POMOLOGY, GARDENING, PORESTRY, HORTICULTURE, RURAL ARCHITECTURE, BEES. 



Vol. II. Des Moines, Iowa; Leavenworth, Kan., June, 1871. No. 6 



MARK MILLER, 

 JSdilor ami Publisher, - - J)ea Moines, lotva. 



DR. J. STAYMAN, 

 Associate Editor, - - Leavenworth, Kansas. 



DR. WM. M. HOUSLY, 

 Corresponiling Editor, - - Leavenworth, Hansas. 



Terms.— Single copy, fl.SO. Five copies, $6.00. Ten cop- 

 iee, $11.0<). Twenty copies and upwards, $1.00 per copy. An 

 extra coi>y to tlie Agent, witliout regard to size of club. 



ADVEKTISINO KATES. 



Three-fourth inch, first insertion, $2.50. Each suteequent 

 insertion, $l.i5. 



One inch, first insertion. $3.50. Each subsequent inser- 

 tion, $1.!)0. 



One-fourth column, first insertion, $0,00. Each subse- 

 quent insertion, $4.00. 



One-half column, first insertion, $9.00. Each subseqtient 

 insertion, $l».flO. 



One column, first insertion, $12.00. Each subsequent in- 

 sertion, $S.00. 



For a longer continuai:ce than three months, a reasona- 

 ble reduction will be made on the above rates. 



Pifly per cent, will be added to tlie above rates when set 

 double measure. 



fWTt should be observed by advertisers that our columns 

 are much wider than those of news and agricultural papers 

 generally. 



MnlcU Your Trees. 



Thousands of trees are annually lost during the 

 heat of summer, that might be saved with the out- 

 lay of a very little labor only, bj' way of mulching. 

 We say lufjor only, for the requisite material with 

 which to do the work may usually be found in 

 great abundance upon every fiirm. The roots of 

 newly transplanted trees stand in special need of 

 an extra amount of moisture to re-establish a foot- 

 hold in the soil, and to sustain the life of the tree 

 during the first season after its removal from the 

 nursery. Evaporation of moisture from the naked 

 soil, so important to the promotion of new growth, 

 is such, that unless transplanting is followed by fre- 

 quent and copious falls of rain, or by mulching, the 

 tree has a hard struggle to sustain life. In trans- 

 planting tree, shrub, plant or vin^, the soil should 

 be Well packed around the roots, and well saturated 



with water, and the surface of the ground system- 

 atically mulched. Mulch is a non-conducter of 

 moisture, and maintains in the soil underneath, 

 that moist, friable condition found in the forest, 

 so favorable to the growth of vegetation. The best 

 material for the purpose is very coarse barnyard 

 manure, straw, hay, or material from an old straw 

 heap partially decayed. Tens of thousands of trees 

 were lost last season throughout the west, from in- 

 attention in the direction of mulching. Evergreens 

 need mulching no less than fruit or other decidu- 

 ous trees — in fact more, for their fiue fibrous roots 

 will ramble near the surface, however deep the 

 tree may be set. Never stir the soil about an ever- 

 green, but use mulch unsparingly to the fuU extent 

 of the roots. 



The Apple.' 



■Its Propagation.' 

 claded. 



■No. 5.— Con- 



By the Associate Editor. 



Harvesting the Apple.— Packing for Shipping and Storimj.— 

 Disposition of Surplus or Refuse Apples, <&c. 



Pick your apples with care before they freeze, 

 which can be easily done from the ground by hand 

 on low headed trees, except a few of the higher cen- 

 ter branches, which may be gathered by a hand- 

 picker, of which there are several patterns. Assort 

 your apples with care before sending them to mar- 

 ket or to pack away. They will bring more money 

 by so doing, and you will establish a reputation 

 which will always sell your fruit at the highest 

 markert price which is the best trade mark you can 

 have, simply your name. If you pack in barrels for 

 shipping or storing, let them be uniform and sound 

 throughout, that when a barrel is opened it will 

 show a correct sample. In packing, place the stem 

 down on the end of the barrel which is to be open- 

 ed, have a good sample on the first tier to show 

 well, then place one above the other as close as 

 they will pack, until full, then press down tight 

 with a hand press, and head up and nail tight, so 



