Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-06-13
Summer Management of Young

In answer to frequent inquiries, it may
be stated that the first and great requisite
in the successful treatment Of newly trans
planted trees, is to keep the surface of the
soil for many feet around them clean and
mellow by cultivation. This is important
to all kinds of trees, but especially so TO the
peach. An instance occurred where a
young peach orchard stood the first year in
clean and repeatedly cultivated potato
field, and the green shoots ON all the trees
at the end of the first summer measured
from foot and half to two feet inlength
ON an adjoining uncultlvated piece of
land, none of the shoots were three inches
long.
A great mistake is often made by water
ing the roofs of newly set trees, before the
leaves expand, by which they become wa
ter-soakeo and killed. A leafless tree is in
dormant state, and throws off but little
moisture. But as soon as the leaves expand
they exhale moisture rapidly, and supply
is then needed at the roots. Watering,
however, usually fails of the intended pur-
pose. The water is poured on the top of
the ground, and only serves to bake the
surface, without ever reaching the dry soil
further down. If watering is actually re-
quired, the surface should be first removed,
and the water then poured directly on the
roots, replacing the removed earth. An ac-
quaintance who set out last year about 90
cherry trees, lost every one which was wa
tered on the surface, consisting of about
one third of the whole.
If trees have been dug up carefully and
with uninjured roots, aud then well trans
planted, in the first place; and the soil
kept mellow as already stated, in the Sec
ond they will usually have made so good a
growth by midsummer, as to be beyond the
danger of drouih. But if the traDsplanting
has been badly done, or the soil has been
allowed to get hard, the careless cultivator
will doubtless be reminded Of his negli-
gence by the death of part Of his trees.
Watering feebly growing tree, is at
best but a very irregular way of supplying
il with moisture greatly superior pro-
lection from midsummer heat and dryness,
is muicaing, or covering the surface OF the
earth for some feet round each tree with
hay, straw, or other litter, several inches in
thickness. This covering keeps the ground
soft and moist, and night dews are retained
in the soil through hot summer days. Dur
ing the excessively dry season Of last year,
a row of newly set apple trees, standing on
a high and dry piece ofground which could
not be easily cultivated, were observed to
cease growing, aud the leaves to assume a
yelowish cast. They were Immediately
mulchcd In a few weeks, they re-commen-
ced growth, and the leaves returned to a
dark healthy green, although no rain had
fallen during all this period.
Cherry trees, which in spring or early
summer, give strong promises oil flourish
ing growth, are frequently destroyed by a
parching midsummer's heat. To such,
mulching is of eminent service.
Muiching is not usually advisable for
young trees after the first season from trans
planting, unless their growth is feeble. As
soon as the growth is sufficient to give the
tree strong and well established roots,
whether i, be the first or second year, clean
and mellow culture is the best treatment
which a tree can receive.