The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-04-19

FRUIT TREEs.-Wise men some
times advance strange opinions, the
legitimate results of carelessness and
inattention. Heresies are ofdaily occur
renee, in every department., and in
all societies. The organization of
our thinking powers is such that we
may embrace errors, and believe in
them, merely for the inconsiderate sug-
gestion of others. When men think
calmly, and reason dispassionately, un-
der the full influence Of knowledge,
they rarely err in judgment. Prac-
tice accords with the views we enter
tain, and if our views be erroneous, the
results are proof Of the facts. But
what has this to do with fruit trees?
will tell you.
had an Jrishman whose name was
Michael, and black man, called
Tim. Decent fellows Of the sort, and
each conscious Of superior. skill. Mi
chael told me that October was the
time to transplant apple trees. Tim
and thought the spring season was
the best period of the year, for this
purpose, but Michael Isnew&bettcr. Mi
chacl's argument was thus:
CPL so to the nursery, Squire, and
dig up two dozen trees ip;themonth of
October, and | will set them out in
the home lot. will dig them careful
ly, make great holes to- put them
in, feed the root with rotten chips,
and set them out nicely,sF and when
spring comes they will be ready
to grow. The fall is the time to trans
plant trees"
Tim says to me: "Master, don't let
Michael do it, for you will be old be-
fore the trees will begin to. bear. Now,
Master, let me talk minute. When
we dig up trees we always tear and
bruise some of the shoots, and if
we set them out in the fall the bruis.
ed roots will die before spring. |
lived with the Doctor six years, and
he always said that fresh wound heals
a great sight quicker than an old sore.
So it is in trees. If we transplant
trees in the fall, it is six months be.
fore the bruised shoots can begin to
heal, and the ficsts of4NintEf make "a 4
little brnisc big one before spring. But
If we set out trees in April, they be-
gin to grow in a week, the wounds and
bruises heal up very quick, and they
have nothing to do but to grow"
Tim was negro, but he had the
power of thinking, and knew moro than
some Yankees. | thought Tins rcas-
onlng was good, though his head was
covered with long wool. But | con-
trived to please Michael and Tim. In
the month of October these fellows
went to the nursery and dug up and
transplanted twcnty.four trees, setting
them four rods apart. They did
the job nicely, and both of them
saw that was gratified. During
the winter they worked together like
brothers, and were faithful. In the
next April Tim and Michael dug out of
the same nursery twcnty.four trees, and
set out between those that were plan
ted the fall before. After the lob was
done, Tim told me that the trees that
were set out in the spring would
grow as much in six years as the 9th
ers would in ten. "Bcdad," says Micha-
el, may you live to see me fool.
and live on clans"
Now for the fact. Eight wears
ago this orchard of torty-cieht trees
were planted. Those planted in
the fal with the exception of three.
lived through the ensuing summer The
greatest growth of any those trees was
three inches upon the tips Of the
limbs, and the least nc-half inch. Their
growth is now annually but little. Last
year dug up one of them, of medi.
uln size; the ends of the bruised
roots were decaycd, and in places
where the bark was started at the
time of planting the roots were much
rotten. Their bodies were covered
with patches Of moss, and they were
unthrillly. My ncighbors said a
curse was wi;hcring them. But Tins
trees grew fast. The truth was, the
wounds began to heal soon after the
transp!anting, and their removal from
the nursery to the orchard did not ap-
parcntly, delay their growth ev
en- one week. Tins trees are thrice
as large as NIichael's, ard begin to
bear fruit, and Tim feels proud of
his luck. Michael says, "Bedad, you
have beat me, and I'll never planttan,o.
thcr tree in the fall"
Now, what We want is knowledge.
we want genuine experience as our
guide. Beside this, many Of us want
common sense, or rather we want to
know how to use it. We have coun-
scllors in abundance, but they differ
widely in opinion. Baron Larry, Sur
geon-Gcneral in Bonapartc's army, said
that wounds occurring towards even
ing, after the tolls and marches Of the
day, were slow to assume the healing
process. Such patients frequently died
with the lock, jaw; and if not, they cot
well slowly. But if wounds occurred
III the morning, when the frame was