Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-15
00orttstrr Dailp gpp.
AN EXTENSIVE PEAR ORCHARD.

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AN EXTENSIVE PEAR ORCHARD.
The past week we visited a very extensive
pear orchard in this country, perhaps the
largest in Western New York, planted by
Messrs Starks and Madison, embracing forty-
five acres, on which are growing over 1900
young standard pear trees, all healthy, and
making good growth and many of them
bearing good fruit. So well pleased were we
with the appearance of this orchard, that we
made a rather careful examination and gained
some facts which may be of interest and prof
it to our readers. These trees were from
three to five years old when planted. which
was done during the winter of 1878. The
winter being unusually mild, planting, which
commenced in December, was continued
through January, February, March, and April.
Occasionally, freezing weather would put a
stop to the work for few days. No differ
ence is apparent in the growth of the trees be-
tween those which were planted in the fall,
spring, or winter, and not a dozen out of the
number died. The varieties are as follows =
Flemish Beauty. 224 Dearborn's Seeding 58
Rostiezer III Gansel's Bergamot, so
Lose Bonnie d'Jersey 23l Columbia, SIS
bartlett, 1000 Bqerre Diel, 264
P seGte Girls s75 E Minter Ne' 81
Virgalieu, 1,346 6lout Morceau, l16
onondaga, IS Vicar of WINFIELD, 373
The soil is a clay loan, or as the proprietor
expressed it. a rhinestone loan" for eight to
ten inches or more, subsoil clay, though not
very stiff, having an admiXture of loan, with
little sand, the whole resting upon fossil lime
rock. The ground was prepared by subsoi-
ing, about eighteen inches Deep and the trees
planted twenty feet apart each way. In set
ting them out the roots were covered with
earth to the depth OF about one inch, over
which was spread something like two inches
of stable manure. The remaining portion of
the opening was then filled with earth to grade
The planting being completed, the upper por-
ton OF the roots were about one inch below
the average grade of the soil. About one
half bushel of earth was placed at the foot
OF each tree in a conical FORM Immediately
after planting, which was allowed to remain
until the middle of May, and was then leveied
and the earth spaded as deep practicable
without interrupting the roots, for a space of
six feet in diameter. In the all OF 1858 a
mulching Of about two bushels of manure was
given to each tree, over which was placed
earth in pyramidal form to the depth of one
foot, to protect from mice and severity of
winter This was allowed to remain until the
first OF May last when all was made level, and
spaded as before, over an area seven feet in
diameter.
The trunk of every tree, from the ground to
the branches, is covered with bag made of
cotton cloth, sufficiently large to admit of
three or four years growth the cloth being
fastened to the lower branches and hanging
to the ground. This, the proprietors believe,
protects the trunks from the sun, and from
sudden changes Of temperature, and in great
measure prevents blight and other evils, such
as the hardening Of the bark, the contraction
of the pores, thus preventing the free flow of
sap, necessary eXhaaton, &c. Two cedar
stakes are driven by each tree, to which it is
fastened, preventing swaying by the wind, in
any direction.
The rows run east and west for about three
fourths of mile, and are as true as it is pos
sible to plant trees. At the western extremity
is planted belt of Norway spruce, across the
entire orchard, consisting of two rows ten feet
apart, and the trees in the rows twenty feet
apart, those in one row being opposite the open
space in the other, leaving the trees ten feet
apart. Two similar belts are planted through
the orchard, at about equal distances, though
the highest points of land are selected for the
purpose, and these it is thought will afford all
necessary means for protection from the wind,
as the trees are made to head low.
Now, for the result thus far. The trees are
healthy and are vigorous, and making fine
growth, many having already made shoots
from three to four feet in length. Although
having had but one seasons growth since
planting previous to tine present. many of the
trees are bearing fruit. On one Seckel we
counted 131 specimens, and on the Bartlett,
Flemish Beauty, &C., fully as many as the
trees should be allowed to bear. On removing
the cloth from the trees we found the bark
glossy, smooth, and soft to the touch, yielding
under the pressure of the fnger.-No blight
has ever been seen in the orchard and this ex-
empdon the proprietors think is mainly attri-
butabe to the protection afforded the trunks
by the cloth.
The proprietOrs are entitled to great credit
for their enterprise, and we hope to see them
amply remunerated, as we have no doubt they
will before many years. Mr. Mattison is an
experienced nurseryman, who knows how
trees should be grown and cultivated, and
practices himself the thorough course that he
recommends to others, of which this orchard
gives abundant proof. Nearly every tree he
has grown from the seed and here we may
say that Mr. M. claims an improved method
of cultivating pear seedlings, by root-pruning
during growth, thereby securing larger rum-
Der OF fbrous roots, which to some extent
prevents leaf blight and ensures greater safe
ty in the removal of trees, even when large.
This orchard, if well cared for, for a few
years longer, must yield princely revenue
We hope these gentlemen will have many imi
tators in New York and, indeed, in all parts
of the country where fruit can be grown with
proft.-Moore's Rural Neu- Yorker.