Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-06-24
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digging The ground near 10 Frat Trees and
oo Gknpe Yines an imillEiOns practice


digging The ground near 10 Fruit Trees and
Grape H;nes, an Injurious practice.
Mr. FESsEspEH--Le. NE call the attention OF
,onr readers to the practice Of digging or
nloncbing about fru, trees in gardens aud til
rIge land. . :.
II anpcars 10 me TO be wrong, because II
nbecks or wholly prevents the growth OF roots
IN that portion OF soil which Is nearest the
,n,f,ce. and which is much the richest part Of
it,
Where the ground is cultivated for crops, as
Iead;no object these remarks will, of course,
mt he regarded. But if the question is, as TO
tbe proner treatment of fruit trees and grape
yines. il appears to me that the SOIL near to
them for in that portion of ground which The
roots are supposed to occupy) ought not TO be
disturbed after the young trees, or vines, have
been PLANTED one year. 10 plant your tree
within few inches of the surface, has always
anpear,d to M n rule founded N good sense,
and no writer OF any authority, believe, COD
cadets IT, the reasons for it are precisely those
which should give against working the ground
after planting.
Sunnose then YOUR trees set and 10 tbriy-
ING state. The first roots which are formed
afisrw ards, will occupy portion OF the ground
not fer from the surface. These roots II undis-
turbed will continue 10 grow stronger and throw
out new ibres, and in the course OF five or SIX
years, with occasional top dressings, viii lie IN
a mass. the upper side OF which will be just be-
meath the surface.
II be objected that greater depth ought
10 be desired for ttre roots, To enable them TO
stsnd against our ling sumner d'oushls ; 10
this il may be answered, that !: the roofs are IN
want Of moisture, al such times. they wilistrIke
Gown their tbres in search of IT, aud Wig orous
tfse, well nurtured in common times will be
moro likely to take cool care OF itself in emef'
genees, than one whose roots are less tasora.
BY situated and therefore less active.
The reason commonly given for digging
bout trees is, that the dews and light rains Will
penetrate deeper into the ground. Butte what
purpose, il by the very act of digging you cut
off all those fbrous roo s which are the proper
organs, and the only organs, Ivy Which the
Gees can, in such case, avail themselves How
mach better to lei the ground alone, and en-
courage the ihrous roots 10 come up 10 the sur
face, where they will be sure TO profit by the
dews aud by every shower OF ram, however
slight.
Again, il is sometimes said that digging the
earth is necessary, IN order thai the sOh ,nay
lay light. and the roots of the trees be enabled
TO penetrate through il with more ease. But il
You dig aud hoe and otherwise elaborate the
soil for several inches in depth. thesr several
operations will una voitably interfere with the
progression Of the roots in tina, part they will
then have no alternative but must shoot down
out OF you reach, so that instead OF having
light easily penerable earth TO move in, they
will he banished to the compact substfatum,
rendered more solid by the incumbent mass
'ich You have been laboring as fear, most
unproftaby
III the soil Is rich il seems 10 me not necessary
70 dig II in order TO make il light enough for the
horous rUOs Of trees and shrubs TO penetrate
easily in warm weather there are chemical
changes continually In process in the soil by
Which gases are evolved, and by this uHans
the earth distended more or less and the
earth-1orm and various other insects not hos
Tile 10 the trees, are ever at work, pertoratlng
'ae soil III all directions and thus laying II open
10 Inc moisture olthe atmosphere.
Sumo OF the diseases uftrees are thought to
De owing TO the roots having penetrated into
cold sub-soil. Now, | ak, what is SO likely TO
give any considerable portion of the roots this
olFecuOn as The practice OF cutting away those
within reach of the spade or the plougbshare
10 tile use of these implements near 10 the trees
most persons, believe, are careful not TO pen.
citrate more than few inches, so inear as two
or three feet froi,, the trunk, but farther of,
'arn up the soil TO the full depth, whatever be
Inc SIZE OF the trees, without at all considering
mat the hbrous roots of trees, may extend ten,
'"ehty ana thirty or more feet, from the DO ~.
ouch management seems to be great error
On the part Of those who profess TO cultivate
Hees, grape VINES, and shrubs, as a leading
object
Perhaps no better rule could be given to this
Class OF culiivators than the following: -
Prepare good compost when you are a