Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-18
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CULTIVATION OF FRUIT.

Mn. EpIToR: Every man owning a
lot however small, should embrace the
earliest opportunity to plant apples, pears,
plums, cherries, grapes, &C, carefully
selected for their rich qualities and pro-
ductiveness. They are sources of pleas.
ure and profit, too they are healthiul
necessaries of life, and they are luxuries
within the reach of all. Who does not
admire that beautiful fgurative express
sion of Sitting under our own vine ana
fp-tree'? Who does not feel grateful
TO his Creator, for the blessings OF lie,
as he walks out at morning, noon or eve,
with his better half, and their loving
prnttlers, to view the blooming trees,
planted by his own hand, inhaling the
rich fragrance of their flowers or fruit
A happy home with these attractions
will rarely be abandoned for the foul
haunts of the drunkard, gambler, or lib
ertine.
1t is no less a matter of surprise than
regret, that comforts so necessary and
easily attained, should be so long defer
red by many, and never sought by 9TH
ers. A row of fruit trees around gar
den is in good taste, and produces much
fruit, is little or no encumbrance to the
lot, and the only means of obtaining a
product from the rich soil beneath your
wall. The young farmer should never
wait to clear all distractions TO the pillow,
and make his soil rich by tilling before
he can set an apple, cherry, or plum
tree. Injudicious filling will spoil an or
chard. My neighbor has ruined a once
thrifty. orchard by cropping it with whsa'.
The soil is yet rich, but his trees are in
the yellow leaf at midsummer, do not bear
and in fine are dying. A part of the
same orchard that was fenced into the
highway, has had no manuring, cropping
or care, and that part is vigorous and
bearing.
Fine trees are reared on granite soils,
too rock-bound ever to be TILED. Horn
cd cattle should,never be allowed in
young orchard. Hogs, and even sheep,
will soften the turf, and facilitate the
growth of trees, if not allowed TO rub
against them. TO prevent this, set firm
ly in the ground three substantial stakes
OF durable wood to these firmly rail
your boards, and form substantial trl-
angular fence around each tree, from one
10 two feet from its trunk.
The best method OF manuring, where
land is not TILED, and no animals admit
ted, is to cart, once in three years, flags,
rushes, leaves, rotten wood, or any
worthless trash, TO kill the grass sod and
retain the moisture. Spread it from
four to eight feet from the tree, accord
ing to size. When you have located
permanent walls and division fences,
plant row by each. 1t is the best To-
cation for rapid growth, an ornament
TO your farm, and sufficient orchard
without encumbering tillage.. If their
first. fruits prove Grabbed and worthless,
graft with such as you know to be good
bearers and valuable fruit, never cutting
your limbs too near the trunk to make
your top TOO thick and wounds too large.
JESSE SMART.
Troy, Me. Dec. 1913.
EDITORIAL REMARKS.
We.havc numerous instances of grain
crops being very injurious to orchards.
Root crops may be cultivated to advan-
tage among trees these keep the ground
light and mellow, and lead to deep and
thorough tillage. The ripened grain
doubtless exhausts the soil OF some in
gradients that are essential to the trees
or fruit.-.N. 4. Farmer.