1880.] 
AMEIilCAN AGrJLilC UL/r(JHIST. 
295 
pigs may be obtained from the same sow in a year, 
and with considerable profit. It is frequently an 
advantage to have pigs come in August, as they 
can then be ready as small pork for the holidays. 
Above all, keep the pens neat and clean. 
Horses— Pasture alone will not be enough for 
horses at night that are kept at work through the 
day. A run in the pasture will be beneficial, but a 
feed of grain should be given before being turned 
out. Work horses plowing on hot, dry ground are 
subject to brittle hoofs ; this may be remedied by 
keeping the hoofs soft by an occasional application 
of glycerine. The shoes should not be kept on too 
long, otherwise the hoof growth will not be natural. 
Clover Seed .—Clover cut early for hay will be 
ready to cut again for seed this month. The sod 
may be turned for wheat, and will furnish a large 
amount of valuable quick-acting plant-food. 
Gas Lime, when it can be obtained for the trouble 
of drawing it away, is worth all it costs. It should 
not be used fresh, but put in heaps ready for 
spreading on the land in the spring. In a few 
months the injurious gases escape, and it becomes 
a mixture of various compounds of Lime. 
Poultry ..—The value of pure bloods is now welt 
established. This month is a good time to clear 
out the old mixed fowls and procure a few speci¬ 
mens of one of the best sorts; both the pleasure 
and profit of poultry raising will be increased by 
raising some one or more of the select breed 
Notes on Orchard and Garden Work, 
What was said in this place last month, on the 
need of more frequent intercourse between cul¬ 
tivators is still timely. The season of Fairs is so 
near at hand that the matter should be thought 
about and discussed Fairs are so numerous and 
communication so ready that one can, by a little 
forethought, attend several of these gatherings. 
Be sure to do all that is possible to make the local 
fair attractive, and do not refrain from exhibiting 
because you think some one else may show some¬ 
thing better of the kind. Show the best you have, 
and if another does better, try and learn how he 
did it. If a premium is awarded you for any ar¬ 
ticle, no matter if it is only 25c., be sure and take 
that money. One way to destroy interest iu a 
fair is for the few who think that they can afford to 
do so, to treat the awards as if they were of no 
consequence. If the fair is well attended by fruit 
growers, or those engaged in gardening of any 
kind, try to get up a meeting of such persons for an 
hour or so, for discussion and interchange of ex¬ 
perience. A beginning, however small, in this 
direction, may lead to excellent results hereafter. 
This is but one of several methods by which even 
a small fair may be made an occasion of real interest. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
It is now the time of year when returns are com¬ 
ing in for the work of the earlier portion of the 
season—the early apples, pears, etc., are ready for 
market. If one with fruit to sell could visit the 
city markets, he would learn by observation the 
importance of what seem to be trifles. It will not 
take long to learn that much depends upon a careful 
Sorting of the Fruit .—At least three grades should 
be made, the “ Extra,” “ No. 1,” and a third sort, 
which in most eases, unless the fruit is very scarce, 
should not reach the market. Usually it does not 
pay to m-arket the fruit as it comes from the tree— 
the greater the uniformity of the fruit all through 
the package the better it is for the producer. 
Packages .—Very much depends upon the way the 
fruit is put up for the market—the size and shape 
of the packages, that they may be easily handled. 
The neatness of the package, with a plain label, 
goes far to secure the best prices at the market. 
Half-barrels, crates, and baskets, are the packages 
most used for early apples and pears and the 
last two for peaches. Whichever of these is used, 
the fruit should be packed in firmly to avoid the 
bruising that would otherwise follow from shaking 
Peaches require judgment in picking: the longer 
the time before they will reach the consumer the 
harder they should be. A single over-ripe peach 
in a crate spoils the looks of the whole package, 
and though the fruit in the main may be first-class 
or “extra,” it can only pass for poor. The poor 
specimens are as the weak links in the chain by 
which the value of the whole is estimated. 
Ptckers. —Persons who care nothing for the trees, 
and so tear and break the limbs that they look as 
if a hail storm had visited the region, are not fit to 
have in an orchard. It must be remembered that 
there are seasons to follow, and the trees should 
be treated with care accordingly ; only the care¬ 
ful pickers are profitable pickers. 
Early Pears require more care than other fruits, 
as they ripen and decay so quickly. They must be 
picked before they become at all mellow, and 
marketed at once. If for home use, they are best 
picked early and ripened in the house. 
Budding. —So soon as the bark of the stock will 
raise easily, and the buds are mature, the budding 
may be done. A sharp knife with a thin blade, 
and the inner bark of the Basswood in thin strips 
for tying in the buds, are needed. Success depends 
upon having the bud fit closely to the stock, and this 
must be kept in mind in tying them with the bast. 
How to Bud. —In the Notes for August, 1877, we 
gave full directions, with illustrations, of the pro¬ 
cess, which will guide any intelligent person in the 
work. As we can not repeat every year, this num¬ 
ber can be had, by those desiring it, for 15 cents. 
Seedlings, of evergreens especially, require shade 
during the hot weather. Leafy branches of trees 
will serve this purpose if nothing else is at hand. 
Young Trees require a mulch at this time to 
protect them from drying out at the roots. 
Insects. —The “ worms ” of the Codling Moth 
are now iu the “ windfall ” apples, and they should 
be fed to the hogs. The bands upon the trunks of 
the trees, as mentioned last month, will need to be 
looked to once a week and the “worms” killed. 
For treatment of Borers, see Notes for July. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Blackberries for the market should be picked be¬ 
fore they are fully ripe—for home use they may re¬ 
main on the canes until dead ripe. The new r shoots 
for next year’s fruit having been selected, the rest 
of the suckers should be treated as weeds, and the 
old ones cleared away so soon as the fruit is off. 
The young caues should be stopped by pinching at 
the bight of 0 feet, or even lower, that branched 
and stocky plants may be secured. Three or four 
such canes are enough for each stool. 
Raspberries will need much the same treatment 
as the blackberries. Pinch back young canes to 4 
feet or less ; clear out old ones after bearing. 
Grape Vines. —If mildew makes its appearance, 
the vines should receive a thorough dusting of Sul¬ 
phur at frequent intervals until it is subdued. A 
still morning is the best time to do the dusting, 
using a bellows to throw the sulphur on to the 
under-side of the leaves. The presence of mildew 
is known by the white spots which it makes on the 
leaves, and afterwards, if not attended to, upon the 
clusters of fruit. Pinch back laterals, as directed 
in previous Notes. 
Insects of whatever injurious kinds, will have to 
be fought. The large caterpillars and beetles on 
grape vines are best destroyed by hand-picking. 
Strawberries. —Early formed plants from runners 
rooted in pots, may be expected to bear a good crop 
next year. Ordinary plants set in the ordinary way 
this fall may give a few berries next season, but not 
a full crop until the year following. The old beds 
should be well manured and kept clean of weeds. 
Kitchen and Market Garden. 
Weed killing will still be required, though most 
of the crops are beyond injury from them. A weed 
that goes to seed now—-and they do very rapidly— 
means a full supply of young plants to stock the 
ground for another season. If the crop is removed 
from any portion of the garden, an occasional run 
of the cultivator over it will keep the weeds down, 
and at the same time improve the soil. It is better 
to sow such places with some late crop, such as 
Spinach, Late Turnips. —Spinach to be wintered 
should not be sown until next month. “ Yellow 
Stone” and “Aberdeen” are good turnips to sow 
now; the Strap-leaf will do if sown next month. 
Beam. —It is not well to hoe beans when the vines 
are wet, as it is said to make them rust. For pick¬ 
ling or salting, the “ Refugee” is best. Sow “ Early 
Valentine ” fora late crop of snaps. The stems of 
Limas need pinching off when at the top of the poles. 
Beets need frequent hoeing and thinning. Use- 
the young plants for greens. 
Cabbage and Cauliflower. —Set for late use. The 
“worms” are best removed by using hot water 
(180°), sprinkled over the plants through a fine rose. 
Carrots to do well require clean culture. When too 
large to hoe, pull the weeds that show themselves. 
Celery should be set out at once, and in well ma¬ 
nured moist soil. Hoe earlier plantings frequently. 
Corn for late crop should have the soil kept open, 
mellow, and free from weeds. So soon as the ears 
are picked the stalks may be cut and fed to the 
cows or other stock, or cured for winter. 
Cucumbers. —The soil should be cultivated so long 
as the vines will allow of it, after which hand-pull 
the w r eeds. Gather the fruit for pickles when of 
the size of the fore-finger—some prefer them 
smaller. Always cut with the stem left on. 
Egg Rants .—Keep clean of weeds, and place straw 
under the fruit to keep them from the ground. 
Melons. —The late sets will not mature ; therefore 
pick them off, that all the nourishment may go to 
the earlier ones. A mulch of straw just before the 
vines begin to run will keep the fruit from the 
ground. A more uniform ripening is secured by 
occasionally turning the fruit when near maturity. 
Onions. —Harvest the crop so soon as the tops 
die, and after being well dried, store in an airy place. 
Potatoes should be dug so soon as ripe, which is 
known by the dying down of the vines. Clean the 
ground of all weeds. 
Seeds. —In a small garden where there are several 
varieties of one vegetable, it is almost impossible 
to keep the kinds distinct, and as a general thing it 
is better to buy seeds of those who make a business 
of growing them. If any are to be saved, let it 
be from the best and earliest. 
Squashes. —Pull ®ut the large weeds after hoeing 
is over ; and Watch for any injurious insects. 
Sweet Potatoes. —Vines should not root at the 
joints, as small potatoes form there at the expense 
of the large ones. Move the vines when hoeing. 
Tomatoes. —A cheap frame of some sort should be 
provided to support the vine and keep the fruit 
from the ground; if nothing better is provided,, 
use brush or straw for the fruit to rest upon. 
I'lower Gsirdeu and Lawn. 
In a dry time it is well not to commence water¬ 
ing uuless it can be done thoroughly and copiously ; 
a mere sprinkling of the foliage does but little 
good. Where a general watering is not practica¬ 
ble, those plants that seem to sutler most should 
have the surface earth drawn away, the ground well 
soaked, and then the dry earth returned. The 
neatness of the beds will depend largely upon care¬ 
ful trimming and pinching, especially if designs are 
attempted in foliage plants. The lawn will need 
the weekly visit of the lawn mower. 
Dahlias, Tuberoses, Gladioluses, etc., will need 
stakes for the support of their flower stalks. 
Large Weeds in the lawn are best removed root 
and all by using an old chisel fixed to a handle. 
Walks and Drives need to be raked occasionally, 
and the edges trimmed to look neat and clean. 
Greenhouse and. Window Plants. 
Whatever repairs are needed about the green¬ 
house should be made before the time for taking 
in the plants. The heating apparatus should be 
looked to that it may be all right when needed. 
The wood-work of the houses should be thoroughly 
washed ; and a supply of pots, labels, potting ma¬ 
terial, etc., provided before the busy days of 
autumn are at hand. The propagation of many 
plants for winter may be going on, that a good stock 
may be in readiness for decoration of the house. 
