764 



LIGHT FROM THE SOCIETIES. 



of these branches will have many side or fruit-bearing 

 shoots, and the trees, if properly cared for, will be strong 

 enough to ripen their first fruit the first season after 

 setting. These growths in turn should be cut back from 

 one-third to one-half, according to strength, and the 

 stronger side-shoots accordingly, always bearing in mind 

 that to maintain a pyramidal shape for the head it will 

 be necessary to shorten in the upright branches more 

 severely, for as our trees get older the tendency of sap is 

 to go to the extremities. This rule for pruning will apply 

 more particularly to the peach, prune or plum and the 

 apricot, and if followed up with reasonable perseverance 

 the first three or four years, our trees will become so 

 compact, the main branches so rigid, and the bearing 

 branches so close to the strong wood, that we will suffer 

 small losses from our trees blowing to pieces or splitting 

 down. Trees when once in full bearing will not often 

 require severe pruning, as the rampant wood-growth will 

 be very much lessened ; however, a careful cultivator 

 •will look over his orchard every year, shorten in the 

 stronger growth, remove dead branches and thin out 

 such as are becoming too thick, as well as unnecessary 

 suckers. The apple, pear and cherry, however, during 

 their first and second seasons will not yield so readily to 

 severe cramping as the other kinds named, nor will it be 

 necessary. The cherry, especially bigarreau or heart 

 varieties, should be shaped in the nursery-rows the first 

 summer by pinching out the leaders when a couple of 

 feet high, as they do not break readily from old or 

 ripened wood like the peach or apricot. 



Summer pruning, if done at the proper time, has some 

 advantages, and on the right kind of subjects brings fine 

 results, but should be confined to the more vigorous sorts. 

 The shortening of the summer growth tends tocheck the 

 plant in what may be called the unnecessary develop- 



ment of wood-growth and the more perfect develop- 

 ment of fruit-buds, by arresting the excess of sap or 

 checking it in the wild career of wood-making, which we 

 see in the strong-growing apple, pear, plum, cherry and 

 some varieties of the apricot. Root-pruning will ac- 

 complish the same results, or in some soils slack-culti- 

 vating may tend to the same end, as the object is to check 

 excess of wood-growth ; but in most cases this excess 

 may be confined to individual trees or varieties in the 

 orchard, while others need every encouragement in the 

 way of good culture ; therefore, it may be better tb 

 summer-prune and thus check wood-growth, and encour- 

 age fruitage by the encouragement of fruit-buds. — /. C. 

 Wood, before a California Farmers'' Institute. 



Cemetery Rules. — The proprietor of each lot may erect 

 any proper monument thereon, but to prevent excessive 

 or unsightly crowding, not more than one monument will 

 be allowed on any lot. Vaults or tombs are not recom- 

 mended, but wilj be permitted upon lots which, by the 

 natural slope of the ground, are peculiarly adapted there- 

 for, provided that all but their fronts and roofs are below 

 ground, built of durable materials, and fitted with cata- 

 combs in a tight and substantial manner, and the en- 

 trance provided with one or more metal doors. With 

 the view of preserving the sylvan effect so essential in 

 rural cemeteries, no enclosure of lots of any kind will be 

 allowed. No grave, after having fully settled, will be 

 allowed to remain over three inches above the general 

 surface of the lot, and no abrupt sides will be allowed. 

 Foundations for all monuments must be of stone and 

 laid in Portland cement, and built by the association at 

 the expense of the lot-owner. The depositing of shells 

 and tin vessels will not be allowed. — Extracts from the 

 By-Lazfs of the Chillicothe, Missouri, Cemetery As- 

 sociation. 



Fill soft and deep, O winter snow! 



The sweet azalea's oaken dells, 

 And hide the bank where roses blow 



tAnd where swing a^nre bells. 



" O'erlay the amber violet's leaves. 



The purple aster's brookside home. 

 Guard all the flowers nature gives 

 A life beyond their bloom" 



—J. G. W. 



