1879 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
28G 
mere stirring the soil is sufficient. Thin when 
needed, and pull all weeds that start in the rows. 
Clover-Seed .—Clover that was mown early for hay 
may be ready to cut for seed this month. If cut 
early, the sod may be prepared for wheat. A clover 
sod after the seed has been taken off furnishes rich 
soil for a wheat crop. The sod should be plowed 
with a jointer, such as the Syracuse Chilled Plow, 
and the ground well rolled; the surface may be 
then loosened up with a cultivator before sowing. 
Wounds and Bruises in horses and cattle should 
be washed and dressed with some emollient appli¬ 
cation. The Veterinary Cosmoline, a preparation 
of crude petroleum, has proved an excellent dress¬ 
ing for damaged skin, sprains, or bruises, on horses, 
cattle and sheep, as well as for softening hard or 
contracted hoofs. It has been found to serve a 
useful purpose for mankind as well as for animals. 
Horses .—A run at pasture at night will be useful 
for a team, but either the pasture should be good 
or the horses should receive a feed of grain before 
being turned out; pasture alone will not be suffi¬ 
cient for a tired horse that is kept at work every day. 
Care of the Feet .—Work horses are subject to have 
dry and brittle hoofs while plowing on hot dry 
ground. Occasional washing and application of 
glycerine or Cosmoline to the moist hoofs will 
soften the horn and remedy the brittleness. At 
this season mischief is done by keeping old shoes 
on too long. It is necessary to remove shoes to 
accommodate the growth of the hoof; otherwise 
there is danger that the hoof may become bound. 
Notes on Orchard and Garden Work. 
Harvesting the maturing crops, and weed-killing, 
are the chief occupations of the month. The kill¬ 
ing of weeds is of as much importance now as 
earlier in the season, and is mentioned with special 
emphasis, for the reason that it is so often neg¬ 
lected. The orchard, nursery rows, and garden, are 
often well tilled during the Spring and early Sum¬ 
mer, but when August comes the weeds too often 
have it all their own way. This is partly due to 
the pressure of other work, but frequently to neg¬ 
ligence. Too often, as soon as the crop is well on 
its way, the hoe and rake are hung up, and the 
weeds take possession of the ground and ripen their 
seeds in abundance for the next season’s trouble. 
Clean culture is not possible unless the weeds are 
persistently killed throughout the whole season. 
Orchard a ltd Nursery. 
Early apples, pears, etc., will be ready for mar¬ 
ket, and we wish that every one who sends fruit to 
distant markets could visit the places to which his 
produce goes. He would there learn by observa¬ 
tion many things which he can not otherwise find 
out. It would not take the watchful producer 
long to see the importance of carefully sorting 
his fruit—he would learn that it is to his profit to 
have in most cases at least three grades, namely, 
“ Extra,” “ No. 1,” and a third sort, unfit to send 
to market and only to be used for feeding out at 
home. In seasons of scarcity a third grade may be 
marketed near home, but usually it does not pay. 
Over-Ripe Fruit .—The visitor at the markets will 
learn the importance of picking his fruit before it 
begins to soften. This is especially to be guarded 
against with early sorts, both the character of 
the fruit and the weather prevent “ dead ripe ” 
fruit from keeping any length of time. 
Packages .—While barrels are the most conveni¬ 
ent packages for late apples, choice Early Apples 
sell better in half-barrels, crates, and baskets. The 
preferences of the market should be consulted in 
this respect. Much depends upon the size and 
shape of the package, as regards the care fruit will 
meet in handling during transportation. Use care 
in picking the fruit, and putting it into the package, 
to avoid bruising ; the little extra time expended 
here will pay a large interest. Whatever the pack¬ 
age—barrel, half-barrel, or crate, it should be so 
filled that considerable pressure is required to 
bring the cover into place. This is necessary' to 
hold the fruit firmly, thus avoiding the bruising 
which would otherwise follow from shaking. 
Rarlxj Pears require still greater care, as they ripen 
and decay so rapidly. They should be picked be¬ 
fore they are at all mellow. Early Pears, like the 
late sorts, are better if ripened in the house. 
Pack Honestly. —The success of a fruit grower de¬ 
pends upon solid reputation for honesty. Let every 
package be as represented, and like every other of 
its grade. This will insure the confidence of the com¬ 
mission merchants, the esteem of the consumers, a 
ready sale of the fruit, and an iuward satisfaction. 
Careful Pickers. —Let no one pick fruit who has no 
thought for the life of the tree, and the seasons 
that are to follow. We have seen orchards that 
looked, after the picking, as if a hail storm had vis¬ 
ited it, the limbs were so torn and broken. 
Insects. —Feed all the wind-falls containing the 
Codling Moth “ worms ” to the hogs, or let these 
have an occasional run in the orchard. The bands 
to catch the worms should be looked to every week, 
and the worms killed. Borers should be probed 
and killed with a wire. Some Bark Lice and other 
plant lice can be killed by a wash of strong soft soap. 
Budding should be done as soon as the bark of 
the stock will raise easily, and the buds arc woody 
and well matured. A keen, flat knife and the bast 
or inner bark of the Basswood are all that are nec¬ 
essary for the work. In the application of the ties 
see that the bud fits closely to the stock. An ex¬ 
pert will put in 3,000 buds in a day. 
How to Bud. —We can not repeat instructions for 
such operations every year. In the Notes for 
August, 1877, we gave directions for budding, illus¬ 
trated by engravings, which, if carefully followed, 
would enable any intelligent person to perform the 
operation. This number may be had for 15 cents. 
Seedlings of forest trees, especially Evergreens, 
require shading. If no other shade has been pre¬ 
pared, stick small leafy branches among them. 
Young Trees. —A mulch will be of great value to 
newly set trees in this, the most trying month. 
Fences around the nursery and orchard should be 
kept in good order; stray cattle may cause much 
destruction when they once get among the young 
trees, or even older ones when loaded with fruit. 
T!ie Fruit 4* a r«len. 
Blackberries.— For home use the fruit should be 
fully ripe before picking, but for market pick ear¬ 
lier while firm. After fruiting clear out all old 
canes, and leave four of the strongest new ones 
for the next year, and keep these at six feet in 
hight by pinching off the tips. 
Raspberries. —Cut out the old canes, and pinch 
the new growth when it is about four feet high. 
Grapes. —If mildew makes its appearance give the 
vines a thorough dusting of sulphur, as directed 
last month. Cut out any bunches affected with the 
“ black rot.” Hand-pick beetles and caterpillars. 
Strawberries. —Plants struck in pots and set this 
mouth, will bear the next season. Old beds should 
be well manured and kept clear of weeds. 
Kitchen and Market Garden. 
It is now that the well-planted and kept Kitchen 
Garden makes its value felt in abundant supplies 
of vegetables for the table. Though most vegeta¬ 
bles are beyond serious injury from weeds, the va¬ 
rious weeding implements should be kept at work 
in the garden. A weed going to seed now, means 
many hundred-fold of its kind for next year. If 
there is nothing on a strip where an early crop has 
been removed, let the cultivator run over it every 
few days, but it is better to sow such places, and 
keep all the ground in cultivation. Spinach may be 
sown, and turnips sown now will make a good crop. 
Asparagus. —But little can be done now except to 
keep the large weeds pulled out. 
Beans should not be hoed when the vines are wet, 
as it is said to make them rust. Plant Refugee for 
late crop, especially for pickling. Pinch the stems 
of Limas off when they reach the top of the pole. 
Beets. — Keep hoeing and thinning, using the 
young plants for greens. 
Cabbages and Caulijloioers. —Set now for late use. 
Destroy the “worms” by catching the butterfly; 
hand-picking, by brine sprinkled over the plants, 
or by the use of water heated to 180°. 
Carrots must have clean culture. When too large 
to hoe, pull out large weeds that show themselves. 
Celery. —If not set, should be put out at once ; it 
will yet make a crop in well manured moist soil. 
Corn. —The late crop should be cultivated and 
clear of weeds, and the soil kept open and mellow. 
Cucumbers. —Cultivate the soil as long as the 
vines will allow it, and hand-pull the weeds after¬ 
wards. Gather for pickles when of the desired 
size. Some like them of the size of the forefinger, 
and others prefer them even smaller, but the yield 
will of course be less if picked of that size. 
Egg Plants. —Keep well cultivated, and place 
straw beneath the fruit to keep it from the ground. 
Endive. —Set plants for late crop. Tie up the 
leaves when ready to blanch. 
Herbs should be cut while in early flower, made' 
into bunches, and dried slowly in the shade. 
Melons. —Those which set too late to ripen should 
be picked off. If the ground is mulched with straw 
just as the vines are beginning to run, it will save 
hoeing, and keep the fruit from the ground. If the 
fruit is occasionally turned it will ripen better. 
Musk melons are ripe when the stem separates 
from the fruit. A ripe water melon is known by 
the peculiar and characteristic sound when thump¬ 
ed ; easier remembered than described. 
Onions. —Harvest as soon as ripe, and when well 
dried, store in an airy place. Onion “ sets ” should 
be kept where they will not heat and decay. 
Potatoes. —Dig the early crop as soon as the vines 
wither and die down. Burn the vines, as they may 
contain the potato-rot fungus. Market at once.. 
Seeds. —As a general thing it is cheaper and more 
convenient, to get seeds of the regular seedsmen 
than to save them. But if any are saved, let them 
always be of the earliest, fairest, and best specimens.. 
Squashes. —Watch the vines for injurious insects. 
Pull out the weeds when you can not hoe any longer.. 
Sweet Potatoes. —Do not. let the vines root at the 
joints, as numerous small potatoes will form there 
at the expense of large ones. 
Tomatoes .—Destroy the large green worms by 
hand-picking. Provide a cheap frame of stakes 
and poles, or place straw under the vines, to keep 
the fruit up from the ground. Trim off the late 
branches and flower clusters, and thus throw all 
the nourishment into the fruit that is sure to ripen. 
Flower Garden and liitwn, 
If the weather is dry, watering in the flower gar¬ 
den will be a necessity. This can be done with 
most effect and comfort towards sundown. The 
weeds will always grow, and must be kept out 
with hoe and rake. Care is the watchword of the 
month. The beds should be kept in order by pick¬ 
ing and trimming, especially if they are of the so- 
called foliage plants, and represent formal designs. 
Bulbs of spring flowers should now be taken up. 
Dahlias are to be secured to stout stakes firmly 
set in the ground. Cut off the old flowers as fast 
as they have faded away. Pick off grasshoppers. 
Gladioluses will need stakes to the flower 6talks. 
Lawns and Edgings should be kept closely cut. 
Lawn mowers are so perfect now, that there is no 
excuse for not having a well kept lawn. Large 
weeds can be taken out with an old chisel fixed to 
a handle. Keep the drives clean by frequent rak¬ 
ing, and occasionally use the hoe along the edges. 
4j>reeiilioiise and Window Plants. 
This should be the time for getting the green¬ 
house in good order for the incoming plants. Look 
well to the heating apparatus, that no trouble may 
arise here when the cold snaps of autumn come.— 
Wash the woodwork, and do the necessary paint¬ 
ing. Get in a supply of pots, potting material, 
labels, and all other needful articles, before the 
busy time of autumn comes. It should be a gen¬ 
eral cleaning up time. Fumigate if it is necessary. 
