AMERICAN AG It LG L : LTUIU ST, 
18 G 0 J 
w ith their young until they yield. Feed puny lambs with 
fresh cow’s milk until they can draw nouiishment for 
themselves. Give plenty of water, and salt once a week. 
Sorghuin —Prepare ground as for corn, 11. 
Swine - Keep watch over breeding sows, that they do 
not devour their young. A little animal food, and also 
ashes and charcoal are serviceable to allay their craving 
appetites. Keep them in warm pens, with not. too much 
litter, that tiie pigs may not be overlaid and smothered. 
Timothy—Sow, 11, with Spring grain, and to re-seed 
meadows, as directed above. 
Tools of every kind should be in readiness, ff. Exam¬ 
ine and purchase good labor saving implements; on a 
large farm the expense of two or three hands may often 
be saved every year by a single machine. Secure such as 
you know have been tried and proved valuable. 
Trees by the road-sides and along lanes, especially fruit 
trees, are ornamental, and are permanent improvements to 
a place. Waste rocky spots may be profitably devoted to 
growing timber, especially yellow locust. Have an abun¬ 
dance for fruit and shelter in the immediate vicinity of the 
house. 
Wheat and Rye fields pay for attention now. Remem¬ 
ber that the real winter-killing is done in Spring. The 
leaves may be destroyed in Winter, and the roots start 
anew; it is the alternate freezing and thawing of the 
soil around the roots that destroys them. The more w et 
the soil, the greater will be the expansions and con¬ 
tractions, and the greater the injury. Therefore , clean 
out all open and blind ditches at once, so that the wa¬ 
ter will run off. It is often advisable to run the plow 
through the dead furrows to open them in the latter part 
of Winter. A heavy single horse must be used for this, 
to avoid trampling the wheat outside the furrows. On 
spots where the Winter w heat is surely dead, scatter on 
Spring wheat; the ground is all prepared for a crop and 
should not be left idle, or what may be worse, a nest for 
weeds. The extra seed may be hoed in on small plots, 
or dragged in on larger ones. It will often suffice to sim¬ 
ply sow it on the ground when frozen, as directed for 
clover. 
Orchard ami Murscry, 
Nobody expects wheat, corn, or potatoes, to produce 
well, without proper attention from the first planting of 
the seed to the final harvest; but few comparatively, ex¬ 
cept practiced nurserymen, perceive the necessity of like 
care in tree culture. The work is called finished when 
the roots are put in the ground; no further pains are 
taken to cultivate, to shelter, to prune, to destroy insects, 
and very little trouble is experienced in gathering fruit— 
:>. does not grow—that part of the work was effectually 
finished, by careless treatment at first, and continued 
neglect. If an orchard, or even a few shade trees are 
needed, (they are, on most homesteads,) attend to it early 
this month. Procure them from reliable nurserymen, and 
if practicable attend personally to the selection and trans¬ 
planting. Old orchards will in many cases receive a 
new lease of life, and be encouraged to good works, by 
liberally manuring with well rotted compost, plowing 
and cultivating with potatoes or other hoed crops, or bet- 
terslill, by Summer fallowing the ground, leaving all the 
manure for the trees. See page 116. 
The Nurseryman’s success depends very largely upon 
promptness and accuracy in filling orders. Many are de- 
tcried from planting trees by the disappointments expe¬ 
rienced through delays, and mistakes in filling their or¬ 
ders. Ample preparation should be made for the opening 
trade, by heeling in sufficient quantities of the principal 
varieties, properly labeled, in a convenient place for pack¬ 
ing. Attention to sales, transplanting young stock, 
grafting, and cultivating among the rows, will fully occu¬ 
py the time this month. 
Apple trees succeed best when planted early, so as to 
get a good start before the Summer drouths set in. Set 
these and other fruit trees as soon as the ground is dry 
enough to work well. Let the ground be deeply and 
thoroughly plowed for an orchard. Subsoiling will great¬ 
ly benefit it. Make the soil as rich as for a good yield of 
coin. Do not be ambitious to secure large trees for trans¬ 
planting. They receive a greater check in moving. If 
t ie soil be sufficiently light, it will only be necessary to dig 
holes a tiiile larger than the roots, which should always 
be .-pread out in their natural position. Avoid setting in 
t io deep holes, especially if the subsoil's heavy or clayey, 
(■tee page 116.) Expose the roots to as little sun and 
wind as possible while transplanting. Graft, ff, m, any 
Irees needing it. Full directions for performing the oper- 
at on have previously been given. Sow, m, seeds kept in 
b ixes over Winter. 
Budded Trees-Those which were budded last season, 
but not cut back, should now be cut off to within two 
inches of the fresh cion or bud. 
Cherries—Plant, f, m, any pits kept in boxes of earth. 
Set and graft as treated under apple trees. As they begin 
to grow earlier than apple trees, the graits should be put 
in, ff, or even the latter part of March. 
Dwarf Pear and other Trees—A few selected sorts of 
pears, known to succeed well upon the quince, may prop¬ 
erly be set in their dwarfed state in the kitchen and fruit 
garden. They have a good effect when planted on the 
borders or along walks, where they frequently bear good 
crops. But for the main reliance, standards will give the 
best Results. 
Evergreens—These can be transplanted now, but we 
have had the best success with those planted out just 
when new branches begin to start out, say about the mid¬ 
dle of May, in this latitude. Nursery grown evergreens 
carefully transplanted at that time, are about as sure to 
live as deciduous trees. 
Flowering Shrubs—These should be transplanted early, 
especially if to bloom the coming season. See under 
Flower Garden. 
Grafting—The proper season for grafting is now at hand. 
How many thrifty growing and full bearing trees now 
produce only very common fruit, which can be made to 
yield equally good crops of the better sorts, in a brief 
space of time, with very little expense or labor. Begin 
with the bearing tree, by grafting about one third of the 
most upright branches this Spring: then graft another 
third next Spring. The tlii' year will complete the 
change, at which time the first grafts will already be in 
bearing. Cherry cions should be put in first, say from the 
first to middle of this month, while apples and pears may 
be grafted during the entire month. If any cions are to 
be cut, take them off at once. Remove one of the two 
cions put in a single branch last season, if both are likely 
to grow large. 
Grape Vines—Put in cuttings and plant roots, ff, in. 
Avoid pruning or marring the vines at this season as 
they “bleed” badly. Bend down and cover branches 
w ith earth w hen you desire to form rooted layers for plant¬ 
ing. See articles upon layering, on page 184, Vol. XVI, 
and upon pot culture of grapes on page 52, (Feb. No.), of 
this volume. 
Head back the pear and apple trees which are growing 
too uprightly. This will induce side shoots and make 
stocky and much more valuable trees. One of them will 
be worth more than a half dozen “whip stocks” which 
require stakes to hold them up. An upright branch may 
sometimes be bent and tied down with advantage, as 
shown on page 53 (Feb. No.). 
Hedge Plants—Sow, ff, m, the Osage Orange, honey 
locust, and other hedge plant seeds kept in boxes during 
the Winter. Set in convenient working rows, and cut 
back those plants one year old, unless they are sold or 
permanently planted out at this age. This cutting back 
is of great importance to form a thick bushy plant branch¬ 
ing down to the very ground. 
Inarching, or Grafting by Approach —This may be done 
at any time during the month See illustration and de¬ 
scription of this process, on page 184, of Vol. XVI. Pro¬ 
vide for future inarching by planting stocks around the 
tree or shrub to be propagated from in this way. The 
process is an interesting as well as useful one. 
Insects—Eggs of the caterpillar are frequent ly seen at 
this season in a compact cluster, firmly glued to the twigs 
of apple trees. Cut or rub them off and burn them. De¬ 
stroy any cocoons in the forks or under the loose bark of 
trees. Search out and kill any borers allowed to spend 
the Winter in apple or peach trees. A preventive will be 
given in June, at which time it is to be applied. Wash 
off scale, or bark louse, with a strong soap suds, or better 
still a solution of one pound of potash to six quarts of 
water. The eggs are now under the old scales and will 
be crushed, or so exposed as not to hatch, if their natural 
covering be removed by washing or scraping. 
Laurel (Kalmia latfolia )—Sow seeds, f, m, in a finely 
pulverized, loamy soil, to which a large amount ofmuck 
has been added. In the absence of muck, cover the seed 
with three fourths inch fine mold (black earth) scraped 
from the woods. A spot partially shaded is desirable, as 
the young plants will not bear a hot sun constantly shin¬ 
ing upon them. Where the trees are found in .the forest, 
transplant, f, m, retaining earth about the roots where 
practicable. 
Manure should be used liberally, as well upon the ground 
now being planted in an orchard, as about the roots of 
bearing trees, in the nursery rows and on land for the first 
time taken for nursery purposes. Manure pays as well 
in tree growing and fruit bearing as elsewhere. Lime, 
ashes, and decomposed muck are good fertilizers both in 
orchard and nursery. 
Nuts, acorns, peach or cherry pits, and other hard shelled 
fruit or forest tree seeds, will soon be sprouting. If in 
boxes of earth, plant in prepared drills, ff, m. 
Orchards—Plant a new one, ff, m, selecting kinds of 
fruit. But while the new one is growing, do not neglect 
the old. Cut away dead branches, manure Hie ground 
and plow it lighily, harrowing it once a week during the 
Summer. A bushel of leached ashes, or a peck of un¬ 
leached, or of shell lime scattered under each full grown 
tree will often renew both its grow th and fruit fit'nrs& 
Pack in a thorough manner any trees that are to be sent 
to a distance. See illustration of a packed bundle, with 
directions for the operation on page I IT, Vo'. XVII. 
Peach Trees-Plant out, ff, m, selecting trees but. one 
year from the bud. They may be set between the newly 
planted apple or pear trees. Bi ing of quick growth, and 
short lived, the peach trees w ill arrive at maturity and 
gradually decay before the slower growing apple needs 
the space. Cutback the leading shoots of beating Irees, 
taking off one third of the last year's grow th. 
Planting out and transplanting generally both of fruit 
and shade trees, excepting evergreens, should be done in 
early Spring. Make preparations for, and begin the work 
as soon as the ground is dry enough to dig. 
Plow out the nursery rows, ff, rn, turning the furrows 
from the trees this time, if the last plowing was towards 
the Irees. All grounds to be planted to an orchard or 
nursery, should also be thoroughly and deeply plowed, 
and also subsoiled. It is well to keep the newly planted 
orchard under the plow for a few years after planting at 
least. 
Plum Trees—Jet out, ff, tn, .f possible, so as to make a 
poultry yard of the plum orchard. Fowls are great de¬ 
stroyers of enreulio and oilier insects. Cut out any black 
warts found upon the branches. Plant seeds, ff 
Pruning—Spring is not the best lime to remove large 
branches. The ascending sap escap-s at the wound, and, 
running down, discolors and poisons the bark. Nor does 
the new growth close over it readily. Where it is really 
necessary to remove such branches, coat the wound with 
grafting wax, or better still, gum shellac dissolved in al¬ 
cohol to the consistence of cream. We prefer leaving 
large branches until there is no more free sap. and when 
the new wood has already b'gun to form. The wound 
will then heal quickly and firmly, leaving sound, healthy 
wood beneath. Better prune at this season only with the 
pruning knife, for removing straggling twigs and suckers. 
Pear Trees—Plant, ff, in, as directed under apple trees. 
As pears are an ever welcome fruit, see if a few more 
trees cannot advantageously be set about the buildings, 
along the lanes, or in the orchard. There is frequently a 
little space near a barn, shed, or hovel, where some shade 
tree will be a benefit, at least to the looks—this may ap¬ 
propriately be a fruit tree combining profit with beauty. 
Quinces—Plant ff, m, along border- fences, or in or¬ 
chards. Select the orange variety as a w ell approved sort.. 
Seeds of any kind, whether saved dry or put in boxes 
of earth, should be planted ff. Handle them carefully, as 
some may be sprouted. 
Stools, that is those shrubs kept for propagating, should 
now be dug about, and the last season’s growth layered. 
Remove the layers of last year if well rooted. 
Stocks, or seedling cherry, pear, apple, etc., trees, 
should be planted, ff, m, so as to get an early start. They 
will thus be in a better condition to bud next summer. 
Spade early among trees too thickly planted to admit 
the plow. A fork spade is better than ihe shovel form. 
Trench ground for planting a nursery upon, if it can be 
done. It can not be done when covered wilh trees. 
S&itcIic’H and Fruit Garden. 
“A fat kitchen makelh a lean Will,” said Poor Richard’s 
Almanac ; but how ever true that might be in his day, 
modern improvements in gardening and fruit culture both 
in the articles produced, and the mariner of raising them, 
now make it possible to live both luxuriously arid cheap 
ly. With Asparagus and Rhubarb, peas and straw bet 
ries, egg plants and blackberries, tomatoes and melons t 
and the profusion of vegetables and fruit now obtainable, 
the humblest laborer may rejoice in many a dish “ fit fot 
a king”—w hich is as it should be, since all are sovereigns 
in America. Unfortunately too many consider the gar 
den a mere secondary appendage to the premises. Ireal 
it indifferently, and are repaid w ith equal indifference by 
the garden plot. Nature is bounteous but she resents a 
slight. Lot the cultivator in planning Ins operations count 
the garden work among Ihe first in importance, begi* 
the season w ith due attention, and follow it up faithfully, 
and It will gladden his table, cheer his Wife, increase home 
comforts, and not impoverish his purse 
Make Ihe soil deep, mellow and rich, by draining, ma 
nuring and forking over. Sow seeds as soon as the ground 
is warmed, and danger from frost is over. For early 
vegetables use the hot-bed. In its absence, tender plants 
may be protected apd forwarded by a pane of glass laid 
