Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1869 — Farm and Household. [ARTICLE]

Farm and Household.

How Late Cea We Plant t About one-half of mankind are constantly on the lookout for an excuse to exempt them from‘doing their duty. This phase of human delinquency is con fined to no one branch of business, nor to any particular das* of society, for it ftervade* all and ha* become a chronic disease, affecting both rich and poor. If there is, however, any one class of people that suffer more than another from being afflicted with excuses, it is those who have, land in which they might grow an abundance of fruit*, vegetables, and flower* In summer, when the flower* are putting on their most brilliant colors, and the tret* and shrubs are loaded with fruit, men will come to u* and inquire whether they can safely plant this or that kind ol fruit in the fall, and if we reply in the affirmative, they promise to attend to the matter at the proper time; but when August or September arrive they have some plausible excuse for not planting a bed of strawberries. October and November pass, and winter sets in, and no apple or pear trees have either been purchased or planted, because they have been informed that it will do just as well to set them out in spring. In March it is too cold and the ground is too wet. "April finds these men with other business on their hands, bnt in May they learn that it is really too late for planting anything of the kind this season; consequently another year of time is lost, —a thing which money-cannot replace. We dare not say how many thousand families are annually cheated out of an abundant supply of good wholesome fruit by these dealer* in exeuses. They are often men with an abundance of means, and who might forniah their ' families every thing In the way of fruitsand flowers that could be desired, but procrastination, aided bv excuses, has prevented them from ever planting a bed of strawberries. This is no fancy sketch, but a fact well known to every nurseryman in this country. But is it really too late in the season for planting fruit trees or ornamental plants ? No; for although it wouM have been better to have planted them earlier, still the first of June would be preferable to letting a year go by without making an effort to have a good garden. Late planting requires a little more care and severe pruning. If the tree* have leaves nearly developed to their full size, lift them carefully, and keep the roots moist and protected from the sun ; then cut off most of the branches, and there will be but little danger of losing them. Strawberries may be set out any rainy day, and if the operation is performed with ordinary care, there will not be the least difficulty in making them live, and next year they will produce abundantly. Raspberries and blackberries may be pruned down to the ground, for it is only the root that should be preserved, even if planted early in the season. A little water may be needed when first set out, if the weather should prove dry; but even this extra trouble Will be amply repaid by an extra amount of -fruit next year. Nurserymen generally have to do a great deal of late planting because they wait until all of their customers are sup plied ; but they lose very few plants in the operation because they prune severely, and watch their chances tor cloudy or wet weather for this kind of work.— Hearth and Home.