Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19

We take the following article from one in
that valuable Magazine, the Horfjculfwia:-
The Apple Orchards.
BY l.. DtRNND, DERBY, CT.
Much of late years has been written and
Sald about apple orchards and their cultiva-
tlun. On most all farms of any extent in
the Eastern or Northern States there are
more or less Of old apple orchards. These.
Tor the most part, have been left to grow up
ana take care of themselves, which. in the
long run, amounts to just no care at all.
The consequence has been, that they have
become, by this neglect, unthriftv, scrubby
trees. full Of dead limbs, the trunk and limbs
covered with moss and rough bark present
ing an unsightly appearance and in eight
or ten years, the farmer, in early spring,
would mount the trees, axe in hand, and cut
and SLASH off large limbs and small, leaving
the spurs sticking out from three to six
inches long from the trunk. while the tree
would he So much relieved from wood that it
would take it ten years to get back t. where
1t was at the time of pruning-so that. in the
long run. we think that the let alone sys-
tenn = is much preferable to the ten years
trimming plan, although both plans are what
every reasonable good farmer should be
ashamed Of
Now. what these old orchards want is n
thorough renovation in the shortest possible
notice. The first thing to be done. is to cut
oil the old top of the growing trees and set
on new one by grating. This can be done
best by the common mode Of " cleft grating"
Those limbs that are the size of II " hoe
handlc,' or an inch and half in diameter,
should be selected, as they soon heal over,
making the limb sound. The L" CRATER
should commence in the top of the tree to
SAW off limbs, and so work down. taking care
to graft every tier of under limbs at a longer
distance from the trunk, 50 that the CRAFTS
will have plenty of room to grow and not in
tcrfrrc with each other. To have this work
done in Il busincss-likc manner requires three
handsome to saw off the limbs and pair the
stocks another to set the scions. two in u
stock and the third hand to put on the wax
All old trees that have a good sound trunk,
however many dead limbs they may have,
should he sawed and grated. But many old
trees require different management. Some
by bad pruning. have grown their old tops
up very high. To graft these old tops at
such distance up, would be difficult Job
at the same time. they would make an un-
slightly appearance in growing. Such trees
should he - headed down that is. the large
limbs sawed off at such distance down the
tree. that when the new shoots put out they
may form Il handsome top. These sprouts.
if they are of thrifty growth may be grated
the second season, or d" hudded,' as the case
may be. Old large trees of slow growth
should not, in all cases, have their whole top
taken off at once, as the shock might kill
them. But in these cases. the south half of
the tree might he taken off first then. say
in two years after, the north half could be
treated in the same way, and the tree saved.
As to the time of pruning apple trees. it may
be done any time from May to October and
it should he done regularly every year, and
then only small limbs will be taken off but
in the case of old. neglected orchards. more
or less of large limbs must he removed
If | were to advise whether to plant new
orchard or renovate an old one. | should say,
rcnovatc the old one first, by all means 4; be-
cause your labor can he made to pay great
deal quicker on the old orchard than on the
new. In from three to four years time your
newly graftcd trees will begin to bear, and so
continue to increase from year to year, while
ut the same time You have made Il handsome
improvement on the stock of your orchard.
Old orchards that are kept permanently in
grass should have the soil dug up around the
trees every season; and if done as far as the
/ branches extend. it will be all the better.
Manure should be dug into the soil ccasion-
ally, as the case requires. Where orchards
are near the "piggcry it is good plan to
let the swine have the run Of the orchard
through the warm season. as they will eat
and destroy most of the - windialls" " under
the trees. and also keep the soil stirred up in
search of worms. Nc. Much is being done at
present, hy farmers and cultyators, in set
ting out Young orchards. This is commend
able work. and shows that the right spirit is
at work among our farmers. But the setting
out of a Young orchard and then letting the
trees take care of themselves, is IA " Loose
business" which too many cultivators still
follow to their own loss.
The soil in an orchard should he kept under
cultivation the whole time. until the trees
shade the ground 50 much that it will not be
profitable for hocd crops or grain. rs to the
distance apart. the trees should stand. it will
depend something on the trees planted. My
observation tells me that, rs Il general thing,
apple orchards are set top close on the
ground The trees should he set at such
distance apart that the trunks will grow to
at least eighteen inches in diameter before
the branches approach each other,