120 



THE ILLIKOIS FAEMEK. 



April 



be allowed to run, the beds should be narrow, 

 and separated with walks, from which the weed- 

 ing and picking may be done. 



VARIETIBS. 



The hermaphrodite varieties are the only ones 

 which have any special claims on ordinary culti- 

 vators. Of these, Wilson's Albany is now most 

 ■widely known, and will probably give for com- 

 mon care, the most and largest fruit of any well 

 known berry. The Iowa is probably the most 

 hardy variety, and quite equal to the Wilson in 

 productiveness. It is disseminated throcgh the 

 country under many names, and wherever plant- 

 ed and reasonably cared for, is sure to fruit 

 well. There are many other varieties which do 

 well, and should claim a share of attention. 

 The most promis'ng of these is the Triomphe 

 de Grand, which has been described in these 

 coluTiDS, and which bids fair to become quite as 

 widely known as the the two first named varie- 

 ties. We pr ceive that from all quarters the 

 attention of fruit-growers and a;r;ateursis being 

 turned to it. — Chicago Chris tan Advocate. 



[From the Farmers Advocate, Chicago.] 



Time to Prune Fruit Trees. 



In the last issue of the Advocate, is a para- 

 griph from " Field Notes" on the lime to prune 

 fruit trees. The time therein preferred is July. 

 Such, certainly, is subject to many objections. 



There is no one period of the year best for 

 pruning all trees. The time and manner of prun- 

 ing must depend on the object to be obtained by 

 that pruning. The two main objects are the 

 growth of the tree and production of fruit. In 

 a young orchard, er in an old one, where grovrth 

 of new wood is the main object, winter pruning 

 will produce those results ; but if the tree is 

 already too vigorous and of sufficient size to bear 

 fruit, summer pruning should be adonted. By 

 winter pruning, the abundant sap sent up in 

 spring, induces the growth of new wood — the 

 circu'ation of sap is more rapid and the fruit 

 spurs of most vigor, are changed to branches. 

 Summer pruning by checking the gioth at that 

 season, when fruit buds are forming, accelerates 

 the formation of such buds. 



Nothing i^ more common than a tendency to 

 extremes among horticulturists in pruning. 

 Often have I seen orchards cripled and perma- 

 nently injured by excessive pruning. It appears 

 that some have a pruning mania, and annually 

 cut and saw indiscriminately. They seem to 

 suppose trees should be pruned every year, and^ 

 at some lei-ure time — most usually in the spring 

 — set in wiih ax and saw — cutting without defi- 

 nite object, here a limb, and there another; and 

 not unfrequently we have seen the entire lower 

 branches removed even after trees had attained 

 half their size, thus destroying that balance be- 

 tween the roots and branches which time can 

 hardly ever restore. 



Some cultivators err as greatly in another 

 direction, and seldom prune at all. They act on 

 the supposition that nature requires no aid in 

 this respect. 



I would never prune heavily at any time, but 

 rather gently and often, and several times dur- 

 ing the year, if the object we have in view 

 requires it ; but never prune without a definite 

 object. 



If trees have been properly cultivated, they 

 will seldom require pruning to promote bearing. 

 It is only when their natural conditions have 

 been changed, that there is necessity to resort to 

 any such measures. If, after proper size, a tree 

 is barren, fruitfulness cannot be attained by 

 pruning only, at any season. A better method 

 will be found in the proper management of the 

 sap. To apply this management judiciously, 

 something must be known of' its several condi- 

 tions, for the same sap that will produce leaf, 

 wood, and bark, by proper management, may pro- 

 duce fruit by changing its condi.ions. 



Every farmer who cultivates a young orchard 

 should not be in so great haste to have trees 

 bear early, as have them of vigorous and syme- 

 trical beads. Premature produciveness is more 

 than countir-balanced by a future enfeebled 

 growth. An orchard should be pruned so fre- 

 quent that heavy pruning would never be neces- 

 sary. To allow the formation of 'arge limbs only 

 to be trimmed off, is bad economy. 



H. B. Rankix. 



Prairie Home, March, 1862. 



Grain and Stock Trade of Chicago. — We 

 learn tl al the Messrs. Fairbanks have set in the 

 elevators in this city, during the last year, about 

 seventy of their five hundred bus el hopper scales 

 and several smaller ones. Each of these can be 

 loaded to its full capacity, and the load discharged 

 in a few minutes, which show.s something of the 

 immense amount of grain which can be weighed 

 upon them They have also set, at the difl"erent 

 stock yards in the citv, five of their stock scales 

 with platforms of sufficient size to wiegh a whole 

 car load at once, which must add greatly to the 

 facilities for shipping live stock from this market. 

 — Chicago Tribune. 



—•>- 



Weather and Crops. — During the past week 

 we have had a continuation of heavy rains all 

 over this State, as well as in Towa and other 

 Northern States, and farmers have yet made 

 but little progress in their spring work. Iq 

 sonoe parts of Central and Southern Illinois the 

 ground is so wet with the incessant rains of 

 the past four or five weeks, that it is impossi- 

 ble to do anything. 



Much apprehension is felt in consequence of 

 this with regard to the next crop o Spring 

 Wheat, which, when late sown, is much more 

 subject to the fatal rust and blight than when 

 it is put in the ground early in the spring. The 

 Winter Wheat in some sections looks well; but 

 the cold rains which prevailed last month have 

 damaged the crop very materially in low 

 grounds. The roads are mostly impassable 

 and farmers find it difficult to bring anything 

 to market. 



