Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-02-23
formers Aisyattmsnt.
Care ofOld Apple Trees,

tdtS VhVtu hppiC AASCS
Many farmers who have old apple or
ehard are neglecting them, and in many
cases cutting them down, to make room
for Young trees. This is poor policy to
say the least. Ola trees. ty the exercise
of little care and skill in managing
them. may be made almost as productive
rs young ones, and in q much shorter
time. All that is essentially requisite
TO ensure this result. Is to trim, careful
ly cutting away all the diseased and bro
ken limbs, and to free the trunks and
larger limbs of the "scurf'' and moss
and afterwards to insert grafts-care at
at the same time being taken to tighten
the soil, and make it rich, especially in
the vicinity of the roots In renewing
an old orchard something like the follow
ing course may be advantasoous'y pir-
sued-thc proprietor having first exam
ined the tress, and decided whether they
have sufficient vitality to renew their
former energy under proper treatment.
In April or May, we should remove
the rough bark from the body and large
limbs of the trees with scrap"r, all i'm
plement like those used by bo4t-builders
in removing the rosin from the seams of
boats and vessels. aud afterwards scour
the entir surface with mixture OF sharp
sand and ashes, mixed with soap and wa
ter. Every limb should be treated in the
same way, whether large or small. that
can be come at conveniently, and care
taken that all the moss and rough bark
is removed.
The trimming shoaH no be HadSrtt-
ken until aJom the middle ofJane. when
all crooked and diseased wood should be
removed with the sharpest tools, resev-
ing only such shoots and small limbs as
are of suitable size to graf, If the tees
are old and very much decayed, the NUM-
Der retained for this purpose should be
small, as there may possibly not be e.
nough energy or vital power in the sys-
ten to sustain u large number, ani rs
foo dense top will necessarily tend to
abridge the recuperatlve action by pro-
dueing too much shade,
The soil should also b. thoroughly
lnosened around the roots, and filed with
strong and operating manure, and kept
entirely free from weeds and grass. The
best stimulus, probably, that can be 2p-
piled, is compost made Of forest leaves
well decomposed, house ashes lime, cYp-
sum and common stab, manurt. From
fifteen to twenty bushel Of this should be
allowed to every large tree, and 50 work.
cd into and incorporated with the sill
m to ensure lis coming in close contact
with the roots. IF the soil be Z light
arenaceous, or sandy texture, load OF
fine clay should be spread over the sur
face, above the manure.
In removing the limbs, ali the stumps
should be coated with wax or tar soften
cd with tallow. or what is equally cheap
and more easily applied, gum shellac
dissolved in alcohol. The reason why
so many old trees perish after the abs,is
sion of the larger limb, is, that no care
is taken to ensure the healing of the
wounds, which let out the lifo-blood and
energy of the system during the ascen.
of the sap, leaving long black lines of
decaying bark as perpetual reproach
to the unskillful or perverse manager.
The second year the tree may be graf
ted, and if the tops promise not to be
thick enough, new branches may be per-
mittcd to start, to be engrasted subse-
quently, and in such places as will en-
sure symmetrical and desirable form
to the tops. The most eligible shape
for an apple tree is that of an umbrella
reversed; but this must be matter of
taste with most persons.
So far as working the soil and manu-
ring is concerned our method refers to
trees standing b. themselves; where they
are regularly set in orchard form, the
best way would be to plow the whole sur
face carefully and manure broadcast.
This course may seen ;oo precise and
expensive to some persons, but If so,
let them try the cleansing, pruning and
lDanuring process on n single declining
tree that they have loug valued, and see
what wonderful restoration will be eff
fected. ~ England Farmer.