Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1887 — THE ORCHARD. [ARTICLE]

THE ORCHARD.

Frnit \otes. We have had evaporated apples for years, and in all our experience have never succeeded in getting over 10 to 12 cents per pound, and then we had to pay 30 to 50 cents per bushel for the green frnit. The bushel of apples we use averages five pounds of evaporated apples, with a post to evaporate, including help, coal, and machinery, of at least 15 cents per bushel. For five or six years past we have obtained but 6 to 8 cents per pound. The old way of setting and growing orchards is proving a failure. To yield an abundance of fruit, trees must have room. One needs but to see the apple tree that stands alone to be well satisfied of its superiority over the usual orchard tree. The past year we cut down three out of four trees in onr apple orchard, leaving the trees four rods apart, instead of but two as originally planted out. In mild weather is a good time to look for and destroy the eggs of certain insects. A sharp eye run over the young twigs should detect the rings of tent caterpillar eggs on them near their ends, also of cocus insects when present. Remove all that can be found. Each ring of caterpillar’s eggs destroyed now is equivalent to lessening the next season’s caterpillar crop by some hundreds. Great benefit is derived from laying down the most commonly cultivated grape vines on the approach of winter, even sorts reputed to be bardv. The work has been easily done by holding them in their prostrate position with short sticks of wood and without covering, and where they obtained some warmth froni the earth and were out of reach of severe winds. It is found that peach trees growing near the house, where dish nnd wash water nre thrown out, are long-lived and free from worms and disease. A hint can be taken from this, showing that salt and alkali are the valuable factors. There is enough waste from houses of liquids which, if properly saved, would give sufficient fertilizers for an acre of ground. Grafts for spring setting may be cut during any spell of mild weather. The greatest care should be observed to label each kind correctly, trusting nothing to memory. Such shonld be packed in sawdust or sand until used, the former being preferable, as then there will be no dunger of grit to dull the grafting knife. The present is a good time to haul out manure and throw a little aronnd each raspberry plant, or scatter under the fruit trees. A fine place for wood ashes is over the strawberry beds. Do not throw away wnste water. It is a good fertilizer, especially, if thrown over a pile of coal ashes, basin-shaped at the top. Manure may be carted out much better over frozen ground than to wait until soft spring weather. By spreading at the same time under trees, extra protection is provided and with benefit to the roots.—A. M. Purdy, in Popular Gardening.