Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-30
0be 8 farm.
For the Free Press.
Orchards and Apples.

The first work of a farmer in the spring is to
attend to his Orchard.-While the ground is
thawinr remove all the turf from near the bod
les ofthe tree, and, if grass land, see that the
whole surface is dug over as far as the limbs
extend. A man can do more in one day non,
than in ten next summer, besides having the
benefit Of it this season. Every boy who wish
es to fill his pockets with apples next winter,
should be at it, As soon as this is done, put on
good dressing of rotted manure, swamp muck.
or what farmers call long manure, which con-
sists mainly of straw, refuse corn stalks, &c.
&c. which what their yards are generally hlled
This should be applied literally which VIII Keep
the soil loose, and produce healthy action in
the roots; so necessary if you wish your trees
tc remain healthy. In Orchards used Tor mead
ows no grass should ever be taken from under
the trees, but all suffered to decay on the ground
No tree can produce fruit without exlIausting
the soil. which must be highly MANFRED and
cultivated or the trees soon become scrnbDy ana
worthless. 1t is not an uncommon crop for SIN
gle tree to produce from five to ten barrels OF ap-
piles. Now little reflection must satisfy any
one that even in a rich soil, this must soon eX-
haust it, and unless something is added to It,
trees must soon become worthless. tits COM
mon remark to hear man say "my orchard
has not been trimmed" Now should he say
his orchard had not been MANFRED or cultivated,
he would tell the origin OF the evil of which he
complains, and pruning would be unnecessary
had this been properly done have no heslta-
ton in saving that pruning orchards in Yer
mont, has been an injury rather than benefit.
and that every year thousands of trees are ruin
ed by impropcr pruning. But as the evil has
been done the best course, now, is to begin
right, and before the season for pruning arrives
(June and July,) perhaps some directions may
b, given for pruning trees whose tops look like
the heads of long haired boys without combng.
After manuring scrape the bodies and large
limbs of their rough bark, and wash them with
ashes and water applied with a common white
wash brush. Strong I've is injurious and will
kill young trees whenever applied. but when
applied as directed rains will carry off the ashes,
SO as not to penetrate to the inner bark, and the
eggs of thousands of insects are destroyed by it..
A large portion Of the Apple trees in the State,
have not been grated, and the fruit is of little
use Now as it is clear that nothing pays a
farmer as well as apples, provided he has the
right sort is it not for his interest to be partic-
uar and know what he is cutivating, and not
trust to any one 10 procure scons for him. Nc
man of sound health should employ man to
engrait at all, but if compelled to do il, hire
your man by the day and never by the job. d
apples for expectation, the two best apples fol
this climate which have been fully proved, arr
the Baldwin and BosToy or RoxBURY russell
OF the former none have been raised in the
County for sale, and but few of the latter; thest
always readily bring 81, a bushel in Burlington
when brought in May or June.
The Baldwin Apples originated in the Coun
ty Of Middlesex, Mass, and took lis name from a
family who introduced it to notice. Major ia
ques, an eminent Agriculturst, who now own,
the land where the original tree STOOD has
erected monument on the spot to perpetuate
its memory.
The following is a description of it by Benz
" French Esq, of Braintree, one of the Vice
Presidents OF the Massachusetts Horticultural
Society.
The tree with us, for thriftiness, for hardi.
ness, for line form, and vigorous strength -fo,
its abundant bearing and the beauty and Ionn
keeping of its fruit, is placed at the head Of al
other New England winter apples. The fru;, !.
always fair. above medium size. of a f;no III
red and yellow color. The flesh nearly ,ondor
in color yellowish, rich, juicy and fine f,vnroa
excellent for the table or cooking, and Is u, s,
from November till May. ~ "''
have given the Baldwin thoroupb ,,;,, :.
nv own orchard. This year is the BEARING yea
with me, and have taken NINETY barrels =
Baldwins from trees planted twenty-eight wear
ago in grass land, and kept in that state eve
since.
You may Judge how superior to the NEWTON
pippin, this apple is for New England orchar
culture, when ] inform you, that from 70,