Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1860-03-01
Miscellaneous.
Planting and CuItlVatlng Fruit
Trees,

Planting and CuItiVatlng Fruit
Trees.
The spirit of Horticulture seems to be
every day increasing in the minds of our
people. prompted, as il were by the re-
quiremen;s of our nature. The dispo-
si;ion to persevere 10 improving, beauti-
flying and planting fruit trees, and to pro-
mote fruit culture, Is everywhere appar-
ent. Every successive planting season
is often followed by disappointment, until
the farmer is almost ready TO give up in
despair, and say that it is all vanity. And
why is this DISAPPOINTMENT; why do not
our trees grow. thrive, and bear fruit,
when our climate and the soil of the coun-
try affords unequalled facilities for the
cultivation of fruit, (Which is the most
natural, heallhful, dainliest and cheapes.
element of human foOd!) And no one
accustomed to live where it is plentiful,
is willing TO be without this luxury. Be.
cause good orchard improves our home
sieads, and ITS immediate surroundings
create love of home, from which we
could not part without the greatest reluc-
tance. The reason we are without these
luxuries may be summed up simply thus /:
In the first place; the trees most gener-
ally planted, are bought from unreliable
sources-that is from tree pedlres who
traverse the country from place to place,
protesting to be agents of some reliable
establishment with no authority Cor the
same, and with the help of their, gener-
ally, very fluent language, palm on the
unsuspecting farmer the refuse trees of
some Eastern nursery, which they buy at
a nominal price, ship them to the west
ern country. regardless of the varieties
that are suited to our climate. This is a
matter of the greatest importance, in
fact, it should be the first object that
should be considered when making sa-
lection of the varieties of fruit trees for
an orchard.
Secondly, when the trees are deliver
ed into the possession of the farmers they
are generally shrivelled up and not in
proper order to plant. l have seen trees
delivered in this neighborhOod, the past
season. that would require more skill than
the celebrated Downing was possessed Of
to get them into healthy condition.
Thirdly, when, by chance, they are de-
livered in tolerable condition, they are
moi properly planted and cultivated. How
often do we see young trees entirely
choaked with turf, grass, sod and weeds
of every size and description. The trees
in a sickly state dwindle away and die for
The want of nourishment, and properly
cultivated soil for the roots to extend
tkeir fine spongy fbres. The question
now arises, how are these evils to be
remedied? First, make your purchases
of trees from reliable nurseries, from
good, honest nurserymen. And if you
are not acquainted with the varieties
yourself, you may rely on his selection.
He will not send out inferior trees, or
trees that are not the varieties that he
represents them to be, when his reputa-
lion is at stake; but will forward them
true to name, and in good condition. He
will send the varieties best adapted to
the climate. aa
There is another drawback in the cul-
tivauon of fruit,--a mistaken notion of
the time required for young trees to corn
mence bearing. But this error is fast
disappearing before good cultivation. It
is we'll known fact that bad treatment
will long relard the growth and conse-
quently the bearing of fruit trees. But
give them, for a few years, mellow,
clean and fertile soil, and you will soon
see vigorous shoots, and expanding bran
ches, bending to the ground under their
copious loads of fruit. Give your young
trees the care you bestow on your ordi-
nary farm crops, and you cannot fail to
succeed. When we are about planting
an orchard, the location is the first in i'm
portance. Select dry land, free from
springs and stagnant water. The soil
should be mellow. firm and deep, and of
good quality. Wet, sterile soil is exceed
ingly unfavorable. 1t not only lessons the
quantity, but considerably Injuries the
quality. In order to get the land in
proper condition for planting, it should
be dressed with well decomposed ma
nure, and loosened from Is to 20 inches
deep, with a subsoil plOw. The mannr-
ing being done previous TO the subsoiling.
ia order TO obtain a thorough admixture
of the soil and manure. 1t is preferable
to have this done in the Fall, where plan
ting is intended to be done in the Spring.