1881 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
227 
Calves should have a run in a good piece 
of grass. The value of a cow depends so 
much upon the first year’s growth that the 
calf should have the best of feed, that the 
mature animal may be the most profitable. 
Pigs that are to be ready for the early mar¬ 
ket will require a generous feeding from the 
start. The attention that they receive now 
will determine very much the profits of the 
piggery. A run to grass, or, better still, 
clover, will do them much good, but a good 
supply of bran and meal slops must not be 
forgotten. The frame of the animal is built 
now, to be filled up later in the season. 
Young chickens can find good employment 
in the vegetable garden, and wlen large 
enough to do injury by scratching, they 
should still have the run of the orchards. 
The insects that fowls catch are many of 
them injurious, so that in feeding them in 
this manner, a double good is accomplished. 
There are a number of enemies to young- 
chickens—rats, owls, and hawks being the 
most destructive. To keep these away, pro¬ 
vide coops that can be closed at night. 
Sundry Hints. 
Salt boxes are easily made, and should be 
provided. They not only economize in salt, 
but are much better than the ground for the 
animals to eat from. We have given figures 
and descriptions of a number of salt boxes 
and troughs in former volumes, one of the 
best of which we reproduce, for the benefit 
of the many new readers. The engraving 
A COVERED SALT TROUGH. 
shows a salt trough with a roof, which is de¬ 
signed to furnish a constant supply of salt. 
The swinging roof hung to the frame which 
supports the trough, protects the salt from 
the weather. The animals will quickly learn 
to push the roof to one side, in order to get 
at the salt (see engraving).... All who have 
the comfort of their live stock at heart will 
provide the pastures with a few rubbing posts 
for them. They save fences which might 
otherwise be rubbed down, do the animals 
good, and add pleasure to the owner who 
will enjoy seeing the animals use them. 
It is a poor farmer who does not keep his 
tools sharp. Better use up the grindstone 
than the extra muscle in working with a dull 
hoe or scythe. The few minutes that it takes 
to grind a tool will make the whole day’s 
work an easier one. Grind the tools ! 
Notes on Orchard and Garden Work. 
Take the years through, the first of June 
usually finds vegetation about equally ad¬ 
vanced. The work of planting is mostly over 
now, and the caring for the growing crops is 
the principal labor. Weeds at this season, 
if neglected, will establish themselves to the 
partial or complete destruction of the crop. 
The only economical way is, to fight them 
when they are weak, therefore the rake, hoe, 
and cultivator should be kept in motion. The 
use of these implements in June decides in 
great measure the returns for the labor of the 
whole season. We place the rake first of 
the three, because, properly handled, it is the 
most effective. Among newly set plants, 
cabbages and tomatoes, for example, the use 
of a sharp-toothed rake, which can be passed 
rapidly over the ground, will destroy vast 
numbers of weeds before they make much 
show. Only those who have tried it know 
how much good work can be done with the 
rake, if used at the right time. A few days 
too late and the weeds will be too much for it. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
It will pay to give a little time and atten¬ 
tion to the newly planted trees. If they are 
loose or leaning to one side, the soil should 
be pressed closely about them with the foot. 
A minute thus spent may save the tree. A 
mulch put around the trees now will do much 
good, especially should there be a long drouth 
in midsummer. Litter, straw, chips, small 
stones, or any other substance that will cover 
the soil and protect it from the hot and dry¬ 
ing sun, will answer as a mulch. In the June 
Notes for 1879 we gave a plan of a permanent 
record of the varieties of trees, and their 
position in an orchard. It consists in ruling 
a piece of paper into squares, a tree being at 
each intersection of the lines. The varieties 
may be designated by letters upon the map 
with a key to them below. Such a plan al¬ 
lows one to find the variety of any tree in 
the orchard at a glance. If a tree dies, or is 
in any way replaced by another variety, the 
correction should be made upon the map. A 
record of this kind saves one from the danger 
of the loss of names, if they are placed on 
labels upon the trees. Pruning in the orchard 
may be done now. All dead and worthless 
branches should be cut away, and where 
vigorous ones are crowded they should be thin¬ 
ned out. Paint, melted grafting-wax, or shel- 
lac-vamish, should be used to cover all large 
wounds. Grafts set last spring will need 
special attention. It may be that shoots upon 
the stock are robbing the graft. Remove 
such twigs, that the graft may get its proper 
supply of nourishment. If the grafts are in¬ 
terfered with by overhanging branches these 
must be cut away. The best interests of the 
young graft are paramount to all else. 
Orchard Insects, 
The Borer of the Peach and Apple tree 
should be looked to. There is no surface 
remedy after the borer has eaten its way into 
the tree. The only effectual means of reach¬ 
ing the borer is with a knife and probe. Use 
the knife as little as possible, simply to open 
an entrance for the probe of wire or whale¬ 
bone. If the young Tent Caterpillars are taken 
in hand at the right time, it is an easy mat¬ 
ter to dispose of them. Just so soon as the 
nests or “ tents ” are large enough to be seen, 
they should be removed and burned. If they 
are taken off in early morning ’they can be 
more easily found, covered with the glisten¬ 
ing dew, and the inmates are “at home” 
during the early hours. Delay with this 
pest means trees stripped of their foliage and 
no fruit. The Curculio is most active deposit¬ 
ing its eggs in the young plums while the 
flowers are falling and for a few days after. 
The time to catch them is early in the morn¬ 
ing while they are sluggish ; spread a large 
cloth under the tree and give the tree a few 
sharp jars, when the insects fall upon the 
sheet and can be swept from it into the fire. 
The Fruit harden. 
The beds of Strawberries, if not already 
mulched, should have the ground covered with 
straw or coarse hay at once, before the ber¬ 
ries get large enough to fall to the ground. 
Newly set beds will need to be kept clear of 
weeds, and the soil stirred frequently. Pick¬ 
ing and packing for market are very impor¬ 
tant operations. It should be remembered 
that appearance goes a great way in selling 
fruits. Over-ripe berries should be left out, 
as a single one may spoil the sale of a whole 
box. Have the crates of a size that they can 
be handled easily, and mark them plainly and 
neatly. The fruit canes of the Blackberries, 
and Raspberries should be tied up to stakes 
or trellises. The young growing canes form 
the fruiting ones for next year; cut away 
all except 3 to 5 to each stool, and when large 
enough tie them up ; they should be pinched 
off at 4 feet for raspberries and 6 feet for 
blackberries. The Currants and Gooseber¬ 
ries will do better with a good mulch of lit¬ 
ter from the barn-yard, or chips from the 
wood-pile. Keep a sharp lookout for the 
“ Currant Worm,” beginning to fight it from 
the very first. White Hellebore is the stan¬ 
dard remedy. See article on page 247. The 
one-year-old Grape-vines set this spring 
should be allowed to grow but one shoot. If 
older vines were set, they should not be 
allowed to bear, but devote all their energies 
in getting established. All growing shoots 
should be kept secured to stakes or trellises. 
Kitchen ami Market Garden. 
So much depends upon keeping the weeds 
in check that, unless the rake, hoe, and 
cultivator are used promptly and effectively, 
the returns will not be profitable. A well 
kept vegetable garden is not only a source of 
comfort, but also of economy to every far¬ 
mer. Too many people go from one end of 
the season to the other without a fair supply 
of fresh and wholesome garden vegetables. 
Salt pork and dry beans are excellent in their 
way, but not suited for constant use in hot 
weather. It is not practicable for farmers in 
general to have fresh meat continuously, and 
the frequent use of salt meat may be made 
vastly more acceptable if it is accompanied 
by an abundance of fresh vegetables. Far¬ 
mers, of all others, should have vegetables 
in the greatest variety and abundance, from 
radishes, lettuce, young onions, green peas, 
etc., among the earliest, to tomatoes, cab¬ 
bages, Lima beans, and others among the 
latest. Moreover there should be, during the 
season, a full abundance of Melons andWater- 
melons—not one or two, now and then, but 
a daily wheelbarrow load—enough for the 
whole family twice a day. Provide for a 
succession of all the crops that will bear 
planting at frequent intervals through the 
season. By this time the asparagus will have 
had its season and the tops should be allowed 
to grow and prepare the nourishment for the 
early shoot, of the next year’s cutting. The 
shade of the tops will prevent the growth of 
most weeds. The Lima beans should go in 
at once, if not already planted. A little at¬ 
tention will be needed to aid the young vines 
to take the pole. The bush sorts of beans 
should be sown in succession. The “Refugee” 
