302 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



The Orchard.- Early varieties of apples and pears 

 must now be harvested and sold at once, as they keep 

 but a short time. Where the trees are low such varie- 

 ties as Astrachan, Williams, Early Strawberry, Graven- 

 stein, etc., are most satisfactory if allowed to drop on a 

 mulch of hay, as they are not colored if picked before 

 they are almost mellow. Pears should be picked as soon 

 as fully grown and ripened in the box or barrel when 

 shipped to market. The color is better if ripened in a 

 close, warm place. Peaches and plums for local markets 

 should ripen on the tree and not be picked until the 

 green color of unripe fruit has changed to a yellow and 

 the fruit is almost mellow. If any trees show signs of 

 weakness with leaves yellow and small, look for San Jose 

 scale, and spray as previously directed. Look also for 

 borers and dig them out, or for the woolly aphis and spray 

 as for the San Jose scale. Black knots on the plum 

 trees should be cut off or painted with linseed-oil paint 

 with a little kerosene in it. Cover crops of peas and 

 barley will be beneficial if sown the first of the month 

 and allowed to lie on the ground until next spring before 

 turning under. 



Small Fruits. The principal work for this month is 

 keeping down weeds among the raspberry and black- 

 berry plants and currant bushes. Grapes are ripening 

 the first of the month at the South and the last of this 

 month and early September at the North. (Fig. 97.) 

 This fruit must be ripened on the vines, and the longer 

 it can hang the better the quality. It requires but a 

 light frost to destroy the leaves, and if the frosts come 

 before the fruit is ripened it can only be used for 

 cooking. Vines in the garden or on buildings may be 

 protected by covering, but no method of protection has 

 been devised that is successful and profitable in vine- 

 yards. 



