18G7 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



315 



with a cloud of pollen like fine dust, some of 

 the particles of which fall upon the mouths of 

 the pistils, and are held by the glutinous fluid 

 of which we have spoken. Around a staniin- 

 ate, or male plant, especially a tree, this phe- 

 nomenon may often be witnessed in a still 

 warm day. This cloud of pollen is carried to 

 a great distance by the wmd, and if it falls 

 upon good ground, ready to receive it, it quick- 

 ens the sperm cells of pistillate flowers, and 

 leads to the production of fruit. One stamin- 

 ate flower is often sufficient to fecundate quite 

 a number of pistillate flowers. Thus one male 

 strawberry plant will fertilize a number of fe- 

 male plants growing around it. The cultiva- 

 tors of this fruit avail themselves of this fact, 

 and occupy nearly the whole ground with fruit 

 bearing plants. j. r. 



Concord, Mass., May, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GAKDEN IN JUNE. 



There are a few general principles applica- 

 ble under most circumstances, which should be 

 borne in mind by every gardener ; such as, 

 that hoeing or stirring the soil when it is wet 

 is not the time to do the greatest amount of 

 good ; that hand weeding may be advanta- 

 geous at such times, as any disturbance of the 

 roots of plants then is sooner remedied than 

 when the soil is dry. Watering plants in dry 

 soil is of little avail, unless the soil be well 

 soaked all around the plant and below the sur- 

 face ; if done at all, it should be done at even- 

 ing and the soil stirred on top early the next 

 morning, or, what is better, a light covering of 

 soil sprinkled over the watered portion. 



Asparagus. — Do not cut too close, or too 

 late, as the roots may be injured thereby. 

 When it gets spindling or stringj^ cease cut- 

 ting ; hoe and clear off all weeds and dress 

 with superphosphate, and let it grow. 



Beans. — Those already planted will need 

 frequent hoeing when they are dry ; never hoe 

 when they are wet, as it causes rust or other 

 disease. Plant bush varieties for a succession 

 for cooking or pickling ; they are good when 

 canned for winter use. Sometimes pole beans 

 planted the first of June will mature a crop, if 

 forced by liquid manure. 



Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, «fec. — 

 May be transplanted the latter part of the 

 month for fall and late use. Cauliflower fre- 

 quently fails for want of moisture. 



Cucumbers. — Plant the last week in June 

 for pickles. Protect all vines as far as possi- 

 ble from the striped bug, by dusting with 

 plaster and fine soil and by frequent hand 

 picking. The eggs of the squash bug are de- 

 posited on the under side of the leaf; hunt 

 and destroy before hatching. 



Egg Plants. — Transplant into good soil 

 abundantly manured with good horse manure ; 

 hoe and water frequently. 



Fruit Trees. — Dwarf pear and other fruit 



trees should be trained to good shape by pinch- 

 ing out superfluous shoots and checking the 

 growth of too much wood. 



Grapes. — Tie up the branches and pinch 

 out unnecessary shoots. Have an eye for the 

 insects, and if signs of the mildew appear, 

 dust with flour of sulphur freely. Rose bugs 

 are a great pest when the vine is in blossom ; 

 sprinkling plaster, hand picking and frequent 

 disturbance are about the only remedies 

 known. 



Tomatoes. — Train to trellises or stakes and 

 pinch off the leading or main shoots to in- 

 crease fruitfulness. 



Weeds. — Give them no quarter, but nip 

 them in the bud by keeping the soil stirred. 

 W. H. White. 



South Windsor, C't., May, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE FUTURE FKUIT SUPPLY. 



The question of the future supply of fruit 

 for our markets, both for home use and for 

 export, is, to New England, of great import- 

 ance. For a year or two past, many single 

 acres in this region have given a return as great 

 as from twenty-five to forty acres of good land 

 in wheat have done in the States west or south 

 of us. And the decline of old, bearing trees 

 is so extensive, from natural causes, that the 

 new orchards are by some believed to be un- 

 equal to balance accounts, with the decay of 

 old ones. 



There is a constant increase of demand for 

 home consumption and for export, for fruit, 

 especially for winter apples. What is to be 

 the future supply of apples for proper use .•' 

 Good fruit will be wanted, and if cider is not 

 used for anything else, much will be used in 

 manufacturing vinegar. 



When a clear profit is made for orcharding, 

 of hundreds of dollars per acre, occasionally, 

 it becomes all to inquire if the probabilities of 

 such a return are not increasing rather than 

 the reverse. 



It seems to be very important to the future 

 interest of the whole people, consumers and 

 producers, that greater care should be exer- 

 cised, and more judicious efibrts be made to 

 preserve the young trees which have been and 

 are being set. Great numbers of trees are set 

 so poorly as to make them worthless. More 

 are neglected when they need mulching, and 

 they die. Many others, still, are allowed to 

 be destroyed by cattle. If they are worth 

 buying and setting, they are worth taking care 

 of. But they are not taken care of; and they, 

 therefore, give no future promise. 

 ■ Care of trees will pay, if care of lambs and 

 pigs will pay. And old trees need not die of 

 neglect, as they are now dying by thousands, 

 in New England. To trim up suckers, and 

 trim out tree tops, and defend them against 

 foes, and feed the soil for them, will pay. 

 There are old trees enough, now, in New Eng • 



