The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-04-29
but without any disparagement to that incom-
parable singer, confess would 90 farther
to hear such concert az this, that / have
feebly attempted to describe.
FRUIT CULTURE.
EENONATING OLD ORCHARDS.

FRUIT CULTURE.
HENOvATING OLD ORCHARDS.
A great portion of the apples grown at the
present. time in n. E.,are the product oftrccs
set from twenty to sixty years ago.
Only small portion, at the present time
produce fruit, fit for market. In this state
not over one-fourth of the vast number that
cover our farms, produce valuable fruit
Most otthem have not received anv care, ex-
cept to have the fruit gathered by careless
boys, or a few limbs carclessly chopped off by
inexperienced men, and occasionally, a tree
has been badly injured by the cart or plough
A large portion of these trees NAV DC male
profitable.
The first necessary step is to carefully trim
the branches with fine saw or knife. Re-
move all dead or dccaving branches, and
many long, unthrifiv limbs should he cut a
few feet from the main trunk, leaving a few
limbs to form the succeeding heal All large
wounds should be carefully smoothcd with a
knife and covered with a coat Of pant,or dis
solved shclac.
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
heading in large trees. Small limbs NAV be
cut with safety at almost any season. The
latter part Of winter, spring, Or fore part of
summer is preferable.
Pruning, being well done, cleanse the bark
thoroughly. This is very simple process
First scrapc off all moss and rough bark This
being done, wash all large limbs and the
trunk, with strong I've made of wood ashes %,
Sal-sOla dissolved in water. or strong soap.
Suls. which will give the bark green and
glossy appearance.
Remove all so!s from beneath the tree an,
keep the soil rich and soft. The tree now
being in condition TO grow, NAV be grated
with success
Select the choicest kinds of fruit that arc
adapted to Your location. and see that your
scion; are in good condition.
Cleft grating is the most common mode of
grating large trees, as usually the branches
are too large for tongue or splice grating
Limbs from one half inch to one inch in
diameter Shoul BE selected. The head l.
first cut over horizontally with knife \
cleft about two inches deep. is then made in
the stock, with mallct. and splitting knife
The scion is now prepared hv shaping its
lower end in the form of wedge, about one
inch and one fourth long. leaving it little
thicker on the outer edge, opening the cleft
with small chi>cl made for the purpose push
the scion carefully down into its place, fitting
its inner bark on one side to that of one side
ofthc stock. When the stock is LARGO it i.
customary to insert two s,ionS. When the
chiSel is removed the cleft closes firmly or
the scionS, and the wound is thoroughly coy
cred with composition made for that purpose
With a little experience, any gardener G,
farmer can graft with success. Small limb,
ave preferred, as they heal much sooner thar
large, and leave the tree much sornder ant
more healthy. Small limbs usually heal ove1
the second season, while large ones seldom
fever become sound
A tree six inches in diameter should have
from % to 100 limbs grated. Two hundre,
limbs is no uncommon number to graft il
one year.
When a tree is well grated, nearly all tn,
remaining small! branches NAV be remove,
the following spring. Then wash again will
I've, apply more manure and mellow the soil
and it Will not be long before the result OF
these means will show themselves.
l.. II. SPEAR.
Braintrcc, March %, 1854.