The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-05-18
lqruultural.
Fruit Trees.

a majority OF the Old tTutt trees through
oat the country fail to give the amount
OF fine, large. well formed and luscious
irult they would, for the want OF suffi
cleut irult forming materials in the soil.-
The tree, III It's fifteen, twenty, or perhaps
thirty years growth, has exhausted the
lime, or some other Ingredient, and now
there is none for the fruit. For apple
tree lime is specially important. The
phosphate of lime, as in bones, is good
Tor al fruits. II the soil is pleaufully sup
Piled with all the ingredients of fruit, il
will be falrer. richer favored, and less ex
posed to the attacks of insects. Most or.
chards are in turf and it is perhaps best
that they should be- But how can the
tree be expected to elaborate food from
the soil equal 10 the maturing of large
yield OF fruits, if the ground is moved
once or twice n year, led off IN fall and
spring, and seldom lnsnuredi Even if
pretty well manurcd, the grass takes near.
~ all the strength Of the manure. There
should Se extra nanurIng, specially for
TIE fruit. Fall is perhaps the hes, time.
as IN that case the manure will have time
To settle into the ground sufficiently to
reach the roots before another fruitinr
time. If neglected in the fall it NAV bet.
ter be attended to ve-y early in the spring
As soon as the snow is off, or even before.
1t Is not necessary TO Withdraw manure
from the field for The sake OF the orchard.
lou may use a kind that yon lave never
applied t" the field. Swamp m rck, any
black earth, leaf mould, scraprnrs from
heGge rows, mixed with lime, is good
Wood ashes are nearly halt lime, and the
lime in them Is in the best possible con
dluou tor lhls use. Half cord of muck.
with busheI or two Of ashes, would
cause many tree to produce, for severa!
years, twenty five or thirty bushels of APP
pies, that for years past has produced but
half that amount; and the quality of the
, fruit would DE as much improved AS its
quantity. DO not lay it too near the DO
dy Of the tree. The small root!ets Of a
young tree are, OF course, near the stem
! hut with m old tree it is different. They
have been pushing outward for years
and now they draw the nulrimeut for the
tree from circle, ten, fifteen, and even
twenty feet from the center. Tor n large
apple tree We would spread the compost
over circle OF forty feet in diameter.
Now is good time to cut grafts.-
/ They should be kept in a cool place, and
il n little moist the better.
Currant bushes. If not thinned ont in
the fall may now be attended to. Cut
OF the crooked, !alernal branches. and
head IN the tall ones. Much has been
SAID IN favor OF cultivating the currant in
the tree form. 1t is rather difficult excep,
tor accomplished horticuIlurrsts. and wa
very much incline to the belief that the
old way Of having them in punches, about
tour ieet apart, properly trimmed once
year, the ground to he hoed often, and
well clear off grass and weeds, is as well
tor farm purpose, though not as large fruit
can be obtained in this way. The cur
rant is easily grown and is a healthy
'rult, possessing an extra value from the
| tact OF It's coming At time when hardly
any other fruit can be had.
Ounce bushes should be surrounding
"rtn chip manure, or other decayinr
mould, to keep down the grass, and now
IS good time to apply it.
FRUITS are no unltnportant part Of the
living o. a family. We wish every fam
er wonld lay his plans in season, and I ke
time by the toretop, for improving in this
/ branch Of farm industry. 1.-The lives near
market 1t Is the most profitable; and
wherever he may he, there is refining
influence in fruit culture, which should
not be overlooked. There is solid com
tort IN IT, There ia an innocent luxury.
Nothing tends more to contentment -
When the children are far away, and
nave built them other homes, they will
remember the old homestead, but no
place IN 1t, except the place by the cd
hfe side, where loving mother used to
SIT and merd thei. clothes and darn their
stockings, and bear patiently with their
childish pranks, and teach the Young idea
will be remembered with more !omginqs
TO return, than where their childhood.
lips smacked the fruit Of fayorile tree
Apples, early and late, for summer, au
mmn, winter, and spring, pears, peaches
! ounces, PIums, cherries, apricots, goose
berries, currants, and strawberries shoulC
he the delight Of every farm, unless pecu
har,ty OF climate would exc!ue some O
these, and many others should be intro
duced il soil and climate favor.
-
CURRANT VINE We off the follow