The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-24
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Apple Calsure.

dPpieS IL hPPdISut. nc TeputAtiou VI ouI
State demands il, and the race of young
Minnesotians expect it of US.
Unthinking people have been heard to
say Minnesota could not produce apples,
being so TAR north. The mldness of our
climate sufficiently answers that but it may
be we'll to remind such persons Of the splendid
orchards and finely matured fruit Of Canada,
Of New York and northern New England,
and of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
There are several varieties of wild crab
apple belonging TO America; the wax
like and sweet smelling, but astrngent
variety growing through most of the
Northern and Western States and Canada,
and used by the ladies for preserving q
smaller variety found in the Southern States,
and red variety in Oregon, which has long
been used by the Indians as an article OF
food but from some Of these have our cul-
tivated apples been raised. They have
sprung from seeds Of the species brought
from Europe by the early colonists. The
numerous varieties of table and cider apples
known in Europe, have been introduced
from Asia, where apples have been used as
food since Eve plucked the apple in the gar
den OF Eden, and have been cultivated from
the wild crab apple which grows spon.
taneously throughout Western Asia, China,
Japan and the north Of Europe, as far ~
Finland in latitude 62 deg. as Sweden in
latitude SO deg, and Central Russia to lati-
tude IS deg. or 60 deg.
Some OF the first varieties in England
have been raised from the Siberian Crab.
The trees are found to be more hardy, and
to produce earlier and more highly favored
fruit.
The soil and climate Of Minnesota are
Just that best adapted to the growth of sp.
pies. Limestone soil is known to produce
everywhere, the best bearing apple trees
while our winters are sufficiently shady TO
keep back the young buds until the season
is far enough advanced for them TO shoot
with safety. Nor will the growing season
prove too short. August, September, and
October are the proper ripening months (;
and long before the close OF navigation we
may hear Of nicely matured apples.
Hats full caps full!
Bushels and sackstul!"
II is earnestly requested that every farmer,
and every person owning few acres Of land,
will commence at once the culture Of this
most wholesome and agreeable fruit. A
I,r Iapota I m aanh xvank Inp
ing the summer season, will soon supply
every rustic family with a thrifty young
orchard, and our State with another source
OF wealth.
Let each one procure few bushels, or
even few pccks Of the best apples-no
matter If they are specked or rotton, the
fruit dealer will sell the cheaper or be glad
to give them to you.
When preparing your garden this spring
in a rich and wel.broken part Of it, make
some shallow trenches about two feet apart.
Wash your apples, cover slightly with
earth. During the summer keep the young
plants well hoed and weedcd by hand.
When autumn comes, and immediately
after the fall Of the leaf in another part Of
your garden. that has been well MANFRED
and cultivated, make bed, and transplant
to it, the strongest and most vigorous
plants setting them in rows eighteen inches
apart and about the same distance from
each other. The remaining plants may be
similarly managed the following year. Dur,
ing their second and third years growth
keep the soil about them loose, and tree from
winds. No knife Eust touch them 10 this
stage; every twig and every leaf contribute
to the growth of the root and stem.
When the stem has become half an inch in
diameter, at loot from the ground, they
should be grated.
now the nucleus Of an orchard. by fear Of
this simple operaton-an operation easily
learned and readily performed. The writer
of this article learned it in few moments,
when boy, and per ormed il many times
with pleasure TO himself and benefit TO bs
fathers orchard. Nor is the difficulty Of
procuring proper gratis, IN this new coun.
try, serious one The shoots for apples
should always De cut a month or ak weeks
before the time for using them so that they
may be behind the plant in point Of for
wardneSs. Ia tina; time they may bs brought
with safety, # properly packed, from any Of
the Eastern Statec. After grating, tend
the plants as before, and prune only bslotr
the graft.
II il better when the gratis have grown
about two ieet 10 heigh, to remove the
plants 10 some rich. mellow land aud vet
them out IN rows four feet apart, ~ they
NAV be tended ike corn. In doing this,
take care to plant them in the ssr'e position
xi'h reference 10 the sun-the north and
south sides presenting, as before removal.
At this time. Gu, Of! fes OF the lowest
branches clo-e 10 the stem and during the
two or three years succeeding shorten mod
era,ely the stronger SIDE shoots, 20 as to en-.
courage the upward growth, until good
head i iouod SIX or seven ieet above the
ground. Renembsr that eve-y iea' }. a
feeder TO the plant. as vel "a every ro0'le'r
aud do not cit away all tbe side shoots ear
". a. 1t q the common Pract!cf taViug two
OF thr. tvis. at the top, aud Ite s''m to