Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-25
Short lived Fruit Trees.

As the premature decay Of the fruit trees
OF this State and our Pacific sister OREGON,
just now engages, somewhat, the attention Of
our farmers and fruit-grOweTE, we lay the fol-
lowing article upon the subject, (which We
take from o late number Of the GdIiI0rnjG
Cutturist,) before our readers In future We
shall cndcavOr to present to our readers from
week to week something interesting and use-
fll to those Of our readers who are engaged
in the cultivation Of the soil and those who
feel an interest in such things would oblige
us and many Of our readers by faVOFing US
with suggestions in regard to this useful pur-
suit:
No ono, even in California, has . word to
say about shOrt-livcd forest trees, nor in the
older fruit country Of the Atlantic States do
we hear of the decline Of such fruit-bearf1g
trees as have sprung from selEsOwn seed and
been nourished by neglect; for these are ina
variably tho longest lived treeA There must
be something, then, in the condition Of q PAM
percd, cultivated tree, either as regards tho
soil in which it is grown, or mode OF culture.
or management, that predispOses so many to
an carly decay. Were We to attribute the
evil solely TO the properties Of the soil in cul-
tivatcd grounds, we might be at fault in tho
opinion Of many; because, say they, cult.
vation and manuring improves all soils and IL
essentially necessary in the production Of con.
tinuous crops.
In preceding article upon deep and shall
low plowing, we take exceptions to ono or
more points. 1t is there said that "the roots
take in whatever liquids they are brought in
contact WITH Most vegetable physiOloGists
maintain that Of trees or plants, 70 Q very
great extent, each take from the soil IN which
1t is grown properties peculiar to itself and Ns
own wants; and upon this view Is based the
system SO invariably adopted by the best aR-
riculturists, of change or rotation Of crops,
Thus field in which potatoes or bccts may
have been cultivated for years in Succession.
and until il will no longer produce an AVERAGE
yield Of such crop, is rendered none the wOFse'
or but slightly less available for the prOduc-
tion OF any Of the cereals q wheat, rye, oats
or barley.
Bya rotation Of crops we evan ourselves
Of this peculiar properly Of soils-er raAher
OF al their properties. Bot when IN oeehatd
is planted IL becomes fixture, WithOns po1A-
tion, and consequently goes ca from year 20
to year exhausting the sOil 0f thcso peopsr-
ties only, the best suited 10 It gsOwt6. We
do not believe that the tree is injured by its
roots coming in contact with such 0Otuhle
poisonous materials as they can ahooTh. No
| s~NASes 80 sAS W0nb VI RbUkoG 1UOU u NN.N.IH
to absorb. A tree will elect from the col
through the agency Of It. roota, the WV
It most needs; and, II not tound ih o. I'll
the tree declines for want 0f pgOpir = S
ment. rather than from apprOpSiatinR snhelan.
ces Of nature It does not require and cannot
assimilate. 80,
Reasoning from this data, we belisvp fhaa
though orchard grounds may be kent a 4
state Of perpetual fertility ss regards Z T6la-
tion OF the ordinary farm crops, the esesahEd
portion Of its product from remAlninR -.
petual draft upon the soil Of such prone.fiea
as 1t requires for its continued thFiiE, may 49,
the necessary food to maintain Il. A corfece
knowledge, therefore, Of the food beot nmaaeA
to the growth Of the orchard, becomes 8 ~.
ter Of the highest Importance and uhuulA nat
fail to engage the attention Of pomOlogists.
But in the growth Of selEsown &uif and
forest tree, without removal, and no GaFe b.
slowed in supplying thsm With T6IIS "a "a.
triment, We find perpetual thriA. Thla 800
DO owing then, we think, to Contlnnaa -;
tension Of the roots into new sod, We =;
lieve that the roots Of tree have dir 81
functions to perform. We know IAe llnhe
have; for whilst some are fruit prOduclnR q
y-as the fruit spurs-OtheFs ere wood ana
leaf producers; then why may not the rooaa,
differently situated a. they are u fulhFen9s e
soil and subsOil, have their zppFUpssIt =
OF usef1lnessH II this Be trua q tSs n
. tree, then arc We inclined 70 bslievo q
deep running roots have aa once 8 - ~ ~
essential to the well-bcing, kealth and ceSSe-
quent longevity Of tho tFee, that cannot b
pcrtol med by surface roots alone. atf
If we are right in our conclusions, tAen dAt
We not attribute the disposition b cdltiv -
trees to premature decay more to the Iois q
want OF these deep running roots, and "a IN
due proportion Of surface roots, than q ~
lack Of fertility or proper constituent d -
in the soilg