Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-17
Agricultural.
For the Freeman
Improvement of Orchards.

Mr.. EDITOR Perhaps l ought to make an
apology to your readers. for attempting to dis.
course upon a subject upon which wiser heads
than mine have spent their energies, and to good
purpose but as | am one of that numerous class
who are in the habit doing a little at almost ev-
erythingI am disposed with your permission to
give the results of my observation and experience
in the business of which this article treats.
1t is a fact well understood, that scions of one
tree may be grated into another tree ofthe sam
genus. land some upon different species,) and
yet bear the same kind of fruit as the original
tree from which the graft was taken. But there
is a question in the minds of many farmers
and they are the ones most interested in this mat
er,-whether old orchards may be improved by
grating. | have done something in this line of
business occasionally for the last eighteen years,
and have engaged in it more particularly for the
three years last past, and | believe it may be
easily shown that any thrifty tree, or one in a
wood-making state, (which may be easily deter
mined by its appearance, without reference to
its age or size,) may be grated with both sue
cess and profit.
We often hear men complain that their scions
have winter killed. have myself endeavored
to make some estimate of what proportion of
scions set have come to maturity in this vicinity;
and | am of opinion it will not exceed from one
fourth to one half,-und frequently much less
than that. And the reason of this is evident
from the manner in which the business has been
carried on. A person comes from the south part
Of the State, or from Massachusetts, perhaps,
with his varieties of fruit,-some of the very
best sorts, and some very likely not half so good
as many Of the trees he wishes to graft, and
still others not adapted to our climate and he
gratis for various persons. In the Fall he ap-
pears again, receives his pay for the specimens
which are still thriving, gives some general d.
rectlons in regard to trimming utthe trees, aud
calls the work done. And the result is that
some men who have a good deal of Taste in trim.
ming out their trees and who will keep them in
a good state of cultivation, will have GOOD fruit
while o~thels,-and by far the greater portion,-
seem to have no more skill in taking care of their
trees than they would have in doing their black
smlthing, furniture. making or j%oiner's- work, with
out any experience in the use of the a%ppropri-
ate tools. They would as soon use an old. dull
hand-saw or an aXe,-Ieaving stubs a foot long,
or splitting into the heart of the tree, and max
ing scars and wounds that can never heal over,
as to trim them carefully and nicely, as thew
ought OR perchance they will leave them en-
tireIy alone, until finally they are heard to COM
plain that their gratis are rcinter- killed, when in
fact they have only starved to death! | would
no more advise such men to lay out their money
for grating, than | would to plant corn and
neither hoe nor fence it.
As a remedy for these evils, | would suggest,
to persons wishing to graft, that they should
first make an estimate of the quantity they wish
to have done, and then have a portion of it
say a halt, or a third-done each year, till the
whole is completed. Each tree should be label
led with the kind of fruit grated in. 1t is the
safest way for every one, who can, to do his own
work, and thus have personal knowledge that it
is well done; but those who cannot, should EN-.
Ploy some skillful person to do it for them. The
same hand should trim out the trees on the sec
ond year, set what more gratis are needed in
them, and also set another equal proportion of
Al
the whole number first proposed. If this plan is
followed, and the land is kept in good condition,
farmers will find that their orchards Will as
readily bear good fruit, as their corn-felds will
produce a good crop of corn, under skllllul cul-
ture. DO not be too eager to obtain a great
many varieties, but select such as are best adapt.
ed to the climate, and to the various seasons of
the year, and are calculated for home use.
will not attempt to give a catalogue of the de.
slrable varieties, as those of more experience
than myself have done better than | can do and
will refer all who wish for such information to
Coles .4merlcdn Fruit Book. And for the mr.
pose OF showing our Washington County farm.
ers what is doing in other parts of the State. |
would refer them to Rev. DR.. MerrilPs report on
to the Addison County Agricultural Soci.
as being worthy of their attention. 1t NAV
be found in the Vermont Chronicle of Feb .918
and 25.
One thing further | wish to say to your read
Most OF them, | suppose, are aware that a
ear ago last October, a State Horticultural So
,iety was formed at Montpelier; but | presume
hey are not informed that this society was dis
last October, and that there has since
,een established, on the west side of the noun
ain, the " Champlain Horticultural Society"
move which was contemplated previous to the
abandonment of the State Society, Now / ask