HARRISON ' a isruRSHRiBS, BERtiisf, Ml). 13 



under copious loads of fine fruit, and yield to the cultivator his reward One experiment only 

 is enough to convince anyone of the advantage of good culture. Dwarf pears, more than any 

 trees, require a deep, rich soil, and clean cultivation. In cultivaing, great care should he 

 taken not to injure the trees by rubbing the bark otf. The best crops tor an orchard are those 

 requiring summer culture— such as potatoes, beans, etc. Winter crops are little better than 

 fao culture. Rye is decidedly injurious if left to seed. 



PRUNING. 



"We recommend the greatest care and moderation in this operation, believing, as we do, 

 that upon the whole there is more injury done by the use of pruning instruments in unskillful 

 hands thail would result from its entire neglect Some of the objects sought are to diminish 

 the thick growth, to increase the vigor of the branches, to admit light and air, and to form a 

 well-shaped topv We are opposed to the too com- v_^^_,^_^v_>^.w^_.^_..w^_^--v_.^-^^,_^^,^^^_^._^^^^^^ 

 mon practice of trimming up trees as high as a j-^-'^-'^-^^ ~_^-^_^-_^^-^^^^v_a.-^_^ 



man's heatJ, leaving a long, naked stem exposed to) "From labor cometh rest." Nothing > 

 the ravages of insects and the deleterious effects of ) worth the having is to be had for noth- } 

 sun and wind, as well as other sudden and extreme ) ing. It may not seem work to keep up > 

 changes of the atmosphere. If a tree be allowed to ) a good orchard but it will bring its own > 

 branch near the ground, its danger from these ills a reward. > 



will be lessened, and it will grow much stronger and a-^-y--v-v-^-v— v-v--^-^~v~v--v~v'-v-v--n-->^-^^ 

 faster, bear more fruit, which will be more easily gathered, less liable to be blown down, and 

 we may add, better every way. If watched closely when young and growing, it will never be- 

 come necessary to take off large limbs. Occasional pinching or cropping off of the ends of 

 branches to give the tree proper shape, and removing those that cross or crowd each other, will 

 be all that will be needed by most trees. Peach trees would be greatly benefited by an' annual 

 shortening- in of the branches, say one-half of the previous year's growth , this may be done at 

 -^-^-^~v~/--^-v.--v~.^-^.--^-Y-^-^-N^-^-^-v~v--v-v-^-^ after the fall of the leaf until the buds 



V <; commence swelling in the spring. Dwarf pears also 



{. Prune fruit trees, as too large and too ^ need careful attention annually, to keep them in 

 (, thick heads are to be avoided. ^ shape, by cutting back the rampant and straggling 



-''-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-'-'^-^-^^-^~-^-^-^-^-^-^-'- shoots; they should be pruned down instead of up, 

 never allowing them to grow high, or the top will become too heavy for the roots, and increase 

 the danger of blowing down. 



TREATMENT OF TREES COMING TO HAND OUT OF 



SEASON. 



It sometimes happens that trees are received in a frosted state ; but if they are properly 

 managed they will not be injured by it. Let the package be put, unopened, in a cellar, or some 

 such place— cool, but free from frost— until it is perfectly thawed, when it can be unpacked.and 

 either planted or placed in a trench until convenient to plant. Trees received in the fall lor 

 spring planting should at once be unpacked, and a trench dug in a rather dry, sheltered posi- 

 tion, when the roots should be" well covered. So ^^.^_^^,^^^ ^^^,^^,_^^,_^^_^^_^^,^_^,_^^^_^__^^_^_^^^_^^_^ 

 treated, they will be preserved without the least in- r^-^ -^--v_^ 



jury until spring. If they should come to hand late ) Trim and clean up the orchard, gath- > 

 in the spring, and appear much dried, plunge the ) er up the brush and burn it. Pick up ( 

 bundle into a pool of water, there to remain for ) the faulty Iruit and burn or feed to ( 

 twenty-four hours, or more if very much wilted. ^ swine. > 



After this it should be unpacked, and the roots and /'--~^-^~^-v'-v-^'~^-v-~v-^-v-^-^-v'-v--v-n-~v-^-^^--^-v-a 

 half the stems should be buried in soil made quite wet by watering ; there let them remain 

 until the bark expands to its natural fullness, when they may be taken up and planted as before 

 directed, and we will guarantee you a good reward for your labor. 



OLD ORCHARD. 



The old orchard upon the Epitomist Experiment Farm has been neglected for years. We 

 have trimmed the trees, removed the grass from above the roots and applied stable manure and 

 ashes. In the spring we will plow the ground and plant in navy beans. Under this treatment 

 this old neglected orchard will assume new and vigorous life, and will show the owners of many 

 such orchards what t is necessary to do to restore such neglected trees to a profitable vigor. 

 Over the whole country are failing orchards that only need such attentions as we have bestou ed 

 and will bestow upon this orchard to make them remunerative. These trees have stood in sod 

 for a long period. They had so diminished the plant food in the soil that the trees were starving. 

 Branches had become so thick that air and sunlight could not freelj^ enter. Insect depredation 

 met with no obstacle. Under such conditions it would be folly to expect a full crop on trees 

 thus situated. With the tough sod removed, the ashes and stable manure mulch constitute 

 conditions that are favorable to new vitality, and the cultivation of the land next season is just 

 what is needed. Navy beans are a profitable crop and one that Avill not affect the treos. It is 

 now too late for an orchardistto do what we have already done, but he can proceed in the 

 spring, as we shall then proceed, and with the application of ashes or other form of potash 

 around the trees, together with pruning between now and the starting of the sap. can secure 

 good results. Undesirable seedlings should be grafted, and so should trees of undesirable 

 varieties. Continue this process of grafting until you have a new tree —{Clipping from Agri- 

 cultural Epitomist.) 



Mess J G. Harrison & Sons, Pa.. May 2, 1900. 



The strawberry plants arrived all right, except the last lot were a little dry. but think 

 they will be all right. Enclosed please find check to balance account. 



Kespectfully, E. S. Miller. 



J, G. Harrison & Sons, Va., April 10, 1900. 



Dear Sirs— The strawberry plants ordered from your nurseries came to hand promptly in 

 good condition, and are in every way entirely satisfactory With thanks for extra number sent 

 and for careful ttttention. Very truly yours, D. A. Penick. 



