Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-27

From the Green Mountain Herald
FRUIT CUETURE.--NO.5.
RENOvATING OLD ORCHARDS.

A great portion of the apples grown at
the present time, in New England, are the
product of trees set from twenty to sixty
years ago.
Only a small portion, at the present time,
produce fruit fit for the market In this
State, not over one-fourth of the vast number
that cover our farms, produce valuable fruit.
Most of them have not received any care, ex-
cept to have the fruit gathered by careless
boys. or a few limbs carelessly chopped of by
inexperienced men, and occasionally tree
has been badly injured by the cart or plough.
A large portion of these trees may be made
profitable.
The first necessary step is to carefully trim
the branches with fine saw or knife. he
move all dead or dccaying branches, and many
long unthrifty limbs should be cut few feet
form the main trunk, leaving a few thrifty
limbs to form the succeeding head. All large
wounds should be carefully smoothed with
knife, and covered with coat OF paint, or
dissolved shellac.
Pruning should be done when the tree is
in state of rest, as much less injury is then
done than in the summer when the tree is In
full leaf. March, Or April we prefer, for head
ing in large trees. Small limbs may be cut
with safety at almost any season: The latter
part OF winter, spring, or the tore part OF
summer is preferable.
Pruning, being well done cleanse the bark
thoroughly. This is very simple process.
First scrape off all moss and rough bark
This being done, wash all large limbs and the
trunk with strong tye made of wood ashes,
or sal-soda dissolved in water, Or strong soap.
suds, which will give the bark green, glossy
appearance.
Remove all sods from beneath the tree, and
keep the soil rich and soft. The tree now be.
ing in condition to grow, may be grated
with success.
Select the choicest kinds of fruit that are
adapted to your location, and sec that youl
scions are in good condition.
Clelt-grafting is the most common mode o
grating large trees, as usually the branches
are too large for tonguc or splice grating.
Limbs from one-half inch to one inch III
diameter should be selected. The head il
first cut over horizontally with saw, and
then smoothed with knife A cleft, two III
ches deep, is them made in the stock, with
mallet and splitting-knile.
The scion is now prepared by shaping its
lower end in the form of a wedge, about one
inch and one-tourth long, leaving it little
thicker in the outer edge; opening the clet'
with small chisel made for the purpose,pust
the scion carefully down into its place, fitting
its inner bark on one side to that OF one side
of the stock. When the stock is large it i;
customary to insert two scions. When the
chisel is removed the cleft closes firmly or
the scions, and the wound is thoroughly Gov
cred with composition made for that pur
pose
With little experience, any gardener o.
farmer can graft with success. Small limb
are preferred, as they heal much sooner thai
large, and leave the tree much sounder anc
more healthy. Small limbs usually heal ovel
the second season, while large ones seldom i
ever become sound.
A tree six inches in diameter, should have
from Is to 100 limbs grated. Two hundred
limbs is no uncommon number to graft in ont
tree.
When tree is well grated, nearly all thu
remaining small branches may be removed thu
following spring. Then wash again with I've
apply more manure and mellow the soil, ant
it will not be long before the result of thos
means will show themselves.
LEWIS II. SPEAR.
Braintree, March %, 1854.