part 

 of the stem of each fruit. This is done as soon as the blossoms have fallen, 

 and before the young fruit has attained any size. When this branch is en- 

 tirely cleaned, the next branch is skipped, and the third cleaned of the fruit 

 like the first, and so on until every alternate branch is divested of its fruit. 

 This work is not done on the small limbs here and there over the tree, but 

 on main branches, and equally on both sides ol the tree. Of medium-sizt d 

 trees, an active man will go over fifteen or twenty in a day 



Destroying the Plum Carcullo. — A gi'eat deal of useless advice has 

 been given out concerning easy methods of destroying the plum and peacli 

 curciilio. In most parts of the country it is impossible to raise plums unless 

 one exercises a daily warfare against the insects. Persons who have two or 

 three plum trees about the yard should succeed in raising iiniit enough for 

 their own use, but this they are seldom able to accomplish. Tke less treea 

 one has, the greater will be the proportionate number of insects to attack 

 them. 



Such methods as burning coal tar under the trees, hanging cobs, satu- 

 rated with molasses, among the limbs, are usually of no avail in saving a 

 crop of plums or peaches. The only sure method is persistent catching. 

 The curculios spend their nights near the base of the tree, under chips and 

 barks. Early in the' morning they ascend the trees, to lay their eggs in the 

 young fruit. 



There are two modes of cat<^hing them. The one devised by Mr. Ransom, 

 of Benton Harbor, Mich., is to nicely smooth the earth about the base of the 

 trees, and to lay a few small blocks of wood or chips on the surface. The 

 beetles crawl under these for shelter, and can be taken very early in the 

 morning before they ascend the trees. The chips should be examined as 

 Boon as one can see in the morning. This is the method most practiced in 

 the extensive peach belt of Michigan. 



The other method is to spread a large sheet under the tree, and jar the 

 beetles off on to it by means of one or two quick blows with a long-handled 

 mallet or bumper. Each of the large branches should be struck, and the 

 mallet should be wound with cloth to prevent injury to the trees. This 

 practice should be followed early in the morning also, as when the days get 

 warm the beetles are too Uvely to be caught. Many of the best peach and 

 plum growers practice both these methods. In the case of a few trees about 

 a yard both should be used, and there will be little doubt as to a good 

 reward in fruit. The practice should be followed up every morning for a 

 couple of weeks after the blossoms fall, and at wider intervals until the in- 

 sects disappear. A sheet may be stretched over a large wooden frame for 

 convenience in handling. 



A Suggestion to Growers of Plums. — If you want a good croii of 

 plums or damsons, as soon as your trees arc out of blossom, and the Iruit 

 formed, keep a hen with a brood of young chickens tied beneath the tree, 

 and give her a range as wide as the boughs of the tree, and she and lirr 

 brood will destroy every curculio, and reward your care and forethought 

 with a crop of luscious plums. Keep the chickens there until the fruit be 

 ialf or more than half grown. 



Manure for Fruit Trees. — It is best to abstain from the use of stimu- 

 '«tinganinval manures, unless decomposed, and preiiously composted wub 

 Piullow soil. Nothing is bettor than wood ashes to induce a sound, healthy 



