Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-03-07
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PLANTING FRUIT TREES.

EpIroR Ono FARMER-Some of the Ag-
ricultural books, and some writer's in our Ag-
ricultural papers, recommend whom planting
Fruit Trees, to dig hole six or more feet
in diameter, and two feet or even greater in
depth, to be filed with loan and compost
for the benefit Of each tree.
Iconsider such practice useless and i'm
proper, for the following among other .rea-
sons: First it incurs an unnecessary ex-
pense. A man could not prepare his holes
and compost and set more than half doz-
en- trees IN day. Secondly, such an ar
rangement does very little towards supply
ing food 10 the tree, as the small fibrous
roots, attached to the larger ones, which
take up the nourishment from the soil-an-
swering to the lacteals in the human stom-
ach-the second year will principally be
thrown beyond the circumference of this
compost hole. Thirdly, to dig so deep in
stiff clay, and fill with loose vegetable and
compost mold, viii invite the roots down
ward, as they always descend IN such soil,
and cause them to enter the clay at depth
that will be positively injurious to the tree,
as in tenacious clay soil, the roots of fruit
trees always run near the surface.
have had some experience with fruit
trees, having raised several small orchards
myself. and have had several cultivated by
Others, under my direction. From this
practice, the plan would recommend, in
setting and cultiVating trees, would be, in
brief:
L. In setting trim of all the branches,
leaving nothing but pole; then there is
proper proportion between the root and the
top. The former will keep the latter in a
fresh and healthy condition-instead of be-
coming shriveled-untl they begin to
spread, when they will throw out thrifty
rapid growing shoots. Beside, when the
TOP is cut of, the wind has but little chance
to shake the tree so as to disturb the roots.
2. Dig hole Just wide enough to admit
the roots in their natural position; and deep
enough, and nodeeper, than barely to cover
them, and make the tree stand firm
When the roots begin to spread, they will
find their proper depth; in clay soil they
will run near the surface, in alluvial they
will strike deeper. once had occasion to
remove several trees that had been set one
year, in stiff clay,a foot or fifteen inches
deep. The roots had not made the least
movement towards growing, but a set of
young fbres were putting out of the body
near the ground. About that time, say
thirty-five years ago, there were two orch
ards planted in the neighborhood, the one
deep, as above, the other was scratched in
with corn hoe. The latter commenced
the first season rapid growth; the former
remained partly stationary for two or three
years, before they prospered, and never did
so well as the other.
When your trees are set, cover the ground
literally all over with manure, throwing none
against the tree-from the stable is proba-
bly, the best-plow under and give heavy
dressing with lime. Tend in corn or pota-
toes Be particular to repeat the manuring
every year, tending in corn or potatoes for
about eight seasons-then SOW in clover,
and discontinue the cropping. fit be clay
soil, the roots will run so near tie surface,
that plowing after that period may injure
the trees.
As to the distance they should be set
apart from each other, that will depend up
on the character of the soil. On strong al
myial bottoms, such as bound the Ohio riv-.
er, perhaps forty feet would not be too far
for apple trees. On rich limestone land they
will require plenty of room. For white oak
clay, probably twenty-five feet would be suf-
ficient and on black oak ridge, even less
Every part Of your lot should be made rich
alike, for in ten years the little fibrous roots
will be spread all over it, gatherging nour-
ishment from every foot of the soil.
About the same kind of culture that suits
the apple tree, suits the peach, so far as the
growthsis concerned, save the latter need
not be set so far apart as the former.
G. SPRIN GER.
Meadow Farm, o., Feb. Ist 1856.