298 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



a few trees they get them all. By covering with old fish 

 nets or (if the trees are small) mosquito netting, some of 

 them may be saved. In large orchards, the amount 

 taken may not be missed and perhaps is no more than 

 pays for the bugs and worms the birds destroy in other 

 seasons of the year. Some of the very early apples will 

 begin to ripen the last of the month, and all of the first 

 droppings should be fed to the cows, horses, pigs, or 

 poultry, to destroy the insects they contain. Pigs and 

 poultry may be turned in among the trees, but cows 

 and horses will badly injure trees with low heads. All 

 trees heavily loaded with fruit as to endanger breaking 

 down should be thinned, out or propped up. It is often 

 the case that if half of the fruit is removed from the 

 plum, pear, peach, and even the apple tree, that which 

 remains will be much larger and finer, will measure as 

 much and bring higher prices than all would if un- 

 thinned. In this work of thinning all defective or 

 wormy fruit should be picked off and destroyed, as it is 

 worthless, only continues to breed insects, and takes the 

 strength of the trees. With plums and peaches no two 

 specimens of fruit should touch, and each fruit should 

 have from three to six inches of space upon the branches. 

 Small Fruits. Strawberries are through with fruit- 

 ing along the Middle States and will last but a week or 

 two in New England, but will be found more or less in 

 our markets for a month, being brought from the North 

 and East. As soon as the crop is off, unless the bed is to 

 be carried along another year, which is not the best 

 practice, the land with all the plants, mulch, and weeds 

 should be turned under and fitted for a crop of cab- 

 bages, beets, celery, or turnips. To plow this well under 

 without clogging at short intervals, a sharp wheel- 

 coulter, which will cut through all this organic matter, 

 should be used. If the land is free from weed seeds, it 



