,- . JANUARY 28; 1892] THE FLORIDA DISPATCH, FARMER AND FRUIT-GROWER. 65 that sacking is rendered impossible. angles, with equal intervals of space, roots and so shaded with their leaves Many prefer this system to any other, and a tree planted at each crossing of. T le Pinery. that there should be no chance for a as it gives the trees larger and more the lines. -... -. ,.,..... -- -""'- ....... weed seed to germinate and grow up roots; and where all due precautionsare SOIL FOR ORANGE TREES.'-An Edited by JOHN B. BEACH, Melbourne, Fla..... among them. If weeds have been taken, puddling is the best sys. orange tree should never be plantedon allowed to grow to maturity and form tern, and considerable expense is heavy, low ground, or on low, Pineapple Culture-No. 4. solid roots prior to this, they will, of saved. damp ground where water can be After the pineapples have been in course, hold their own and prove a THE PUDDLE.-A hole is made in reached within a few feet of the sur- the ground a couple of months, or great trouble to the farmer; but if the the ground and filled half full of face, and never on black, adobe soil ; long enough to begin to get rooted, cultivation has been attended to faith- water, then soil is thrown into it and they will always be troubled with gum the work of cultivation begins. The fully since planting, the latter will now worked with a hoe, which forms the disease, and will also be nipped by pine soil contains very few grass or practically cease. After this an occa- puddle. The puddle should be thin frost every year. A rich, deep, por- weed seeds, but frequent shallow cultivation sional weed which fights its way up soil is greatl assists the growth of through some weak place in the pine- enough so that when the roots of trees ous absolutely necessary to give are put in.to it, it will stick to them, the trees a vigorous growth.-B. M. the plant. We know an old man who apple array may be pulled up by raised as fine pineapples as we ever handand but little else will be neededin at the same time wetting every part Lelong., Sec. Cal. Board of Horticulture. - thoroughly. The trees are carefully saw upon very poor pine land without the way of culture. Fertilizationonly taken up; the soil is shaken from the an ounce of fertilizer by stirring the is necessary hereafter, and this is roots and they are immediately dipped Grafting and Pruning.It soil lightly with a garden rake cverr such an important subject that I shall morning the plants. defer its discussion to another issue. into the mud among or puddle. They are admitted fact then in seems a generally The scuffle hoe has been a main de- JOHN B. BEACH. wet straw placed on a wagon.A is that in grafting injured trees the best pendence in the past for this work.It .-.H large canvas, or covering, placedover the wagon to prevent the sun method is to cut off the tree at the consists of a strip of thin steel 23a The Scrub Caught It. from drying the roots, as the roots time of grafting in preference to sprig. to 3 inches wide and 8 to 12 inches Editor Farmer and Fruit-Grower: should not be exposed to the sun, grafting in the side.Ve would then long, sharpened at the edge. This is The late cold wave used Eustis, as eveaif only for a few minutes. The affixed to a long rake handle at suchan usual, very gently, and except in hammock . advise, preparatory to grafting, to cutoff that it flat the low flat lands did wagon is then driven to the field where angle rests on sur I or more the holes are dug. The driver hands the tree near the ground, for two face of the soil. When in use the good than harm.I . -** laborer slides it back and forth cut- enclose a twig of citron tree the trees, one at a time, and the reasons : you , planter holds .the trees in position First. The injured tree will there be ting off the weeds and stirring the soil plucked to day from the grove of Mr. about an inch deep. The pine beinga Frank W. Savage whose Persian limes while his men fill it up with dirt, first in the best condition. I , throwing in the moistest; the planter surface feeder, this is as deep as it 'were beginning to bloom when the pressing: the soil very lightly and goes Second. If, as is possible, we are is safe to go. Of late the Planet Jr. flip of the cold wave came, but it did tp the next one. The tree having visited by another such disastrous wheel hoe has become popular as a not even check those blooms, tenderas been set, a basin is made around it freeze, the tree is not so likely to be labor saving substitute for the old they are reputed to be. and a couple of buckets of water frozen below the bud. With our late scuffle hoe. It is constructed on the Careful inquiry fails to discover any poured into the basin; this will settle experience we think every tree planter general principle of the wheelbarrow, real injury on our high pine lands except - the.soil and keep the tree fresh until should be chary about using any the body being very short and the a few bananas and some little of water can be run down the rows in stock that is not budded near the handles long and slender. Various the outside leaves of guavas, even then furrows. ground. steel cultivators, hoes and plow pointscan not injuring the stems, as many of After the tree is cut to' the sound, be attached beneath the part just those where the leaves were touchedare .EXTENDING ROOTS.-It is THE a healthy wood, insert one or more back of this wheel, which correspondsto pushing out new growth. common practice among growers to grafts, being careful to make the the body of the wheelbarrow. Tomatoes are being shipped from the in hole fill it with place tree a up j juncture of the bark and tree as nearly I Hence by lowering the handles the Clermont on the south of Lake Apopka - soil and then it. As the tootsare ,covered with tramp thick mud will perfect as possible. Fasten and pro cultivators are driven in deeper and and if prices for vegetables will they tect the graft with beeswax. Now, by the opposite motion they can be hold up our truckers will realize a just stick and if the together, tree growsit to protect the severed body or branch, raised over slight obstacles. reward for their 'labors. will do well when the not as as roots about one hour after grafting follow While this contrivance more than It is reported that some of our grove extended with This is are care. very with a can of hot melted beeswax anda doubles the work a man can performin owners are about to plant some acres The hole is i half filled with simple. brush, and quickly paint over the a day, there is still much room of tobacco as an experiment differ- earth form mound the so as to a ; wound. Do not be afraid of havingthe for improvement, for the teeth clog, ent points around. shovel handle is down in the ...... Driven wax too hot. It will cool quickly, the wheel catches the leaves and Shipping of fruit has not progressedvery . centre, and on being withdrawn a not injure the tree and form a perfect sticks get between the spokes and largely, and as our fruit hangs : hole is left and deep sufficiently large protection. Wait an hour before applying stop it, and the sand very soon cuts well and does not rot on the trees like admit the of the deep to tap root tree; so that the sap or other moisture ,away the weak bearings. Many the low land fruit, and growers do not then the lateral roots are spread over will have time to evaporate from planters have various wheel hoes of feel disposed to ship at present prices, the mound and the soil is lightly is the stump, or the beeswax will not ad- their own make which are intendedto although there appears a tendency to pressed. Heavy tramping not here perfectly. With a small oil obviate some of these difficulties. improvement in markets, that as the the settles the dirt necessary, as water stove the beeswax can be kept hot, or Some use a broad wooden roller, California crop has suffered so severely the in As and keeps roots place. if you do not have a stove or do not which gets more bearing on the it is confidently hoped may the in the basin has dis- soon as water wish to take it around with you, put sand and has no spokes to clog. not only be sustained but continue to appeared, the basin is covered with the melled wax in a small can and Some enclose the whole thing in a J loose soil; this will prevent evapora- place that in a larger can filled with wooden case, shaped like a torpedoor rise.At the volunteer station for the tion, and also the tree from leaningover. Lot water. With a fire at a central turtle's back. Some attach a Weather Bureau the minimum registerof Trees planted with these precautions point, hot water can easily be supplied, round shovel point in front, convex the thermometer was 30, but it make the best and growth and forty or fifty trees, if you are skill- side up, which serves both as a shieldto was only for a very short time it was become the most thrifty. ful and expeditious, be treated with raise the leaves and also as a so low, as before sunrise it had risen TOPPING THE TREES.When the one heating, then return to the. fire sweep to cut off tall, obstinate weeds several degrees.In . r, tree is taken from the nursery the tops and heat again. which tne cultivators cannot manage. the flatwoods northeast from 4 should be cut back ; the branches I We think that this painting will be I Plants are set from June till November Eustis the mercury fell to 24, and should be so cut that in starting they found more efficacious than a thick because then most of the strawberries in bloom and fruit suffered will form a fine shaped head. Thisis coating of wax, for that is liable to slips are to be obtained. They can to some extent.It . done because evaporation from the crack, and it is much more quicklyand be planted indiscriminately at what is also noticeable that groves and leaves is rapid, and in many cases easily applied. With this treat. ever season the slips can be obtained.In nurseries on "scrub land" suffered and where the tops are left on, causes the ment to all large wounds they will [ the first twelve to fifteen monthsthe seemed to take the cold to themselves, circulation of the trees to dry, and heal perfectly. With four or five ground cannot be stirred too frequently and guavas near the scrub appear to also the bark will shrivel before the grafts to a stump they will soon unite and enterprising growers do have been partially saved; but whetherby roots have assumed> their natural and a tree be formed that will be this once a month, at least, in rainy the proximity 01! the scrub, your functions. sound and show no signs of having weather. The second winter the plants correspondent offers no opinion. Butit PLANTING SYSTEMS AND SOIL. been grafted. Try it if it meets with bloom and bear fruit the following is certain that while groves in scrub The planting systems most commonin your approval.-Coast Gazette. spring and summer, and after the land suffered, those bordering the use are the square, triangular and fruit crop sets, cultivation is difficultor scrub but on pine land were particularly - quincunx. The square system is most Having:used Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup for the last impossible without doing damageto exempt from the effects of the generally adopted, being the most few days deal,of to good.my gratification I had a very I severe find it cold did which me a the plants. By this time they will cold. How can you account for this, great simple. In this the orchard is laid Jt t cured in a very few days. have obtained full development, and Mr. Editor? That all scrub lands are ROBERTSON, the will be full of their Particularly liable to frost even when off in lines crossing each other at right 139 Main Street, Lynchburg. ground so . . - l