Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1869 — farm and household. [ARTICLE]

farm and household.

Pruning And Transplanting. The principle cannot be too often repeated and too thoroughly understood, that pruning a tree in spring after the buds hive expanded, or later when in foil growtn, always checks its vigor to a greater or leas degree. This check it greatest in the cherry and least in the peach. It ** nearly as severe in the near, and leas so in the apple. But in all these trees, a greater or lef4 check la given by pruning after the buds have opened. Whatever cutting away may be needful, should therefore be done early. Young tree* which have been budded last summer should be headed down beiore the buds swell, and the same care taken in grafting young trees in which the removal of the top is required. Early grafting is less essential in large trees, where but a small portion needs removal in the operation Shckers, which sprout up around larger orchard trees, may be m<*t easily taken off later in spring by placing the foot, covered with a thick cowhide boot, on the sucker, or between it and the tree, and then giving the shoot a sadden jerk with both hands—which for this purpose should be forrished with good buckskins. If these suckers have commenced growing they will be less likely to start again. In transplanting it is of the utmost im I'ort.mcc that the ground be :r. r>\! e diiion deep, mellow and property drained. Spread out the small roots of the trees while setting, that ihev may serve as braces all around, and hold the trees firmly in the soiL Fill up all the in terstices among the roots, sad especially jost below the toot of the stem, which is most apt to be left with s cavitv- Cut back the young shoots of the head of the tree, so as to give it a good even symmetrical form, taking out all supernumerary twigs, and making it as light as may be.. This must be doue before the buds swell, as we have already explained, or it will do more harm than good.—(Vaatry Gentleman.