Show CARE NEEDED FOR ORCHARDS alre blyght most destructive of peartree diseases should be checked at once orchards that are bearing heavily will need attention at this season to prevent serious breakages break ages from the weight 0 the nearly grown fruit of course growers are enjoined to thin out their apples pears and peaches to such an extent that the branches will not break beneath their burdens but as a matter of fact not one grower tor family use merely out ot on hundred has time or strength tor this task and indeed in most sea sons much fruit falls from insect work which relieves the trees though not exactly in the way that the owner would prefer says a missouri writer in the farm progress A halt day spent in propping overburdened branches Is the best alternation tor band picking and often saves trees from serious injury and mutilation another duty that should be bously performed Is to have all fallen implements to control fire blight ault gathered up every day or two and deeply burled if it cannot ba ed to pigs the most convenient way to do this s to have a ditch a rod or more long ind about a foot and a half deep dug in some convenient spot and begin aang at one end dump each time as much of the refuse into it as can be severed with six or seven inches of earth this Is deeper than any but the very largest insects burrow for pupation and consequently any larvae in the fruit will be smothered as will also most rust and blight germs look for and cut out any branches in which colonies of the fall web ivora have started thel webs in creasing in size from day to day often cover quite large branches and give an orchard a more neglected appear anca than almost anything else on young trees they are especially ruin ous most pears should be picked while still green and hard if upon elaml nation the seeds are found to be of full size and beginning to color after gathering place them on shelves in a dark but not too close closet they will soon begin to mellow and color and in a few days will be in prime condition tor eating the Is an exception to this rule and Is best completely ripened on the tree alre blyght the most destructive ot peartree pear tree diseases should be checked as soon as observed by cutting off the infected branch or limb cutting not less than six inches below the diseased portion and being careful to dip the shears used in the process into a lar of alcohol and water to neutralize any germs that may adhere to hem between every cut also burn all the trimmings manure tor strawberries well rotted stable manure Is one of the best fertilizers tor strawberries if coarse manure Is used it should be plowed and allowed to rot before the plants are set good barnyard ma nure may be termed a complete ferell izer and when applied in sufficient quantities the plants are supplied with all of the necessary elements for growth not only does it furnish the plants with food but it also am proves the physical condition of the soil rendering it mellow and friable renewing old strawberry beds Straw berles are rarely profitable for more than one crop it the patch la to be fruited mow off the old vines after picking it over and remove them and then plow out the old plants leaving the runners to renew the patch subsequent treatment consists 0 clean cultivation as for a bev patch fkr a 1 l i |