Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-10-04
a0rftul tuaI,
Transplanting, Cultivation and Pruning of
Fruit Trees.
David Thomas. Esq.. in lhe Trnnsnclions 49,

when the same kind grows on vigorous brapcLos.
but the fruit suffers in faUor as well as size Tbo
trees, therefore should be planted in deem beds If
fertile soil. In dry seasons more especially tbs
provision is of great Importance and Young trees
treated IN this manner are not only more likely to
I'VE but grow faster, bear sooner, and bear much
better fruit than on sterile land All our observo-
tons go to justify these remarks.
when young trees are taken from the nursery,
inquiry is often made how soon will thew como 10
bearing 1t is very proper question. and il
WoIiu DC proper answer to say Very much ac-
cordng to the treatment they shall get When
they are set'1n holes cut out of sod, Just large
enough to receive the roots with some crowding
and are then left TO take care of themselves we
have no right to expect them to come soon into
bearing, nor to bear much when they do. Meth
er hall starved cows nor half starved trees will be
found profitable In the latter case espccally the
interest on the purchase money is generally lost
some ,, years ana not untrequently the purchase too
out we hardly ever lose tree IN good condition
set IN mellow ground which is kept mellow
"The holes for trees should be not less tbon
four feet diameter and fifteen inches deep, but
greater breadth and debth rs desirable place tho
SOIL round the brink of the hole, ready for fllino
IN againS but scatter the harder subsoil bocl, ont
of the way. The hole should then be filed with
the best cath, and rise a few inches above tho
general surface on account of IFS seinr first miv.
ing three or four shovelrulS of chipdirt with the
part that is to come in immediate contact with the
roots 1t helps to keep tHe ground loose and moist
besides yielding much nutriment to the trees
"lhe roots OF the trees when taken from the
nursery should be carefully guarded against dro-
ing ortrce2ing. If such care, however. has not
been taken, bury the frozen roots in the Ground
before they can thaw, and plunge the dried roots
with several feet ofthe main stem in water to soak
there from IL to "a hours, till the moisture is suc
fciently restored
I'm planting, spread out the roots carefully. and
put the best point against the strongest winds. Fine
or mellow earth should fill up all spaces between
the roots, so that every pore shall come in contact
with it on every side; and in order to accomplish
this intention more perfectly, throw in a paful of
water when the roots are covered, to wash the
earth down, and to fill up every interstice"
Newly planted trees being acted on as levers
by the wind often press the Garth around their
stems aside, and make an opening down TO their
roots, which in consequence suffer from both dis
turbance and drought To prevent this disaster.
is therefore important that stakes should be pro-
vlded to support and stifen them Ifdrivcn before
the trees are planted, they may be erect: if driven
afterwards, they may be slanting; and in both ca
ses, straw bands should be first wrapped once
round to prevent the trees from chafnp
when trees are set in clay which holds water
like tub, they soak and often perish; especially
if transplanted in autumn. The evil NAV be readi-
ly prevented, however, when the pow can be in
troduced, by drawing several very deep burrows
where the trees are TO stand cleaning out the loose
earth with shovel, and then employing chips.
brush, potatoe tops straw, corn stalks or old rails
IN constructing an underdrain Even if made with
these materials, it would last for an age. for when
mr. info oartb Il
alontthe seam.
early in the summer, after the trees are plant
ed, let the ground be we'll dug round with the
spade, commencing shnllow near the trees, but
deepening as soon as there is no danger of disturb
ing the root. One spadng is worth several hoe
ings, though the broad hoe may be pro6tably en-
ployed once month after the spade has thorough
ly loosened the soil Trees managed in this wav
will grow much faster than if the ground were
just scratched over to the depth of an inch or so
and many of ours have grown as luxuriantly
through the late excessive drought as if they were
in want of nothing.
"Ihe pruning of young trees to prevent their
splitting down, is very important operation.-
Many are greatly injured and sometimes ruined,
for want Of this precaution. Where the limbs di.
verge considerably, nature has provided kind of
network the firmest wood to connect them to-
gether; but where two leading branches take
nearly the same direction they soon begin to press
against each other; and the bark interposng, the
wood is prevented from uniting The conse-
quence generally is, that when loaded with fruit,
they are broken down by the wind Now it is
far better to cut off the limb in time. No materi-
al loss is sustained, as all the nurimen flows into
the other branches, and increase their vigor
"The advantage of pruning apple trees, is gen.
orally known and unless many of the limbs are
cut out, some ofthe finest varieties become com.
paratvely diminutive and nsipid The same care
however, is rarely extended to other fruit trees
When the twigs become suned and mossy, some
times they are trimmed by the tempest, or broken
down by an untimely fall of snow; and then the
benefits of pruning are manifest even when done
in that rough style tits better, however, to de-
pend on art than accident AS general rule, the
best favored fruit of the kind grows on the most
vigorous branches well exposed to the sun and air
and with this idea constantly before us, we shall
hardly do amiss when we apply the axe the saw,
or the chisel though we may specify that cross
branches should be Topped, and thrifty shoots that
have room to spread should be saved