The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-04-15
@UBA1 as01olg.
From the Plough, Loom and Anvil.
THE BIG APPLE TIRE 2

\ 4 ft II ~ VI n Il n IL IL 4 IN u Sss
When was child, there stond in our
garden tree, neither admired for its beauty
nor ieved Tor its luscious fruit. II was known
simply as !" the big apple tree" and was
stunned by me, at certain seasons, because OF
the living. moving crop Of worms, with which
| il swarmed. The tree stood there, simply
because it was there, though its fruit was not
considered worth gathering, sometimes when
the apples Mcre thick" upon the ground,
my father would go and shovel them over to
the pigs, just TO get them out Of the way.
II rose from row Of currant bushes that
separated the fruit from the vegetable garden
but how il came there. donot know pruba-
bly, il twas foundling, for we had large apple
orchard on the other side of the house. DC.
casionally motion was made to cut il down;
the heads of the family and the older children
would discuss the matter, but whatever. de-
cision they came to. Z" the big apple tree
still remained in its place.
/ said il was not admired for its beauty !;
but this is not exactly true, for during the
month Of May. il was the queen Of the garden.
Who ever locked upon such apple blossoms.
Very beautiful were the rich red buds, which
gradully opening, resealei solter tlnts, lad
/ Ing to a delicate blush, aud then hung out in
great snowy clusters. 0dnrs from Araby the
best, could not excel the perlumed breath
from those flowers. Even travellers along the
road would stnp To catch the fitting swe etness.
But nune ever asked or cared il the glowing
buds were pregnant with comng fruit. Like
may fiash"g belle, when beauty faded,
!" the BIZ apple tree sunk into insignif-
canoe.
Early one spring my oldest brother visited
an uncle, who was nursery man in neigh
boring county, and returned with quantity
of choice gratis. Now, le asserted. he Sould
try and make something Of the old tree; he
should do no harm. il lie did 10 good. NV
father and mother thought i was well enough,
II he had mind 10 waste his time, but they
should never live 10 see any gond Of II.
Accordingly. with saw aud knife, lie noun
ted among lhr leailess boughs. and carefully
lpruned the whule tree. The ends nf about
one third u the branches were then sawed
on'; incisions we're made, the gratis were M.
serted, aud coaiings of wax we're spread over
the wounds. When tile buds bcg,n to burst
aud young twigsto come forth, many Of those
on the branches bearing gratis we're pincbed
Of, that the scions might not be robbed oi due
nuurishmeBt.
a new lnteres. now centered in the tree
the tangled bushes were removed frUm under
II, and no worms nests were allowed 10 be
cradled 10 its boushs. II presented something
Of a hostile appearance, with its bristlins
spears rising from the truncated arms, though
the spears gradully spread out into broad,
Ileaiy pennons.
The next year, and the next, the same pro.
cess was repeated, until the old stock was
entirely crowned with a new growth. The
first set Of gratis now began TO throw out
blushing buds To the inviting airs Of spring.
and carefully were the petals turned back,
and curious eyes looked in to see il incipient
fruit was there.
My father and mother lived TO acknow-
ledg that " the big apple tree" was the most
profitable one on the farm. II dropped from
its arms golden harvest pippins, while at the
sane time there nestled among the green
leaves the scarlet seek k-no.lugihcr and ,lie ge!
yellow russet. From the Harvest feast Ia
. the Christmas merrymakings. our table wa.
grsccd with its luscious fruits.
There are neglected wastes on almost every
farm, which. with little care aud little la
bnr. can be made rich with beauty or luxury,
which lends peculiar charms to the farm.
house. JuSE lsLg.