DECEMBER 345 



out or mow off the rank growths of any sort. Get the dams and 

 gates ready for flooding a little later. 



Try to arouse interest in a fall apple, show in your section. Much 

 good may result from an exhibit of fruits. 



Secure peach and plum pits for growth of stocks for next season. 

 Do not put this off until the supplies are exhausted. Stratifying of 

 these seeds may be postponed for a month or two. 



As soon as the leaves have dropped from the fruit trees or bush 

 fruits they may be transplanted with safety. If the winters are 

 severe always apply a good mulch around fall-planted trees and 

 bushes. 



Ornamental shrubs of all kinds may as well be transplanted now 

 as in the spring. This is the best time in the year for planting 

 rhododendron, laurel, and other broad-leaved evergreens. If the 

 old leaves are removed at planting time, new ones will form in 

 the spring. 



November..— All the bush fruits, such as blackberries, raspber- 

 ries, currants and gooseberries, should be well manured in the fall. 

 The strawberry bed should be covered entirely with several inches 

 of straw mulch or similar material. 



If you are planning any propagation of peaches, plums or cherries 

 get the pits ready for the seedling stocks and put them in layers 

 with sand this month, or as soon as freezing begins. This strati- 

 fying of the pits out of doors will allow them to become moist, 

 freeze, and crack open ready for spring growth. 



Strawberry beds may be mulched for winter late in November. 

 It is well to let the ground freeze some before the mulch is spread 

 over the plants. Use straw, marsh grass, leaves, corn stalks, pine 

 needles or other cheap material that is free from weed seeds. 



Continue planting fruit trees and bush fruits till the ground 

 freezes. Fall planting will save time next spring when other 

 duties are pressing. 



December. — Orchard trees may be pruned in the fall as soon as 

 the leaves are all off. The weather may be more agreeable in 

 December than later in the winter. As pruning should always 

 precede the spraying of orchard trees, the sooner the annual prun- 

 ing is done the more time will we have for choosing good spraying 

 weather. 



Such broad-leaved evergreens as rhododendron and laurel should 

 be given some winter protection. Shake straw or leaves among 

 the plants and almost cover them with it. 



