The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-10
asritulturul.
Spring Management of Fruit Trees.

active laDOIs VI ehV SA'NNa HNt
ton. and every collection OF fruit trees de-
mands more than ordinary care, we are re-
minded of the importance Of contributing
portion of our osn experience in aid OF those
who arc seeking information upon this sub
iect; especially the amateur, who, ineSperi-
enc,d in the management OF fruit trees, needs
some guide to the successful issue oil the
time and labor which he intends to devote
to their cultivation for upon right course
at the commencement depends, in great
measure, their after.trcatment and the hnai
result OF his labors. General ru.es 1t Is
easy TO lay down-and they arc found IN
every reliable treatise upon the subject
which, with some knowledge OF tho growth
of trees, combined with good judgement ana
little experience, it is simple process TO
follow. But the miss Of cultiyators have
not acquired either the knowledge, the
d,om,nt. or the expsricnc, requisite to do
his, aud honc, general rules, though good
80 Tar Us they 90, are not always applicable
in the varied culture which diGjrent soils
and different localities, and the varied habits
of trees and their peculiar constitutions, de-
mand. 1t is only by giving patient attcn'
ton to little details that the most satiside-
tory results can be achieved. and the growth
of our best fruits can b, rendered profitable
and certain.
The experienced cultisator has conquered
all these dilIi,ultics, and when called upon
for information, refers Us TO some general
rules which have been his course Of practice,
forgetting that theS, rules are the result OF
details. and have only been arrived at thro
continued labor, unremittcd attention and
indomitablc perseverance. The amateur
seeks only results. and knows not the pro-
cess OF their attainment IL aware how
much he has to learn, lac would often be
tempted t. relinquish the attempt at accom-
plishing what his ambitious hopes have an
ticipltei. Fortunate is IL that he does no. ;
but liboring only fOr the success which cx-
perieneed men hayo achieved, he little by
little conquers the difficulties which beset
his path, and eyentually-if his zeal and
his industry hold out-r ach the eminence
which such measures are certain TO attain.
To aid, therefore, in rendering the task
of the amateur or young cultiva,or a more
easy one, Is our object. For though knowl-
edge, judgement and experience are absolute
ly necessary to secure the highest success
they can b, greatly facilitated by right in
formation acquired at the right time. One
cultiyatrr may go ON for years accomplish
ins lcss than another in half the time. All
will depend upon the course OF action. Ex-
pericnce il the bcs; ofall schools. But he
who trusts TO experience alone, will find, too
late, that had he ayailcd himself Of the
knowleds, of Others his task would have
been Ear clsier, and his results no lees GER
tain. What every cultiyator should en-
delyor 10 do. is to consult only authentic
sources OF Information, and never rely upon
th, c,,ull o5rrvItijn anl brief experience
OF those who trumpet forth sOmc accidental
success and the mJ L. Of its achievement rs
tbs true way for all 10 follow who would
arrive ut like results.
Fruit trees Of every kind require our con-
stInt attention; they are not to b, treated
as nature givSs them to Us, with the exPcc-
t.tiIi Of aGIrlins crops in their improved
condition. by the process Of amcliOration
through the ss,d, and the eG5ct of years Of
high cultivation, th,y arc far removed from
the original typo, and therefore require un-
rcmittcd care to keep their improved charac-
ter. In thr ever-vIryins round Of the SEA.
sons, in Winter, Spriny, Sammcr and Au-
tumu, they nosd attention, and amply re-
pay all the labor bestowed upon them.-
Pruning, digging, watering, disbudding,
mlnurins, a.. constitute the routine Of
practice which demand repetition with the
advent Of every year They arc not to be
discontinued with the planting Of the tree,
or even when it becomes well established in
the soil, bu; must b, followed To a greater
or less extent, Us long rs il continues an OBJ.
jecs Of our care Especially Is this the ease
wher, the tree Is artidcially grown-thaiis is,
Us dwarf, u pyramid, u bush, or an espalier.
In either Of thes, circumstances 1t is under
restraint, aad, il n,Slcet,l, soon shows the
tendency of its habits TO outgrow its altered
condition, and ,hwart the Designs OF the cul.
tiyator These being some OF the require,
mcnts which demand attention at this par.
ticulAr season, We shall proceed to notice
them.
PRrSrSo. The FIRST and perhaps most I'M
porian. object Is pruning; unless this is
done IN the Autumn, which is hardly prohl-
bic, this win be the selson when the Win
ter operation should DO performed /; for II
Summer pruning and pinehing have been
properly attended TO, it will be reduced 70 a
very easy work; but, if not. il will be more
laborious. As the object Of pruning is
mainly to shaP, and keep the tree within
reasonable bounds, and at the sumo tins,
properly th'nnoi Of superaious shoots, to
allow the free admission Of sun and air to
the entire ioli's,, for IN, ia, cl,b,ra ton Of
Its iood' 1t follows that there will bc much
wood to cut away and many shoots to short.
en- in. But this simple operation Of short
enins in, (cutsing OF ous-halft, Z, two. .,hirds
the Last years. growth,) and thinning out,