Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-04-12
Agricultural.
FRUIT CULTURE.
Extract from Mr.. Goodrich new work, the
Nortborr Trni+ Cultu,ist

"Were coroner's jury to hold an inquest
on nineteen twenteths of the apple trees
that have died in Vermont, during the last
twenty years, their verdict must be Died
from starvation When a man talks of his
orchard, he says 'it wants trimming and
not having time, as he supposes, he hires a
man who SAYS he knows how, who with
his hand saw commences operations by
cutting off large limbs, leaving naked stubs
one to two inches long to emit heated, and,
in consequence, poisonous sap, which byI
passing down the bark, blackens and dead
ems it. This, with his war of extermina-
ton against every sprout from the limbs, by
checking the natural flow of the sap, soon
destroys the Bee.
This he calls IMPROVEMENT. A few
years such improvement, and his orchard is
a thing that was We are in favor of Judi
cious pruning, but if done in the ordinary
mode it is worse than useless, and where
one tree is benefited by it, a dozen are in
Ijured. When tree is planted in the orch
ard, if proper attention is given to prune it
for forming regular top during the first
five years, little or no pruning is afterwards
necessary while the tree is healthy. If left
to ITSELF it throws out an abundance of
small limbs and spurs, SO that the whole
top is filled; instead of, as often seen, long
naked - "a five TO ten feet long with
fruit spurs q Fon the ends. This course
Of pruning nay be very proper for the moist,
cool climate Of England, but is ruinons for
any tree in the hot July and August suns
of New England. In our climate apples
will ripen on any part of a tree, and do not
require the aid of hand-saw or pruning
knife to admit the sun to them In fact,
most apples iu our climate are better if par
TALLY shaded by their own leaves, than il
exposed to the full rays Of the sun while
growing"
When tree throws out suckers from the
limbs, it is a sure indication of disease and
decay, and the only remedy is to allow a
portion of then to grow to folm a new top,
and commence removing the old. If com
menccd in tine, this can be done so graz
dually as to be scarcely perceptibe to a
casual observer. There is much difference
of opinion asto the best time for pruning;
this depends On climates, and on seasons in
all climates. In the climate of all northern
New ENGLAND, from the Goth Of May to the
9th of June is the time for all general
pruning. TIE sap at this season has ceas-
ed its rapid flow so as to prevent bleeding,
it is the season of growth, so that wounds
soon heal ani the surface where large limbs
are cut soon dries, SO that no disease is
caused by it. If cut in the winter or early
in the spring disease caused by flow of sap
: is almost sure to follow in cold climate;
, in warm ore the same results do not fol-
low this practice.
During the last two years, much atten-
ton has been given to the subject of spe.
cial manures for fruit trees, and the results
Of Investigation must be of great pratical
value. Mr.. Downing, who has in a few
years done more than any other man tc
create taste for fruit culture, has given
: much attention to the subject and his pub
. locations are II great practical use. Since
y. MUCK OF ourittle book was printed, he has
y | DuDlISliGt llClG On L luil 'iCCS anu lHG
best manurefur them" He justly says that
= ti,a Grst soo, >, Of success in fruit culture is
Ito plant onl the best sorts" To this we
would add fCVermont-thc best sorts for
oar climate. The second secret he says is
) "to plant them on the right soil, well pre-
! pared" The third ito supply them with
proper food,' lie says
EFEhn hest rannpnl oon,nort cor c.,,;t 4.ooz
is mixture Of peat and ashes. These two
, substances alone contain every addition tc
t the sell Necessary to the growth of fruit
trees. There's hardly any part of the U.
: Mon where swmp peat (the black, decay
= ed vegetable mtter Of low grounds,) can.
not be had yer! cheaply; and there are few
q parts of our country where wood ashes
either in ireSor leached state, cannot be
. had at moderae price. Now this peat
= as it comes from the swamps, is so satura
ted with acid tht it is almost worthless a.
r a manure; but mixed with ashes, at the rate
of five bushels d fresh ashes, or ten bush
:, els OF Ieached shes, to Wagon load, i
Il becomes nearly equal to COW manure, anc
far more beneficial to fruit trees, because
the compost contains not only vegetable
manure but lime, potash and phosphates
= in other words, The mineral manures, 81
absolutely essential to the production 10
fine fruit
Taking this MIXTURE of peat and ashe
as general manure for fruit trees, let Ii
- turn it into a compost more especially adapt
: ed to the different fruits; for chemical an
alysls shows different composition in thu
i apple. and the pear, the plum, and tn,
grape, etc.
D. 10 every cart load of the composted pea
l. and ashes, after it has laid fortnight W,
J. would add two bushels of air-sIaked shell
n lime, or any other good pure lime. Thi
e would be the compost for apple trees.
is 10 every cart load of the peat and ashes
O we would add half bushel of ground O
# dissolved bones, and two bushels of leachet
!. ashes, Tor five pounds of potash, dissolve,
:, IN water,) This us%ald be the compost io
II pear trees.
" 10 every cart load Of the peat and ashes
e we would add half bushel of lime, half ;
+ bushel of ashes, and peck of salt. Thi.
n would be the compost for pItm tree.
d 10 every cart oadof the peat and ashes
e, we would add busheI of lime, one of ash
$, es, and half bushel Of gypsum or plaster
!. This would be the compost for the crap
= zine"
y This he gives, as he says, not exact che
mlcaI proportions, but sufficiently so for or
binary orchard culture. We see in al
paris oil the country apple trees manuret
:. by neapng up small quantity near thei
t, bodies 1t would seem that, in New Eng
/. land where we boast Of SO much knowledge
v any cultlvator of the sell would know tina
the food OF all plants and trees is taken W
y by the ends of tho . n cL.D.,. $500 nm.