The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-08-09
From the S0utle1n Cutirat0r
How Fruit Trees siIoNEs, be TraisleG
isl the South.

Msssns. EDIroRs-The subject of Pomology
is one Of deep interest to the farmer. 1t is 4
subject thai should occupy the attention OF eve
ry person WHO IS The proprietor Of one acre of
ground, ina>Inuch a, the same amount of land
cannot be made 70 produce rs much i'll any 9th
er crop lis in one Of choice fruit trees 1t is :,
subject that has occupied the attention of anna
teus in every age Of The world, from the time
our first parents were placed in the Garden OF
Eden down to the present day. Volume after
volume has been written, in which every subject
pertaining to The science has been fully and ably
discussed. But when we consider the latitude
in which their observations were made, will the
question moi arise, are they suited to our o,cn
dcar sunny clime? 70 which my own observa-
lions compel me to answer in the negative and
l think the experience of others will bear me out
in what say. TO obviate the most prominent
difficulties with which we have. to contend,
would recommend lo@ h"ining9 the trees, which
should be commenced when the trees are young !;
say when they have attained height OF three Feet
they should be cut off with q sharp knife, within
two feet of the ground, SO that two or three
branches may be thrown out to form head. 1t
sometimes happens that there is but one shoot
thrown out; when this is tile case, it should he
cut back to encourage others. II the tree has
been grated in the spring and properly cult
waited it will have attained proper size to be
cut by the first of the following July but if nct
done then The operation should be deferred until
the next spring; and al shoots at the base, to
within three or four buds of the cut, should, as
they appear, be rubbed off, to encourage those
intended for leading branches. We will suppose
the tree nov to be one year old from the graft,
with side branches 2 to IS inches in length.
They should now be cut back to within or s
buds of their base, and il there is three leading
shoots, encourage two buds on each one; iflhcre
is but two, encourage three on each, so as to
give the two about six leading branches, which
will Le sufficient to form head. When trees
are trained i'll this manner they afford dense
shade TO Mc Surrounding soil, KILN. out the
weeds and grass, and thereby serving the double
purpose Of mulching and cultivation.
But the advantages do not end here; the IA
vor oi' the fruit is much improved by this mode
of training. while il can be picked by hand, which
alone should recommend it before all others.
And still another important advantage of be-
ing able to stand our high winds without the
roots being turned where their branches should
he. lfany of the branches lie on the ground
they should either be supported by props Or
pruned off But this will never be the case un-
less the tree is very heavily laden with fruit
One tree trained in this way is worth half
dozen longshanked, top.heavy 62an poles, for
another important reason, that they are exempt
from nearly all diseases that high trained trees
are subject 10, such as black knots, blisteS bigtt
DC.
That the finest fnn5 can be raised in the
South beneath the scorchins rays Of the god Of
day, is no longer problem. In fact some va
rieties have greatly improved by 4 removal to
the South. As an Instance, the Scckcl, Bart
lett, Beurrc Diel, and several other varieties of
Pears, improve both in Size and flavor: us also
the Peach in all its varieties. The Cherry, Nee
tarine, Apricot, and some varieties Of tile Plum,
are improved; but | regret to say it is not the
case with the Apple. Some kinds seem to hold
their own pretty well, while others are utterly
worthless. w. III. BrRFoRD NJ. d.
CudIyhunk, Miss, June, 1853.