Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-25
WOULD YOU HAVE GOOD FRUIT 7

From the earliest ages there has ever been
resting in the heart of mankind desire for
good frnit-indeed, the first thing that tempt
ed our first Parents was the sight of the ..for-
bidden" apples which loaded that beautiful
tree in the garden of Eden; and although the
results of that false step, on the part of her
WHO seemed so perfect in the eyes of Adam.
proved so disastrous, yet we have no evidence
that the apples themselves caused any bad eff
feet; but the curse was rather the sSfruit of
disobedience. From that time it was de-
creed that ssby the sweat of his brow man
should his daily bread,'' and that if he
would enjoy the good things of earth, it must
be by an efiort-and the richer the reward, the
greater that effort.
If the husbandman wishes a good crop OF
corn, how well he fits the ground, supplying
the lack of such fertilizers as are requisite !;
and how diligently he stirs the soil, that no
weeds may steal away the strength which the
coming crop needs. Now, if we would raise
thrifty fruit tree, we must remember that
nothing either vegetable or animal ever Tired
without something to lire on. \ fruit-tree
needs culture very much like hill of corn.
Its energies must be derived from the soil a.
bout it, and if we would nourish a tree we
must not forget that the tree is to be supplied
by the iibrous roots out little distance from
it, and not by direct application of fertilizers
to the collar OF the tree, or in other words, the
trunk where the roots join. For if we do this,
the tree obtains the strength of the applica-
tion too fast, which induces rank growth,
rendering the tree more tender than when tho
roots supply 1t modei ately as it needs susie
nance.
1t is always better TO obtain trees which have
been grated or budded when the seedlings
were only year old, as the stock and graft
being nearly OF an age, grow equally fast, and
consequently make more durable tree
There is very common error practiced of
putting out trees too old, as they can
not sustaina healthy growth in the nursery
after certain time. They should always be
in a thriving condition when transplanted.
Apples are more successful when two 10 four
years from graft-pears and cherries one TO
three-peaches one, and plumS one to two. 1t
is the universal belief of successful fruit
growers at the present day, that trees should
be invariably transplanted from a northern TO
a southern locality for being more hardy than
native trees, the sudden changes of weather
affect them less unfavorably. Trees may be
shipped thousands of miles with perfect safe
ty If properly packed and it is better by far
10 be at the expense of getting choice varie-
ties and hardy thrifty trees, though they cost
four times the price of a tree which after few
years fails, or produces second rate fruit.
We may wonder whether it will pay to raise
fruit (? Certainly il will. A farmer of West.
ern New York, L understand obtained last
season several hundred barrels of fine Baldwin
apples from q small orchard. In April last
saw them selling in Philadelphia at one dollar
per peck. There is always demand for good
fruit. Downing states that he knew of large
family of children who were raised chiefly on
apple dumplings, and l verify believe that If
there was as much interest manifested in rails
ing good fruit as there is in raising children,
then those that do grow up would have rud-
dier checks, and nurses would have less to say
about essqualing brats." Every farm should
have two or three hundred good fruit trees on
it, and l never have known an instance where
an orchard of well selected fruit, if properly
cared for, did not in the course of ten years
pay the owner over five hundred per cent. in
terest upon the money invested. Get good
trees, good varieties set them out well; work
the ground with hoed crops for the first five or
six years, and you will not fail to have good
fruit. +.
CIearfeld Co., Mny 14th, 1859.