The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-25
.esaaylvania Pater.
Tfo" 9KCHARDS.

come proyerbial, that "where
1t has. hard has stood, a young one will
and olde" This has been SO frequently
not Hed, that many of our good agricul-
Rests have subscribed to the opinion,
ithout taking the trouble to examine into
It, and have accordingly neglected very
important source of profit and convenience.
1t is fact much to be regretted that the
cultivation of fruit trees in this country was
much more attended to half a century since,
than at the present time--consequently
with our increased population, fruit has be
come scarce, and belief almost positively
exists, that fruit trees will not thrive OH old
land: This question needs serious consider
alton, that eur yeomanry may no longer
take hypothesis for fact, when but one ex
pertinent would dispel the Illusion.
We, however, admit the fact, that trees
planted on new land thrive uncommonly
we'll, and many of them grow to great
size, while those planted on land that has
been much cultivated and worn have been
tardy in their growth, and as yet are but
awarfs in comparison with the former Now
we will endeavor to explain the reason of
this admission which we trust will at the
same time throw some light on the art of
cultiyating fruit trees
/. Trees, planted fifty or one hundred
years since, were generally set on new land
highly enriched by the decayed vegetable
productions, which have been accommodating
perhaps from time immemorial. The rich
ness OF the soil would, without doubt, enable
the trees to grow rapidly, and very abund-
antly explain the reason of their monstrous
growth.
Q. An orchard set on the ruins of an old
one, has not this vegetable manure to lend
the aid that its predecessor had; consequent
ly, it is slow In its growth; small and unpro-
ductive when grown, becomes mossy, dwin-
dies and dies or is neglected as unworthy
the husbandman's attention; and the cater
pillar destroys what the axe has spared
Our climate and soil are every way calcu-
lated for the production OF fruit III its per-
fection and abundance, when only assisted
by the fostering hand OF art-and it is unrea-
sonable to anticipate harvest without pre-
vious cultivation, the early days of our
country the earth needed only the seed to be
gown to produce a rich harvest for its DO.
som was enriched and softrncd by natural
manure. The case is now different--it has
been skinned by grandfather, father and son
twice or thrice repeated until its face is sad
ly wasted.-Who is there among US, thai
would suppose tree would grow when un.
assisted by art, Or land thus impoverished
The farmer who thinks Of raising a gooe
crop of corn knows well the necessity O
sottening, manuring, and frequently stirrin,
the earth-on this depends his success Sup
pose he should say, with regard to his coin
as he does in fact OF his trees--my grea
grand father planted without hoeing or ma
nuring, and was sure of the increase, and
will do lkewise-would he not be STYLED
madman or fool? Let the husbandman be
stow the same care on am orchard, that h
does on field of corn, and he will be bles
with the same abundant harvest.
To him who doubts the possibility
making good orchard on old land thes
few simple rules are enjoned, and we dout
not, upon experiment, his happy convel
sion to truth that will increase his wealtl
1. Be sure that the roots of the trees /
below the soil. If the soil is shallow, bring
from another place, and throw it round th
tree, in sufficient circumference for the roo
TO grow in.
II. Prune the superhuous limbs an
branches and keep the bark smooth an
clean from moss.
Ill. Suffer no grass to grow within te
feet of the tree, and twice in the wear, sprin
and fall, loosen the earth in circumference,
and mix into it full wheelbarrow load
Iich manure.
The author is happy to state that fe
years experiment upon this plan on tn
ground Of an old orchard, has convinced hi
ehAt the principle oDpogcd to this rule