Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-04-27
agricultural.
From GoOdrichs Northern Fruit CiifnTa,
Rrnit Culture.

Were a coroncr's jury TO hold an inquest
on nineteen.twenlieths 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, sit wants trimming"
and not having time, as he supposes, he
hires man who says he knows how" who
with his hand.saw, commences operations
by cutting of large limbs, leaving naked
stubs one TO two inches long TO emit heated,
and, in consequence, poisonous sap, which
by passing down the bark, blackens and
deadens il. This, with his war OF extermi-
nation against every sprout from the limbs,
by checking the natural flow Of the sap,
soon destroys the tree.
This he calls IMPROVEMENT. A few
years Of such improvement, and his orchard
is thing that was. We are in favor Of ju.
dicious pruning, but il done in the ordinary
mode il is worse than useless, and where
one tree is benefited by it, dozen are in
juried. When tree is planted in the orch
ard, IL proper attention is given to prune IL
for forming regular top during the FIRST
five years. little or no pruning is afterwards
necessary while the tree is healthy. IL left
to itself, il throws out an abundance of
small limbs and spurs, so that the whole top
is filled instead Of, as often seen, long ma
ked limbs from FIVE 10 ten feet long with
fruit spurs only on the ends. This course
of pruning may be very proper for the moist,
cool climate Of England, but is ruinous for
any tree in the hot July and August suns
of New England. In our climate apples
will ripen on any part Of tree, and do not
require the aid of hand-saw or pruning
knife to admit the sun to them. In fact,
most apples in our climate are better if par
italy shaded by their own leaves, than if
exposed TO the full rays of The SUI while
growing.
When tree throws out suckers from
the limbs, il is a sure indication Of disease
aud decay, and the only remedy is to allow
a portion Of them to grow TO form q new
top, and commence removing the old. II
commenced in time, this can be done so
gradually as 10 be scarcely perceptible to
casual observer. There is much differ
ence Of opinion as TO the best time for pru.
ming this depends on climates. and on sea-
sons in all climates. In the climate Of all
northern New England. from the Goth Of
May TO the Goth Of June, is the time for all
general pruning The sap at this season
has ceased its rapid flow SO as to prevent
bleeding, it is The season of growth. so that
!. wounds soon heal, and the surface where
large limbs are cut soon dries, so that no
disease is caused by it. II cut in the winter
or early in the spring. disease caused by
flow of sap is almost sure 10 follow in q
cold climate; in warm one the same re-
| 4 f.ll al.
During the last two years, much atten
! ton has been given to the subject Of spe
G cial manures for fruit trees, and the result
r Of investigation must be Of great practica
value Mr. Downing, who has in few
years done more than any other man Il
' create taste for fruit culture, has giveI
much attention 10 the subject, aud his pub
y LEGATIONS are Of great practical use. Sine
much Of our little book was printed. he ha
published an article on Fruit trees and III
best manure for them" He justly says tina
/ the first secret of success in fruit culture
ito plant only the best sorts" To this W
W would add for Vermont-thc best sorts 70
our climate. The second secret he says il
40 plant them on the right soil, well pre-
pared" The third, 80 supply them wit
1.-THE best general compost for fruit tree
is mixture Of peat and ashes. These tw
Is. substances alone contain every addition
the soil necessary to the growth Of fru
trees. There is hardly any part OF II
ca Union where swamp peat 1.-THE black, d,
Is, cayed vegetable matter Of low ground, cal
not be had very cheaply; and there are fe
parts OF our country where wood ashes, e
p Their 10 fresh or leached state, cannot /
y" had at moderate price. Now this pea
as il comes from the swamp, is so saturat'
with acid that il is almost worthless as m
nure; but mixed with ashes, at the rate
five bushels Of fresh ashes, or len bushs
10 of leached ashes, TO a wagon load, Il
:. comes nearly equal to COW manure, and
y, more beneficial to fruit trees, because 4
ia compost contains not only vegetable ma
ure, but lime, potash and phosphates in OF
, er words, the mineral manures, so absolute
: essential to the production Of fine fruit.
ne- Taking this mixture Of peat and ash
as general manure for fruit trees, let
turn il into compost more especially ada
my ed 10 the different fruits for chemical an
!, ~ ~ ysis shows different composition in
- apples, and the pear, the plum, and
md grape, etc.
tbs, To every cart load Of the composted p
+. and ashes, after il has laid fortnight,
~ would add two bushels Of air-siacked sh
go lime, or any other good pure lime. T
ssi- would be the compost for apple trees.
Nv, ave To every cart load Of the peat and ash
we would add half bushel of ground
dissolved bones, and two bushels fleacl