Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-01
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It is well known that all varieties Of fruits do not
flourish and mature equally well in all sections OF
the country This has been mainly attributed to
climate; and it has not unfrequently happened that
fruit grower in one part of the Middle States hear
ing the qualities of particular fruit as grown In
another part has obtained and fruited it and upon
its not meeting the pains bestowed upon 1t by the
first grower, has either counted the variety unsuted
to his climate, classed the first grower ignorant
and deceitful Such decision, venture to assert,
may frequently have been found hasty and errone-
Gus. Had the recipient of the new variety received,
! at the same time an analysts of the soil in which
that particular variety had been grown to perfec-
ton, and applied such knowledge justly to the soil
in which he was about to plant, the result would
have been very different.
Climate, think will be found to have very little
influence upon the good or bad qualities of a fruit
Indeed, am somewhat disposed to assert that it has
no other influence than that of fastening retard
ing maturity, as it is cold or warm The application
of special manures components of soil, by differ
ent cutivators within the past two years. by which
old varieties those not before esteemed have been
improved and restored is evidence that food, suit
ed to the wants of the tree, was required in the soil
and not that climate had aught to do with its dete-
| rioration. .-
AS lime, or its phosphates, form a component part
of all specific manures for fruit trees will as per
your request, briefly note few instances, among
many where it appears beneficial and. again. where
it does not appear required. To give complete list
of varieties that affected by its presence in the
soil, would occupy more room than will dare pre-
sumo upon.
The soil of Northeastern Ohio, as whole is def
cient in lime; that of Northwestern and Southwes-
tern abounds less in it, But it is not always
within the reach of roots of trees and therefore,
| will state presently, the reason why varieties
requiring lime do not succeed in localities often de-
nominated limestone sections.
The Waxen' - Belmont or " Gate" apple-for
it is known in Ohio by these, and even more names
succeeds finely in most of Northeastern Ohio. In
Northwestern Ohio it will sometimes be found good );
but is frequently dry, rotted at the core, deficient in
flavor and covered with mold or fungus. A similar
statement will apply to the central and Southwes
tern part of this State. This is accounted for from
the fact, that in many sections of limestone country
while there is abundance of the mineral eighteen
inches two feet below the surface that portion of
soil usually turned up hy the plough or spade
ains no lime beyond what may be found in all soils
from decomposition of shells, droppings of BIRDS &C.,
This fact too often overlooked reconciles the query
as to how variety which grows and natures per-
tecty in one place. does not do equally well at dis
lance, OF not more than twenty yards. 1t is simply
that at distance of only twenty yards, the surface
soil is nearer the limestone subsoil, perhaps is
partly incorporated with it.
The !" Baldwin" apple so Justly celebrated in the
Eastern States and in Northern New York, has, in
Ohio, been subjected to the bitter dry rot rendering
1t OF only second third rate character, equal to
/ . Pennock.' Experiments have been tried on
limited scale, the past season. to remedy this, by
application to the soil in which the trees grew. In
one instance where the tree stands in sandy SOIL the
simple application of liberal dressing of wood ash
es has resulted in rendering their fruit perfect In
another instance, where the tree stands in clay
loan, which has been we'll dressed with barn yard
manure, and sown with plaster and upon which two
years since was grown crop of clover last season
turned under and the land cropped with corn then
sowed to wheat, was this year with common
salt until the ground white far the branch
es of the tree extended. The result has been perfect
fruit where for three previous years. the bitter dry
rot had existed. The & Roman stem,' upon sandy
soils, without any special applications, produce fruit
small knotted and blotched By the application of
caustic lime, to tree of about three inches dame
ter of trunk the fruit has been rendered perfect In
most parts of what designated limestone Sec
tons where the trees stand in soils in which lime
holds prominent part the variety is counted among
the best
i The " Vandervere" is variety which think de-
lights in rich alluval soil as it is in such soils
that have seen grown the most perfect fruit
The Rhode Island Greening," classed by nearly
all variety to be placed in select lists has not
proved first class apple in Northern Ohio and at
this time, cultvators in Central Southern Ohio deem
it an insult to place it in list recommended for
their culture.
Such is the diversity of appearance in this fruit.
grown in different soils in Northern Ohio, that | at
one time believed that there must have been grown
seedlings by the settlers from Connecticut where the
Greenng Isl or was, among the best. from seeds of
this variety and so much resembling the true
two trees of Greetings in bearing, and which were
standing in ten rods of each other and apparently
similar (sandy) soil the fruiting clear, perfect
fruit-the other the blotched, dull green, mud
dyn variety. last year applied wood ashes to the
latter, and this season the fruits perfected alike.
/ In Central Southern Ohio and on the borders of
the Ohio river, twenty five years since, this was es-
teemed one of their very best apples. At this time.
with exceptions, it is discarded. In the Ohio
Fruit Growers Report for 184S, page 25, DIR. Bar
ker speaks of an orchard in Muskingum county,
freestone soil, and fruiting fine as ever. And
again of having found bitter rot in all the orchards
of this variety which he had visited, except the
above named and one other, which latter had been
supplied with ashes
| AS before remarked while there are sections
denominated limestone sections it is not always that
any portion of lime is incorporated with the soil, at
a depth which the roots of tree would naturally
reach. That such is the case, and that the SOIL
where twenty-five years since this variety succeeded
is exhausted in this material would appear from the
fact of an application of wood ashes hay ng render
ed the fruit again perfect.
The s'Winesap'' is a variety which apparently
adapts itself to all Soils and in all, is fair appear
ing fruit; but when grown in soils which have lime
as component, have found the texture not as fine
and not as crisp and sprightly when grown in
sandy loan. -',..-.s
The Newton Pippin" succeeds most admirably
in most of Northwestern Central and Southwestern
: Ohio where lime is found. Instances are known
where it has not proved good in these sections but
they have, when known to the writer, been always
traced to want of lime in the soil. In soils def
Gent in lime, application of lime, or liberal
dressing of wood ashes, has resulted in producing