Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-16
VOLUME 6.
AGRICULTURAL.
From the I ubuque Tribune.
Fruit Cullure.-.NO. 4.

watching results and compar.
ing views with large number Of other
amateurs authors on the subject, l pro.
pose as time and opportunity are atlor-
ded 70 write portion Of the information
/ have acquired for publication for the
benefit of my fellow citizens, and shall
commence No. with transplanting
frui, trees, md the way 10 preserve
them from the different annoyances to
which they are subject. The numbers
may be continued from time TO time.
In the first place select suitable
piece of ground tina, does not incline 10
be we,-better if high or rolling and dry;
fruit trees do not continue 70 thrive so
well even if the subsoil is wet. After
having thoroughly prepared the ground
by deep ploughing, stake II off in rows
no. less than twenty feet apart, nor
more than thirty three fee;; then dig the
the holes so large as to take in the lar
pest roots OF the trees without curving
them, and in such way as for the
stake to form the centre, then when
ready for trans planting, set one person
"a child will do) TO hold the tree erect
where the stake stood, while another
fills in the earth by slow degrees. care
fully placing each root in its natural po.
sition, separating the fibres thereof. so
that each fiber can acquire nourishment
without being prevented by its neighbor
and so proceed one root after another
in their natural order till the upper roots
are covered-,he whole of which should
be done with rich loan without any
mixture of any kind Of manure. The
tree when planted should be set one OF
two inches deeper in the ground than il
formerly stood in the nursery SO that il
may be as deep when The ground becomes
settled. Alter the orchard is planted
either ashes or other manure may be puI
rou nd each tree. so that it does not come
in immediate contact with the tree OF
litter OF straw may be put close around
the tree and is very good 10 keep the
ground moist the frs, season after trans
plating.
Between the first and fifteenth of the
fifth month called May, every orchard
should be annually washed in the fol.
lowing n. amer: Take in the proportion
of two quarts Of soft soap, half a pound
of sulphur and one pint Of strong decoc.
ton of ,obacco-mix and apply with a
wooden cloth saturated in the above, and
rub il up and down the tree from The
limbs to the ground, ill the bark is wet
with il all round. The soft soap 10 one
IT the best ingredients for the bark of
re nee-the sulphur and tobacco water
xrs added TO prevent the borer, which is
/. No of the most fatal insects with which
we have 10 contend in this latitude
The egg is deposited about the surface
Of the ground in the latter part of the
fifth month, which soon matches ard pen
e,rases the bark, and there carries on its
work unperceived. except by careful
observer, till the tree dies. Every or
chard should be examined, both fall and
spring. aud il small hole is discovered
in the bark about the surface of the
ground, sometimes attended with red.
dish worm dust, then search for the
worm and take him out if it requires
cutting the tree half away, for if left
there he will certainly kill it. As the
egg is deposited liz the tender bark Jus.
at the surface, it is well to raise email
mound about three inches high around
each tree about the time alluded 10 which
should be removed by the las, OF the
sixth month. (June) thereby depriving
the beetle (for such it is in its flying
s.ate) from finding suitable place for
its eggs.
The most efec.ual preventive against
rabbits and other bark devourers of our
nurseries and young orchards is coal tar
made at The city gas works. A coat OF
this 10, With common painters brush,
laid on the trunk from the ground, to the
height of two feet. Where coal tar
cannot be obtained, an excellent substi-
tute, answering the same purpose is
SCOT and milk. These should be incor-
pora.ed together till they are about the
consistency of paint, and the mixture
brushed o1e. the trunk in fine dry day.
There i ID This State aspecies of cat
eroillar, 81 rather Lex worpr-1hough
dtfersns from either, and very gous
b iimher land. and like 70 Be very i11pb
Iooome ia our orchards. WAS tot6)2Y
nnacQuainted with il sill ! came here
neithee do find any account given Of q
81 our best writer's on fruit-but pesI
ceivs the eggs are deposited ON the n
Der side Of the leaves by white mil 4
know Of no way Of destroying hem
better than to keep continued wsich.
I'D whenever they make their appear
moe either cut of the twig they ~ on,
81 BY winding a forked stick into theik,
nests bring them to the ground and tramf
|hem 70 death.
The most approved plan Of transplant
linz fruit trees in the Eastern States,
md where there is dense subsoll, Is BY
digging the hole from three 10 four feet
nefoss and two or three deep-then gil
IS with good surface soil near enough
IS Top Of the gj6und TO set the Tree y.
lnd plant = before described, a in
~ opinion il would pay = Plo j the
uarno way here, bui | % ~ hsider il
8 eoseatial Il the pssiEio 6F the west.
1I,ogo bolh ths ~ md subsoil il 80
Tbs - nnbs growth l ever