M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-02-16
AarltNltnral.
Dwarf Pear Trees.

hllNA X ~ fNNNNS - 49,
try, is Of various kinds; in. fact, in
many cases neglect is coincident with
every act of the planter. Trees are
purchased, very generally, without the
least preparation having been previ-
ously made for their reception-even
the site they are to occupy has never
been considered, consequently, they
are llan.ed where it is most cOnve-
uient for the time, which, frequently,
is quite nnadapted to the purpose.
A suitable soil having been selected
for the orchard-and experience has
proved that good limestone or wheat
soil is the most preferable, although
the dwarf pear tree will adapt itself to
wide range--the next consideration,
and of the first Importance, is the
drainage. How many who read these
lines, have planted orchards, can say
they have not neglected them in this
particular How few orchards there
are that would not be improved by
thorough Grainagel 1t must be insist,
ed upon, and talked about, and line
must be written upon line, and pre-.
cept upon precept, until it shall be
thoroughly comprehended and settled,
as an elementary principle, that good
drainage, in nearly all soils and for
all crops, and especially for orchards,
is a condition essential to economical
production.
Deep blowing, for orchards, is sell
dom attended to; and the trees are
compelled to obtain their sustenance
from few inches OF earth, at the sur
face, which, from a previous exhaus-
ting process of tillage, is unable to
yield any but minimum amour! OF
plant food, while few inches below
lies full store, locked up in the hard
earth.
The want of proper pruning Of trees,
at the time Of planting and afterwards,
is one OF the most common abuses.
The removal of trees, causes neces.
sarily, to a greater or less extent, the
injury and loss of part of the roots
which, with the check by moving, rem
ders necessary the reduction OF the
branches 80 as to diminish the leaf
surface, and. consequently the evapo.
ration-which, un til the roots have
regained their balance with the top,
the tree is unable to bear.
Neglect OF annually pruning dwarf
pear trees, causes them to make long,
weak and disproportionate branches;
and-cciHteeBa in this state, while quite
young, they produce a heavy crop OF
fruit, altogether too much for their age
resulting in o permanent injury to
the trees.
Grass and grain crops are often
grown in orchards until the trees are
starved to death. This is indeed one
of the most common, as it is one of
the most pernicious, of errors, and is
to be met with in almost every neigh
borhood. Not only are old orchards
seeded down, but tiis IS often the next
step after planting; and not unfre-
quently, even, the trees are planted in
meadows, without any care being ta-
ken for them.
Various other forms of neglect
which young Ices receive might be
mentioned-~such as improper plant
ing, want Of manuring, inattention to
insects, and many others, which it 10
not necessary to specify.
The best treatment for neglected
or chard Of dwarf pear trees, must de-
pend somewhat On the circumstances
Of the particular case. If the trees
are much stunted, distorted or diseas-
ed, it would undoubtedly be the wise
course to dig them up at once, and
commit them to the brush-heap.
Should the orchard, however; have
been neglected but short time, and
the trees appear to be compare.
lively healthy. look first to the drain.
age; if this is wanting Or is Insult
cient, set to work until every inch of
the soil is efectually drained-rot
with open bitches, to carry off surface
water merely, but with good, substan-
tial stone, or what is better, tie
drains, from three to four feet deep
Then put in the plows one after the
other, two or three. or by going two
or three times in each turrow, with a
strong team, and break up the soil at
least eighteen inches deep; you need
not be afraid of plowing at least with
in a few feet Of the trees, for dwarf
pear trees, in the condition we are as.
suming, will not have extended their
roots far. How close, however, the
plow may come, is to be determined
by observation: the digging fork will
do what is left by the plow. These
operations Icing completed, let good
coat of well-rotted stable manure be
spread upon the surface and lightly
plowed in.
The pruning-kniie is next called in
to requisition; but it is impossible to
give any out the most general direc-
fiona for ita nse in this casa. the ex