15 



pn?w gh hf™ f w k l a ^,°J i cuit , £JMl ve S etabl es. If manure is not to be had convert 

 t^Z' ™ t I '., °W t«rf and any coarse material you ean scrape up near the wash 

 2™* [ C V^? W the wa f h w ? ter > ni Sh* slops, &c. But few have any idea how 

 If^ ^^T' lost ^ lowing such away. Even if nothing more is 

 done with such than to throw it around the fruit trees and larger plants, such as rasp- 

 berries, blackberries, currants, &c., it will be a great saving and a large increase of 

 fruit will be realized by so doing. 



Fig. 7. 



STANDS FOR GATHERING FRUIT. 



These will needno description how to make, as the cut (Fig. 7) shows for itself. Stands 

 for quarts are made to hold six baskets, and for pints eight baskets. We usually have a 

 large supply of these ready, so that we are not obliged to empty them as fast as brought 

 in, which, if done, many times keep the pickers waiting, especially if a number come ' 

 in at one time. "We have generally kept a tally book, but hereafter Bhall have small 

 tickets, on which will be printed, "Pay the bearer for picking six quarts." At night 

 these will be handed back to us and we then pay the cash, or give another ticket or due 



". Jl, as follows, " Pay for picking quarts at- cents per quart." The 



hrst blank being filled up with names of pickers, the second with number of quarts 

 tr.cked, and third what price per quart. By this system or one similar to it, pickers 

 can keep their own tally. 



PROTECTION FROM "WINDS. 



This is of great importance to secure a good and sure crop of fruit — especially straw- 

 berries. Any person may see by passing a field that is protected on the West by tim- 

 ber, that the snow will lay like a sheet all over such fields. It needs no argument to 

 show that this blanket spread over the surface of the ground protects the plants and 

 roots, and adds richness and vitality to the soil. It is a common saying that "snow 

 is the poor man's manure." We believe this is so, by its shading the surface, and 

 shade, to a proper extent, enriches the soil. We believe it gathers in its descent from 

 the atmosphere, and carries to the soil, certain properties that add greatly to its rich- 

 ness. These things are not easily explained, and maybe ridiculed by some; but 

 practical illustrations abound on every side to prove the truth of our statement, and 

 we believe that the more our people strip the country of its timber, the less and more 

 uncertain will be the crops. We can prove that in localities that have a fair propor- 

 tion of timber, the crops, and especially winter wheat, are more certain than in those 

 sections barren of timber. We know of a farm where but one row of maple trees 

 were set through the center of the farm, running north and south. These trees are 

 now twenty to thirty feet high, and about twenty feet apart. They commenced 

 branching out low, and have erown so that the limbs meet. On the east of this row 

 of trees snow lays as it falls for twenty or thirty rods, and the crops of winter wheat 

 are excellent, while on the west side the snow is generally swept off, and the crops 

 poor, notwithstanding the soil is the same. This row of trees scatters and breaks the 

 force of the wind so that the snow that falls on the east side is not swept off thereby. 

 We would therefore advise all parties who are intending to go into Small Fruits, to 

 choose a locality that is protected on the west. If this cannot be had or found, then 

 set a row of trees, or double row, on the west. 



The best tree we know of for this purpose, on account of its quick, rapid growth, 

 dense foliage, and cheapness, is the Scotch Pine. We should set these ten to twelve 

 feet.apart, with some rapid growing forest trees half way between. 



