THE SEMIAVEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA
WHEN PEACH TREE SHOULD BE PRUNED
A Peach Tree of the Mulr Variety in Its First Season's Growth Fig. 1.
The principal reasons for pruning
a peach tree, according to a recent
bulletin Issued by the United States
department of agriculture, may bo
summed up as follows:
(1) To modify tho vigor of the tree.
(2) To keep tho tree shapely and
within bounds.
(3) To make the tree more stocky.
(4) To open tho tree top to admit
air and sunshine.
(5) To reduce the struggle for exis
tence In tho tree top.
(6) To remove dead or Interfering
branches.
(7) To aid In stimulating tho de
velopment of fruit buds.
(8) To thin the fruit.
(9) To make thorough spraying pos
sible. (10) To facilitate the harvesting of
tho fruit.
The most successful fruit growers
habitually prune their trees as a gen
eral proposition. In doing so they
usually follow moro or less closely
some system, although they may have
. no clear-cut conception of just what
their plan involves. There are, there
fore, wide differences of opinion and
practice, and trees often produce
abundantly under practically all sys
tems or with no pruning whatever.
Obviously the pruning which a'tree
receives the first two or three years
after it is planted has much to do with
its future. Mistakes in forming tho
:head or the results of neglect during
!the early years in the Hfo of a tree
lare practically irreparable. On tho
other hand, if tho tree Is well formed
jand properly pruned during Kb first
years, tho foundation for a good tree
is established: subsequent errors in
'pruning, if they occur, may admit of
(correction without permanent harm to
ithe tree.
" A question . frequently, asked It,
'"When Is the proper time to prune
'peach trees?" In general, the answer
to this Inquiry is, During the dormant
period, proforably In late winter or
cany spring, just oerore growin starts,
except In regions whore bleeding from
-wounds Is likely to occur. In such
regions it should probably be done In
early winter. But conditions and tho
object of tho pruning must be consld
.crcd In each case. If the pruning
operations are very extensive, eco
nomic requirements may mako it
necessary to prune throughout tho
winter whenever tho weather Is suit
able for men to work In the orchard.
If the fruit buds are endangered dur
Ing tho winter by adverse tempera
tures, it will be advisable to delay
pruning as much as economic condl
tlons permit until settled spring wealth
or arrives. This is, especially advisable
If heavy heading in of tho previous
season's growth Is involved, since tho
proportion of live buds may determine
tho extent to which the cutting back
should bo carried.
A limited amount of summer prun
ing can usually bo dono to advantage.
Tho trees should bo observed con
stantly throughout tho season of ac
tlvo growth. Whenever a branch Is
seen which is so placed that It obvi
ously will need to bo removed at tho
annual pruning for the shaping up of
tho treolt is well to take It off at once.
Then, too, It frequently happens
that a1 single branch In tho top of a
treo will grow considerably faster
than any of tho others, thus making
the tree unsymmetrical if its growth
is not checked. A slight heading in
as soon as such a tendency is appar
ent will usually keep tho top well balanced.
Tho pruning of a peach treo at tho
time of planting it has already been
discussed. A treo well along In Its
first season's growth Is shown In
Fig. 1. It will bo observed that tho
top is formed of four main branches.
This treo shows evidence of having
received attention during the earlier
part of the season. Only those
branches which were of importance
in forming the top have been allowed
to develop. The exact number of
branches which may bo used In form
ing tho head Is not an arbitrary mat
ter. From three to five or six branches
aro permissible, if they are well
placed and properly distributed on the
main stem of the tree. Tho branches
that form tho head of the 'tree shown
In Fig. 1 start from points on the
trunk which aro rather too close to
gether. If there was moro space be
tween tho branches where they join
tho trunk there would be less danger
of the limbs breaking down in later
years from tho weight of heavy loads
of fruit.
During tho dormant period between
the first and .second year, tho first
year's growth, provided it has been
thrifty and vigorous, should be
headed back rather heavily; perhaps
one-half or two-thirds of tho growth
;hould bo removed.
The effects of not heading in are
shown in Fig. 2. Tho trees here shown
are making their second or third sea
son's growth. They were not well
headed In at first, and no heading
back has been dono slnco they were
planted. Besides, the soil is lumpy
and in poor tilth and tho trees are
making a weak, slender growth. Had
they been well headed in, tho growth
would have been much moro stocky,
oven though tho trees were small, and
they would bo In much bettor condl
tion to sustain tho weight of a crop of
fruit than they can possibly bo under
tho system of management that has
been followed.
Tho United States department of
agriculture, Washington, D. C, will
send Interested fruit growers, freo of
charge, Its farmers bulletin (No. G32)
on "Growing Peaches," which gives
In detail much information on tho
pruning of trees, renewal of topB, thin
ning, lnterplanted crops, and sp,eclal
practices.
Can the Boarder Cow.
"Canning tho boarder cow" Is a
pastime growing in favor with farm
ers.
Latest Addition to List of Popular
American Breeds Good Egg Pro
ducers and Grow Rapidly.,
(By O. EIU)
Tho Rhodo Island Rod breed consti
tutes tho latest addition to tho list of
popular American breeds of chickens.
This variety differs from tho majority
of breeds in claiming for themselves
an origin based solely on practical
considerations.
They aro partly of Asiatic blood,
but In their selection, which extends
over a porlod of fifty years, attention
has been paid to rapid growth and egg
production, so that tho breed today
moro nearly resembles tho LcghornB
Young Peach Orchard In Which the Trees Have Not Been Headed Back and
Probably Will Break Badly With First Good Crop of Fruit Fig. 2.
RATHER ROUGH ON FATTIER
RHODE ISLAND REDS FAVORED
Single Comb Rhode Island Red Cock
erej.
than does either tho Plymouth Rock
ar Wyandotto. One fundamental dif
ference still exists that shows tho
Asiatic origin of the red chicken:
They are persistent sitters.
Tho Rhodo iBland Rods do not re
produce themselves with certainty as
to shade of color or stylo of comb, but
In practical points thoy may bo con
sidered a distinct and well-established
breed.
-i
GIVING CHICKENS SKIM MILK
More Eggs Produced Than From
Fowls Given Grain Ration Supple
mented With Meat Scraps.
According to a general opinion of
many who havo given tho matter
much attention, the value of skim
milk to laying hens Is from 70 cents
to $2.15 per hundred pounds. Tho latter
figure is evidently a little optimistic
According to ' experiments conducted
by the Indiana experiment station,
$1.73 was returned per hundred
pounds of .skim milk purchased at 30
cents. These experiments covered a
period of two years; one pen of laying
hens received corn, wheat, oats, bran
and shorts in the samo proportion, in
addition to all the skim milk tho fowls
would drink, and another pen received
only the grain portion of the ration
that the former received. In averaging
tho results obtained from feeding
these rations through two years of ex
periments it has been shown that tho
averago number of eggs laid per hen
receiving grain nnd skim milk was
133.5 cggB, Avhereas the hens that did
not recoivo skim milk with the grain
ration produced an averago of only 3G
eggs per hen. It was also shown that
during tho winter months, December,
January and February, whon eggs aro
tho highest In price, that the pen re-
clvlng skim milk produced seven per
cent moro eggs oven than tho pen re
ceiving a grain ration supplemented
with meat scraps, a feed generally
recognized as a great egg producer.
Daughter's Remark Might Have Been
Construed Unkindly by the
Casual Listener.
Slnco Fred had becomo a sopho
more, nnd wnB thoreforo n college
"man," ho had given himself patron
izing airs toward Sister May, who
hnd boon his guide, philosopher nnd
friend during boyhood. Vexed by his
haughtlnejs, she was unmercifully
quizzing him tho other ovcnlng at
dinner.
"Has our Jnnn' mado up his mind,"
Bho inquired, "ns to what profession
ho will honor after a whllo?"
"Why, yes, little one," Fred re
sponded, with his moat aggravating
smllo. "I havo mado up my mind to
be a doctor, like grandfather and fa
ther." "You n doctor!" May Bnlftod scorn
fully. "I'd like to know why not If I get
my diploma?" asked Frod, still annoy
Ingly calm.
"Well, you'll never bo n great sur
geon, Hko father," Mny Insisted.
"Again, why not?" Fred smiled,
condescendingly.
"You a surgeon Hko father!" May
cried, vehemently. "Why,, you big
softy, you couldn't ovon kill a fly!"
Nobody but father caught tho sig
nificance of tho remark, and somehow
ho didn't mention It.
His First Sweetheart.
Her namo is Mllly. I haven't said
anything about marrying her yet not
to her or anybody but I'vo carried
her books threo or four times and I hit
her In tho back of tho head with a
soft snowball, and I guess sho llkos
me, too. Sho throw a snowball back
at mo when I hit her and thon, whon I
washed her face foj her with snow,
sl)o Just said: "Oh, George, you mean
thing!" ns If sho might bo willing to
marry mo somottmo. If I got norvo
enough to ask her wnen wo'ro grown
up. I wondor how a follow gets nervo
to ask them. I don't think I'll over
havo. Ellis Parker Butler, In tho
American Magazine.
Preventing Prematuro Burials.
Tho fear of bolug burlod allvo at-
wnys haB boon, nnd is, bo widespread
that tho French Academy of Sclonco
somo years ago offered a prlzo equal
to $7,500 for tho discovery of Bomo
means by which ovon tho inexperi
enced might at onco detormlno whoth-
er, in a given case, death had ensued
or not. A physician obtained tho
prize. Ho had observed tho following
well-known Blgns: if tho hand of tho
suspected dead person Is held towards
a candlo or other artificial light, with
tho fingers oxtendod and ono touching
tho other, and ono looks through tho
Bpaccs botwoen tho flngors towards
tho light, thoro appoara a scarlet rod
color whoro tho fingers touch each
other, duo to tho blood still circulat
ing; it shows ltHolt through tho tis
sues which havo not yot congested.
Whon Hfo Is cntlroly extinct, tho phe
nomenon of Bcarlot spaccB botwoon
tho fingers at onco consos. Tho most
oxtenslvo nnd thorough trials estab
lished tho truth of his observation.
Marooned In the Air.
A scaffold on which four mon woro
working nt n chimney of tho now navy
hospital's powor plant foil 125 foot to
tho ground, carrying threo of tho men
with It. Otto Fitterer, ono of tho men,
was killed and Walter Hosb wns fatal
ly Injured. Tho third sufforod a frac
tured arm. When John Hess, tho
foreman, felt tho staging sink ho
Jumped to tho top of tho chimney and
sat nstrldo a narrow perch. Tho flro
department's longest ladders couldn't
reach him, so ho pried out, ono by
one, tho nowly laid bricks, which
would not support It 1b wolght, until
ho reached nn Iron round on tho out
slilo of tho chimney. It took him 45
minutes to get down ten feet bo ho
might get to tho round. Tho rest of
tho way was easy. Chelsea (Mass.)
Dispatch to Now York World.
OUR COAST DEFENSE
In these modern days of heavy arma
ment nnd scientific war equipment, much
thought has been given to our coast de
fense. Tho question of preparedness is ono
that concerns all patriotic Americans for it
is always tho unexpected attack that causes
consternation.
This is also truo in matters pertaining to
health. That great enemy of health
Stomach trouble msy spring nn unexpect
ed attack at any time and it is well to bo
prepared by nhrnys keeping a bottle of
Hostcttcr'a Stomach Bitters in tho house.
It is your bulwark in time of distress.
Bo on guard at all times, and as soon as
you notice the appetite failing, digestion
becoming impaired, the liver inactivo and
the bowels rcfuso to perform their daily
functions, commence taking tho Bitters.
Prompt action, together with the aid of
this medicine, has been the means of pre
venting much suffering from Sick Head
ache, Nausea, Poor Appetite, Indigestion,
Constipation and Biliousness.
Don't triflo with your health, but rather
help Nature when weakness is manifested.
Hostcttcr'a Stomach Bitters is Nature's
ally, and these together, form a combina
tion that is sure to result to your welfare.
Try it today, but bo sura you get Hostot-tcr's.
SEPARATED LAMBS AND GOATS
Reason of His Faith.
"Bruddren and sistnhs," began Jim
Dinger, tho gambling man, during tho
revival In Ebenezer chapel, "I rises
to testify dat I has dono beon snatched
fum the slough o' sin and do sasspole
o 'nlckerty whah I has beon wallerln'
for lo dese many days."
"Hallelooyor! Bless do Lawd!"
shouted a dozen earnest voices.
"Yas, bruddren and slstalm, do
Lawd's dono made inuh eyesight bo po'
of lato dat I hain't sca'cely sea do
spots on a cyahd, and I mought dess
as well jlno do church ns to. stay out
side. Muh days o' usefulness Is ovah,
anyhow." Kansas City Star.
,k " Her Confession.
"I think It is very mean of you to
refuse mo this money."
"Why, before wo woro married you
woro always tolling mo not to spend
money on you."
"I told you so then becauso I know
you would do it just tho same."
At the Races.
"That horso was pulled."
"Yes, and I was plucked." Balti
more American.
If you want a middle-aged woman
for housework you should advortlso
for a girl.
Camping Out.
I remember going camping onco
with a man who beforo that had ap
peared to bo all that ono could ask In
tho way of a chosen oomrndo; but aft
er wo had spont four dnys cooped up
together in nn oight-by-tcn tent that
was built with sloping shoulders, Hko
an Englishman's overcoat, listening to
tho sough of tho wind through tho wet
plno trees without, and dodging tho
BtroamB of water that percolated
through tho dripping roof within, I
could think of moro than seven thou
sand things about tho mnn that I cor
dially disliked, relates Montgomery
Flagg. Going into thoso woods wo
wero just tho samo as Damon and
Pythias; but coming out his blto would
havo been Instant death.
Final Opinion.
"I seo thoro Is an exodus of for
eigners In Moxlco."
"Well, Instead of them fool for
eigners Joining in any such nonsense,
I think they ought to got out"
Governor Knew What Ho Was Doing
When He Told Anecdote of
Ancient Vintage.
Tho' govornor of a southern Btato
camo to hlB ofilco with a frlond ono
morning to find u number of mon wait
ing in tho nnteroom. Pausing nn in
stant, ho told a story that was a de
cided "chestnut."- When ho got inside
tho private ofilco tho friend Bald:
"That was a horribly old ono you
sprung on thoso fellows."
"I know It," chuckled tho govornor,
"but did you notico that ono that
laughed?"
"Well, I notlcod that threo or four
did."
"Those," said tho governor, "nro tho
follow who won't got In to seo mo.
Thoy aro tho ones who havo favors
to ask." Rohoboth Sunday Herald.
Their Kind.
"What do you think of tho way
that upstart BlnkB gives himself airs?
Hero ho was talking tho other day
about tho delights of his salad dayB."
"Well, I could havo rontlndcd him
that they woro not chlckon salad
days."
One of Several.
Llttlo Lomuol Say, paw, is that a
wild man across tho Btreet?
Paw Something Hko that, son. He
is a member of tho stato legislature
who voted against freo lunch, and to
day ho had to glvo up real money for
tho food ho consumed between drinks.
Just That.
"Tho Germuns aro going to mobll
izo tho elephants in a menagorlo for
heavy work. That's now lino, Isn't
it?"
"Quito bo; a sort of trunk lino."
Chickens como homo to roost, and a
promissory noto always dlBplayB tho
samo tendency.
When prohibitionists havo banquets
thoy are supposed to cat tho toasts.
Ho Ought to Know.
Adam complained.
"Tho early bird may got tho worm,
but If you aro too oarly you got a
snake," ho crlod.
The War Geography.
Knicker What is an Island?
Docker A body of land ontlroly sur
rounded by a war zono.
Tho girl who wins tho lovo of a truly
good man makes a lucky hit and Is
horsolf a lucky miss.
Envy Is tho drippings from tho on
glno of success.
AGE FOR FATTENING CAPONS
Give Them All They Will Stuff of
Cornmeal and Middlings Fur
, nlsh Supply of Grit.
Capons should reach full slzo be
foro fattening, and thls should be
when thoy aro from ten to twelve
months old. Fatten thorn from two to
threo weeks beforo marketing two If
thoy aro shut up in dark coons. Feed
them nil they will stuff of cornmeal
and middlings, wet up, but not too
wet, with milk.
Cracked bits of glaBs aro used as
an aid to digestion, but good grit la
safeBt whore tho ground stuff is used.
Grit of somo kind they must have.
Tho farmer who docs not keep over
a lot of mnlo birds as capons will lose
a big spring profit on fowls, ns turkoy3
do not at any time sell as high as
capons per pound.
Dampness Causes Leg Weakness.
Leg wpakness in ducks is usually
caused by dampness. If a duck Is
compelled to sleep in a damp house
sho la likely to bo attacked with rlieu
matlsm or cramps, for which there la
no auro remedy. Overfeeding will
also do it. Sometimes ducks break
down by persistent attention of heavy
drakes.
Place for Brood Coons.
If posslblo placo tho brood coopa
near tho cornfield, which furalshea
both shade and fresh ground.
Comparative Food Values
1 pound of rib roast beef
1 pound of Grape-Nuts food
Pound
1 pound of rib roast beef
1 pound of Grape-Nuts food
It would be difficult to find a food that affords the same
abundance of true nourishment, at so low a cost, as does the
famous wheat and malted barley food
Nut
s
At three-fifths the cost, a package of Grape-Nuts supplies
nearly one-third more nourishment than a pound of rib roast
beef. And besides, in buying a roast you pay for about 20$
refuse, and there's a shrinkage in cooking.
Grape-Nuts food comes ready cooked and every particle
in the, FRESH-SEALED package s good to eat. Its rich nutri
ment includes the 'vital salts that are necessary for brain,
bone and sturdy muscle. Grape-Nuts is delicious easily
digested economical.
Thinking people everywhere are more and more adopting ,
Grape-Nuts
, "There's a Reason98
Sold by Grocers everywhere.