Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-12

orchard consisted of $50 trees of 90
different kinds, great variety ofsummer
and fall fruit; SO that from early in the
seventh month, we generally have sue
cessIon I'LL we gather our winter store,
often IN abundanc e-and | know no, that
we have ever wanted for house use in
any year, though some seasons there had
been very little in the country; this |
conceive must be owing to the situation
Of the orchard. Ia planting the trees
now see, thar like many others, com
mlted great error by placing them so
near together, (not mere than 80 feet
apart find that the limbs of many OF
the trees lntcrlock, and are dead and
ecaying-hcnce conclude that for the
preservation OF the trees and the i'm
provement of the fruit, it would be
much better to SET the trees from forty
FIVE 10 Fly feet apart--lhis would admit
OF sun an air which are so essential in
aiding the leaves 10 perform the Office
assigned them, by strainmg and refining
the sap, or that which constitutes the
fruit, by gradually throwing off the Bit
ter or corrosive property it possesses,
and as the fruit ripens gives il a more
agreeable flavor than il otherwise would
navel think it must be wIhn the OBJ
servaiion Of almost every person, that
fruit which rpons IN the shade Is not
equally good and agreeable TO tho taste
as that exposed 10. the sun and air. l.
these views be correct, they are certain
~ III favor OF ssttiHg the trees conside--
rable distance apar ---anolher advantage
in favor OF II, which is that the ground
may he farmed with almost any kind of
grain, the trees be benefited by it, and
tue ground left much better Tor grass.
On setting out an orchard, l should
favor the holes being opened in the fal
otthe year, the size OF three feet diane
ter at least, the top spit to be laid Oh the
side of the hole, and the second spit to
be thrown in again, when the earth is
removed to the desired depth, and LETT
in it; the winter frost will pulvcrise the
earth, so tina, with little rich mould,
such as chip dirt, added TO the top mould
in setting in the trees in the spring, will
facilitate their growth. | have but little
doubt but that trees thus planted, will
grow as much in four years as they
would in seven planted in the commoD
way, with the holes dug at The time Of
planting, and OF size barely sufficient
to admit the roots.
Some suppose il not best to prune
fruit-trees, that they will live longer than
if pruned---which may be correct III
omitted till the limbs grow to pariicu-
lar size, but favor an early attention to
forming and keeping them open. and Ia
king off those limbs which incline 10
cross each other, this being done while
the trees are young in their full vigor
and growth, the bark will soon grow
over the parts from whence small limbs |
were taken and little injury is sustained,
bu, if left till they grow large and load
ed with fruit, they will chafe each other,
and if then taken off will affect The stock. |
As to the time of pruning, men differ
in opinion; some think it best before The
sap rises, and Others that it is best when |
the leaves begin TO put out--l have prac-
ticed the former mode, whether correct |
or not; find .hat on those trees fire.
quently pruned, young shoots are more
apt to put ont. | have an intention To
try what effect rubbing them off with |
the hand will have. / am inclined to |
think that will be better than to let them
have summers growth, and then cut
off.