Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-30
agrptnlturd,
Care of frees.

There are certain bad practices, which
kave been pursued at least as long as the
memory of the "oldest inhabitant," which
we have tried many times TO correct with
only partiaI success, brt which are still fol
lowed bv the larger portion Of those who
plant trees. One of these practices may
be described as total neglect.
A day or two since, a man was employed
to cultivate and dress fruit garden set out
last spring. aid with The space between tn"
trees planted with potatoes. twas after
wards found that he had carefully and hand
somely hoed the potatoes, but the trees,
which needed special attention, he as Cd re-
fully skipped. Yet, one of the trees cost as
much snG wss worth more than all the po-
fatoes planted Oh the ground.
Another man was employed 10 plow q
young orchard. also planted with potatoes.
One hill was too Dehr tie row OF trees, and
10 save this potato plant, the seed of which
was worth about ha,f mill currencv, be al
lowe !;s team 30 break down and destroy
the fine Young tree worth m re than 4 thou
sand times as much.
Our readers no doubt will reccollect num-
berless instances where fine epple trees
have been bzrked in blowing orch rds, the
great anxiety of the ployman being to give
the crop good chance, and let the trees
take care OF themselves
All these facts show general stupidity
in the community, in not appreciating and
giving proper care 10 fruit trees. Curn, turn
Ups, cabbnges. and every thing else ARE .are-
fully cultivated, but trees take the last
chance although they have cost many times
more, and would with proper attention BE-
worth by many times, all the other crops.
We can account for this strange practice
only on the principle that IN IN gensr1lly ,un-
willing to think for themselves, prefer to
follow the multitude into error like the fock
of sheep that all jumped over the fence in-
to the well and were drow ned, be cause E
single leader happened to do so first: or for
the same reason that thsy pecome accust
omed to delight themselves to hear OF a
thousand persons tortured and killed on a
battle field, while the whole community is
shocked beyond measure by single murder
in Bond street, New York. In other words,
men think according to general custom, and
not according to truth and reason. This ac-
cunts for the neglected trees.
We make these remarks at the present
season, to induce those who carefully set ou;
trees last spring. with all the necessary at
tention. to give them continued culture
through the summer, and at time when
they are most apt to be neglected. 1t is dur
ingthe most rapid period OF growth, that dis
turbing causes, such as a hard soil, AN unbro-
ken crust, Land the exhaustiug and checking
influence of weeds and grpss, exert the most
detrimental effect.
We intend TO resume this subject on an
early future occasion, with more detail as to
proper management, and IN the mean time
reccomend every one who would be success
iul with young trees, to give them not only
as much attention as onions and cabbages
receive, bu. great deal more, in the shape
Of a wide, thoroughly mellowed surface
about them, because they ere of more va Iue
We have often spoke on this subject. an q
we fear we shall have 10 say many times
more before thorough reformation is effec-
ted.-C3untry Gentleman.