Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-08-30
From The Aibdhy Culiiraf9r.
MANAGEMENT OF FRIII.r TREES

MESSRs hDrroRs: The article the June number of
the Pesehi volume Of your paper headed the peach tree
requires some notice, aud probably much more extended
on" ian my time will admit Of At present In the FIRST
place allow me to that the disease OF peach ,rec cal
sI ahd Known a. tIe yeO~s, contagious and will
hold myself ready prove not or speculative
~, but practically that there no such thing as healthy
uee being injected by another standing adjacent
having the yeows. will say that this or any other
disease cannot be inoccuated; but If IL can have not
been able do il in s.vern e,,c,,.n,s ,,aI. g., e. -
pose -
will endeavor detail some Of NV experuen,s and oh
seynons in regard to the yeo~s &C.; and believe that
can snow At to be the result OF culture This
farm had upon H. IN 1896. small apple orchard the trees
standing at distances OF 30 feet between the rows of appe
trees, peach trees planted distances of 6 feet, tree
from Hee. lhe peach trees were m very unhealthy con
don, some OF them being the last stage of the disease
called the yeows, ceased live that year; Others not
SO pad, but having the disease form eyey mart
OF the tree being effected received INV care and attention
NY Inst desire rid Of the peach worm which
readily accomplished of salt aud sa pe,re around
e Trunks OF the trees &c; and at the time gave
70 tnose tees producing good fruit dressing
!" my orchard was entirely free from the worm,
and appeared IN healthy condien with the loss of only
ihee trees, out Of about forty that had the yellows.
Inc ofclrd being Ia good health, resolved to test nv
then theoretical views having planted few trees 70 supply
ie with irt IN these should be- destroyed went more
cheerluy work and selected eight trees standing in
row. had the ground MANFRED about ten or twelve feet
on each side OF the Of then ploughed and
potatoes were planted every third furrow this furow re-
Ce'g an additional quantity Of manure. The balance Of
e ochard was Ppughed during the month OF September;
part heTeorecoi, cd dressing and was plough
ed IN; another part manured after being plOughed,
and third part without manure the whole orchard was
sn"h win wheat and the following spring with clover
The effect was that large majority the peach show
ca some symptoms oil disease but perceptbe those
Where there was no manure where tine turned
under ana where the potatoes planted OF the eight
Trees where the lot7oes planted, wos resolved on
saving tour OF them It possible, Tor here thought the great
ct amount OF INJURY done, Though have thought differ.
emily upon TINS subject siuce vet this case the injury
met my fullest expectation, and the four unattended 10
hid The yen"s and abou; die when Mr.. J. l.. Nc
nd "A faH a nf D. b favt.. ID
town, New jersey, and both peach growers,
my orchard; these genteem, pointing OF these
"ees asked could cure them; told them 1t might be
9o Out 'ney Were very lar gone their remark that
they uonght these trees could be restored hearh-
Inc middle one OF these three being diseased
was selected by 10 be cured AMI Mr.. Mcknight and
ms Trend Will call and see in September next will pro
mise to give them perfectly sound FRUIT gathered
from this tree, though the fruit very good kind
The other wo trees died for Of attention. and were
Gut down his spring Now this is instance, of which
! have ample testimony OF this disease being durable;
though II i not the first instance with by very
a!' Inc disease was produced by the plough and the
cure by rest III dressing ashes
deem 1t unnecessary to say anything about my
orehaTd ii present. but beg your indulgence permit
ask attention 10 the effect produced from ploughing orch
ards person living within miles Of me has al ap
pie orchard that within the last three years
prohc orchard but in consequence Of of the trces
punns on the appearance Of decay he thought that
nure II and plough would be OF this he did three
years ago, and the orchard producing next year.
and the trees appearing unhealthy he nanured and
pioughed again; but sul he has fruit aud his trees gro
growing instead OF bettec Another person about
seven miles distant has apple orchard that he worked in
corn ree years ago; OF his people being house
tue following year, inquired If there ANY on the
trees IN the frost has killed all apples" then ask
ed MN about trees standing in different parts OF the orch
ard where knew they could plough and told that
these trees full fruit and that frost did not hurt
ihem desired him 10 say, the time he was asked
why these full fruit and the others not that
they could not nJuTe them with the plough. | could give
very many instances OF this kind but my object being 10
eau attention 10 this matter, will ask every make
ms own observations and comparisons let every farmer
LOOK into ms neighbor orchard and his own, and
the effect Of poushing when pared with np9ughed
orchard adjacent 10 That pIoughcd; let him call recOec-
uo the nae orchard planted by his father, thar going
decay, and ash himself the cause and he will oru
knowledge upon this subject than could be derived from
volumes written upon orchards-thoush would strongly
recommend the pcrsa. OF all works written upon tie sub
Jcc OF our business; the Of lie are always pro-
NOTED by proper and inquiry after TRUTH and no agent
should be neglected. to tue advancement desirable
My system work tree just as do the corn plant;
the one as annual the other PERENNIAL give the tree
all the cultivation have while Young and before SET
OF organs are wanted for the pcrdurabe formation FRUIT
and when the tree puts the appearance of Premature de-
cay, give 10 coat OF manure spread upon the surface
OF the grounds this apply in the tall Of the year. always
perrng long TO short manure and when ashes deen
ed necessary have pat them in the spring.
snail say word mere about peach thirty forty
years ago, which VI. Downing represents 10 have grown
anywhere IN the United States south OF fOythee degrees
OF latitude Wen, forty years ago there but little de-
mand Tor peaches market fruit and they for the
ses 1t did not that period OF tme to pick the IN
oil iae trees by hand, but grass lay was cunsi.
dered as Indispensable to facilitate their collection, step
ladders are at the present day The peaches were
shook OF the trees. and the best selected either for dring
or tnc still, aud the hogs disposed OF the balance.
There were several reasons why orchards not de-
siroyed az the time by ud.c, perhaps most promi
neni one was That grain crop the orchard would pre-.
vent or rtt1rd the gathering o the peache- which, by the
b., were worth than gram crop that could be
grown M the orchard, but whenever an old peach
orchard was piougnod a few times, a now one
hal 20 be planted, such the 80 wears
on some farms & my certain knowledge. do not wish to
be understood I the peach be grown "a the pre-
sent Time with the facility could them for have no
douh' thni TIE pabulum necessary for the support Bs
tCc has become m great Xhaustcd from the soil
ntighbo 10 rc>uscate their soils and form GOOD stock
10y proper tl-t but when the trees come into f bearing
we must then feel satisfied with whatever nature may be
pleased 10 DO lu the premises Tor any stirring OF the soil
after this period Of growth obtained has tendency 10
bring the orchard decay o which / can show hun
drcds of surviving witnesses.
careful inquiry will show that the peach tree began to
decline about the close of our last England; grain
commanding very high price that time. peaches were
only considered 900 secondary point uf view, and orchards
tat probably hud been disturbed with the plough for
he'n or twenty years previous, were tden putin wheat
corn, &c Thus soon Brought the orchard into decay and
$50 many instances they were not and when reI,p
ted, they have been treated very differently lfln the orr
nal must now have crop ct grain, grass or roots
ou l former ites such things were not expected from
peach oiclAfd alter began O. produce iu crops fruit
uu have told us how O, plough manure work and EN-
beiish our lands GO gather and crops with
long st o Ccccras but there is matter that think s
oVe"oN'd ana requires more attention than appears ~
hrst vew-and not the base Of Mr. Com.tock's promo
sod syscm Tor hi- million ui dollars IS aud has been mine
Tor years; and TINT E how long plant can be cultivated
whoutmury O. the growing crOp, al what stage of growth
should we cease 70 work plant 10 obtain It's greatest yield
Ihave heretofore given my views in regard t. Indian
corn, and will give some experiments made several