The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-01-30
FRUIT AND MANURE.

The following truthful remarks. in COM
mNnicnton, from the pcn of NJ. BcckSmans,
Of New jersey, to the NorhcnLuria are
worthy the attention Of those having fruit
To expect from pear or apple tree the
most delicate, sugarcd, ligE favored products
ard that in large quantities, without any
cultivation Of the SOIL Or with not half the
care, labor and cXpcnce given to corn crop
Or potato patch, seems to be folly, when we
consider that in Natures eternal laws moth
Ing can grow whore the natural food is want
ing The trees Of our woods have their
leaves, The decaytd bran'hcs and shrubs
besides the natural benefits Of rains and
atmospheric influences still, when oak
woods have had then time, oak will grow no
more in the same soil, at least th,ijiRY, and
without changing its constituents. 1t is a
well.known fact that virgin soils produce
spontaneously first the noblest among the
forest trees, afterwards an inferior sort, till
nothing but cedars or resnous plants will
cover the once itch. now WORKOUT soil.
ain often asked why do the apple trees
bear no longer around hc,c, or, when they
yield a scanty crop. why is the fruit so wor-
my, so poor that it is hardly fitted for the
market! The reply is very easy. The soils
have worn out, not only by fifty or more
crops of apples, but also by the grass, clover,
and other unmanared crops, by all which,
the phosphales, calbonates, and the once
Astounding potashcs of the old forests, have
been calied to market without any rcstitu-
ton to the generous soil So much for the
growth of the trees and their bearing Now,
when it happens that by long interval of
rest the trees have rcgaincd some strength by
the natural mfaences Of the air, rain md
snow, nitrogen and ammonia, they soon
blossom and yield another crop Of fruit: but
the soil has been so long IN grass and so long
. neglected. that worms, bugs, and legion Of
insects haye found in that undislurbcd soil a
permanent home for themselves and their
generations and no sooner is fruit set than
they are at work by hundreds to sting and
def0rm it.
A fruit orchard requires higher cultivation
than any other crop because it is cultivation
an t,eo stories, crop below and one above
All that seems so very plain that am very
often amazed when see very able farmers,
who would laugh at the idea of getting
wheat crop in long neglected soil. without
any manure or extra labor. look at their apple
trees as if they were exceptions to the gener-
al rule, and bound 10 bear no matter how poor
the soil may be, because they did so fifty
years age.
There is truth in overlooking trees In
xI,, oh H.. e 81
where the trees are so luxurant in their
rapid growth, severe winters do great injury !;
we all know the results of our last winters in
those rich prairics but here there is little
danger of overlooking. Our soils are compar-
atively poor, and we are better protected by
woods, hills, buildings, nc. Let US not for
get that artificial products require artificial
treatment. Our refined fruit trees can never
be so hardy as the virginia. wild trees of the
species neither can they succeed in soils
where the wild tree can find supply and food
for itself and It's coarse small product. The
object Of nature is to pcrpctuate the species
by seed ours to reduce the seed for the bene
fit Of the pup; what is only an accessory in
natures views becomes our main object -
When the laws of vegetation are introverted
in that way, our utmost skill and nnrturlng
is required to keep up those artificial crea-
tons. They can bear mapuring and feeding
better than forest trees would do: and if we
do not initiate and swell their limbs with too
mu III ammonia and water, if we use the con-
s,ituents required for wood-formation chiefly.
as potash, phosphates, lime, &c, there will
be little danger Of overlooking trees, and
fear that for a long time to come, the reverse
will nc silly lie the case.
&>sAs