204r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
What is said under " Oreliard " about mulching, 
Insects, etc., applies also to the fruit garden, and 
mucb in last month's Notes should be heeded now, 
and we refer to them to avoid repetition. 
Jfarkeiing begins with the strawberry, and the 
harvesting will be done this month in northern 
localities. We gave last month, on p. 178, so full 
an article on the "Berry Seasou," that nothing is 
to be added. 
Mackbeifies and Baapiemes. — Next season's fruit- 
ing is to be provided for by the shoots or stalks now 
growing. Tie up, to prevent accidents, such of 
these as are to remain, and hoe up all others. In 
picking, raspberries require delicate handling, as 
they ci'ush easily. When the picking is over, cut 
out the canes that have fruited. 
Maek-Caps do not sucker, but throw up new 
stems from the base of the plant ; these should not 
be allowed to become too crowded ; remove all the 
shoots not wanted while they are young. > 
Thinning is even more necessary on dwarf than 
on standard pears, as they are more apt to overbear. 
Grape Vi7ies will seed frequent attention. As 
the shoots grow they must be tied to the trellis, or 
a high wind will either break or entangle them. 
Kemove all shoots that start where canes are not 
■wanted, and in case of double buds, take out one 
shoot, taking the weaker one. In close pmning, 
the shoots are stopped (by pinching off their ends) 
just above the uppermost cluster. Some leave but 
a single leaf, and think it better than two, three, or 
more. We are governed by the form of trellis, pre- 
ferring to keep that filled with foliage, to following 
any set rule Treat rose-bugs and mildew as 
noted last month Soon the large beetles and the 
large caterpillars wUl appear ; they are never very 
numerous, and the only remedy is hand-picking. 
££itclieu and 3Iarlc«t Oarden. 
The lively time with the weeds fairly sets in this 
month. It is well to bear in mind that a weed that 
to-day has so slight a hold on the soil that it is 
lilled as easily as a tender exotic, in afew days wUl 
he so well established, as to he difficult of removal. 
Some one has said tliat " the time to kill weeds is 
just before they appear," aiid if taken to mean, 
"just before they make much show," it is true. 
The use of 
The Hake is not half understood or appreciated. 
Jl heavy steel rake, with long and sharp teeth, is 
one of the most effective weed-killing implements 
we have. It gets over the surface rapidly, and 
if run over the surface, will uproot the young weeds 
and leave them where the sun wUl soon finish 
ihem. The rake is not a complete substitute for 
those that stir the soil mnie deeply and thorough- 
ly, but it is an indispensable aid to these if one 
■if ould keep the garden clear. 
Succession crops should be looked out for. The 
season of many vegetables, which remain for but a 
short time in their best condition, may be greatly 
prolonged by proper forethought, in sowing at inter- 
vals. For example, we make it a point to have 
green corn daily, from the first picking until frost 
puts an end to the season. If there is a surplus, it 
does not come amiss, as the ears, allowed to get 
harder than their table condition, are a great treat 
to the pigs, and the fodder is cured for the cows. 
Vhoccupied soil should never be seen in the gar- 
den. As soon as one crop is off, give the soil a 
freshening up with manure, and put in something. 
Kecollect that weeds will have to be killed at any 
rate, and it is better to have the work of doing this 
turned to account of some crop. Judgment must 
'de used in the choice of things to occupy the land. 
The plants wUl have to endure the hottest part of 
the season, and lettuce, radishes, spinach, peas, 
etc., would fail, while beans, and all of the cucum- 
ber and squash family will be suited. It is well to 
have extra cabbage plants for this use. 
Asparagus should have a rest when peas are ready. 
When cutting is stopjied, the plants soon so shade 
the ground that few weeds •nill grow. 
Scans. — Plant bush sorts in succession, and in 
northern localities it will be early enough forLimas. 
Beets. — Thin and weed ; sow succession crops of 
early sorts, for beet greens, as well as the roots. 
Cabbages. — ^As soon as the crop of early is off, pre- 
pare the ground for celer,' or other late crops. Set 
out plants of medium late sorts. 
Carrots sown early in the month will usually make 
a good crop. Stir the ground whenever the plants 
begin to break through. Thin and weed in the rows 
as soon as large enough to handle, leaving at least 
4 in. between them. 
Cktery.— Keep the seed-bed free of weeds; some 
for early use may be set from the middle to the end 
of the month. 
Cucumbers. — Hurry their gi'O'wth. To keep off 
the striped bug, some put a rag on a stick which is 
so stuck in the ground that the wind will flutter it 
over them, and scare off the bugs. White hellebore 
has been used with success. Plant for pickles the 
last of this or the fii-st week of next month. 
Effg Piant.f. — In ■view of the great fondness of the 
potato-bug for these, it is ■well to grow in pots until 
of good size, and then put out in a rich spot. Hand- 
pick the insects or poison them. 
Melons. — Plant, if any have failed. They need 
the same eare as cucumbers. 
Okra may be sown where it is to stand. 
Onions. — Weed and keep the soil clear between 
the rows ; some give a di'essing of salt, thinking it 
prevents the smut. 
Peas rarely do well when planted late. If tried, 
sow them six inches deep in the coolest part of the 
garden, using the early kinds. 
Ibtatocs. — The early sorts in the garden require 
the same care as those in field culture. Poison 
must be used, or there will be no crop ; see hints 
for farm-work, and items in the "Basket'" pages. 
Skubarb. — Cut away the flower-stalks, and puU 
but little for use. 
Spinach. — Sow the New Zealand in ■well-manured 
hills. It is slow at first, but soon grows rapidly. 
Squashes may stdl be sown. For striped bug see 
cucumbers. Hand-pick the squash-bugs, and crush 
their eggs, which are laid on the under side of the 
leaf. For the borer it is recommended to cover 
the stem with earth for two or three feet from the 
root. In working the soil do not disturb the vines, 
but allow them to root. 
Sweet Potatoes. — Plant on well-manured ridges. 
See a full article on culture in March last, page 100. 
Tomatoes. — Set out for late crop. In garden they 
should be kept trained to a trellis, to stakes, or in 
some way, to keep them in order, and the fruit from 
the groimd. 
Turnips of the ruta-baga sorts may be sown at the 
end of the month. 
Odds and Ends. — A pig seems an almost neces- 
sary adjunct to a garden, or perhaps it would be 
better to say that a garden is necessary to the pig. 
At any j-ate, with a little care in gathering it, the 
refuse of the garden will go far towards the sum- 
mer support of the pig Root crops, beets, car- 
rots, parsnips, salsify, and scorzouera are rarely suf- 
ficiently thinned ; the larger kinds should have at 
least 4 in., and 6 in. space between them would be 
better. Salsify, by thinning, may be had of twice 
the usual size, and make a great saving of time in 
preparing If seeds are to be saved of any vegeta- 
bles, select beforehand the earhest and best for this 
purpose, and allow none to be used from it 
Herbs.— Have a supply of the seasoning articles pro-. 
Tided for the kitchen Weeds are to be fought 
first, last, and aU the time — except vchen the ground 
is wet. The lanee-headed hoe described last mouth 
cannot be too highly recommended ; it doesn't look 
like much, but we could hardly do without it. 
Indeed, we have them made by the half dozen. 
Flotrer Gardeti :tie<l I^a^wn. 
The Notes of last month will be just as applicable 
now, and may be re-read with profit. 
The Laum-Movjer should be used in well-estab- 
lished lawns at least once a week. If the grass has 
been allowed to get too long forthe clippings to be, 
left on the grass, rake them off. 
A Grass-Hook or sickle will be needed for places 
inaccessible to the machine. This should be kept 
sharp by the use of a scythe-stone. 
Trees and Shrubs.— VlTisA has been said under 
"Orchard" about shaping trees by the early re- 
moval of shoots not needed, and pmching, may be 
applied to ornamental trees and shrubs All the 
Bedding Plants should be out now. 'OTiere there 
are lines of different colors they must be kept dis- 
tinct by pinching back those disposed to interfere 
with their neighbors. 
Tlie Tender Plants from the greenhouse that are to 
be used outside, should be placed where winds 
wUl not injure them ; they often suffer from these. 
Odds and Ends. — Whether a place be large or 
small, neatness shoiild always be regarded before 
show A well kept kitchen garden is more pleas- 
ing than a neglected flower-garden If the orna- 
mental grounds can not be kept in order with the 
force that can be afforded, they are too large 
Good keeping is made up of little things. Have all 
margins, where the grass borders a walk, or a 
flower-bed, carefuDy trimmed Every scrap of 
paper, chip, or other matter should be kept off of 
the lawn as carefully as from the best carpet 
Stakes are often required to hold tall-growing weak 
plants and flower-stems ; they can be used and be 
out of sight. Avoid the horrible gTecu things, with 
white, pine-apple-shaped tops ; one doesn't wear 
gaudy cratches When a plantgoes out of flower, 
cut away the clusters, unless seeds are ■n^anted ; in 
that case it is better to have the seed-bearers in a 
reserve ground See last month's Notes about 
insects on roses Many shrabs may be propa- 
gated from cuttings of the ripening wood 
Weeds come among flowers as well as among cab- 
bages and must be treated in the same manner. 
Sharp-toothed rakes frequently run over the soil 
among the plants, will both keep the surface light, 
and uproot the young weeds. It is well to have 
rakes of at least two different widths, as a thickly 
planted bordcrwill need a narrow one. The lanee- 
headed hoe described and figured last month under 
" Kitchen Garden " is quite as useful in the flower 
garden, and saves a great deal of hand-weeding. 
4jii-eeulioiise and ^ViiidoT»' Plants. 
The last cold storm is generally over — at least in 
the latitude of New York— by June 10th, and the 
weather at that time may be regarded as settled 
wai-m. By that date whatever plants are to be 
taken from the greenhouse, may come out, and the 
house put in its summer dress With a little 
care it is easy to provide a set of plants of the 
Gesneria family that wUl keep the house a blaze of 
flowers. Gesnerias, Gloxinias, Tydaeas, Achimenes, 
etc., are all brilliant. Some of the double Gerani- 
ums, and all of the Tricolor class are much better 
in-doors ; these, with Fuchsias, and other summer- 
flowering plants, will make a well-shaded and well- 
ventilated greenhouse an attractive place Shad- 
ing must now be increased, unless put on heavy at 
first Insects ■wUl be rather more active than in 
winter, and the same means must be taken to sub' 
due them See last month's Notes. 
—» !»■ « » 
CommerGial Matters— Market Prices. 
. m 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, cnie- 
fiilly prepared specially for the American AgriciiUarist, 
from our daily record dnrinj the year, show at a glance 
llie transactions for the raoiitli ending Jlay ISlh, l&TT, 
anil for tlie corresponding- month last year: 
I. ■riiANSAO-nON'.^i A-r -rinc nkw yoi:i: makkhts. 
Hp'-eii'TS F'nny. WlifnL Corn. l^re. litirlpti. (iiitfi. 
•'7;l•J(;,^.^m•tll^37,100 2r.J,(K)0 l.BTO.OOO Sf.OOO 19S,nrO 573.000 
26 (IV i,(s( m-lli2G.i,000 289,000 1,7U,000 47,000 SOJ.OIO i\!i.KM 
<\IKS Flnitr W/'ffit. f^ni-u. Ittie. Burleii. Onls. 
•)7 .lV/;„-sin'fli3I9 0»d 1,072.000 7,149.01)0 62,000 9 -.OdO 1,570,000 
26 d'9 /.<« iM'lli3S4,000 1,265,000 2,."07,000 63,000 257,000 5-96,(00 
•l, Cntiipariinu irilfi S'lme nf.rioa at tlii^ lane iii.u i/ettr. 
I!rci'ii-rs F'mir. \r/imt. Cm-n. Rue. Bnrlpu. Onl-i. 
•>-, flfivs IS-;- 287,100 254,000 1,570,000 54.000 19S.rOH 573,000 
2fi days 1S76. .894,000 1,136.000 1,334,009 83.000 221.000 911,000 
CiLirt; Finnr. Wlieal. Corn. Uiie. hnrtey. Onta. 
"7 ri'ivs 1S77 819 000 ],O7J,l0n 7,140.POl 62,000 93,Oii0 1.570.000 
26 dnys 1876.. 3»7,000 2,6^»,0CO 1,211,000 117,000 41,000 816,0-0 
