Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-06-07
fagmets' department.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR FRUIT TREES

amateur cutivators and persons who have
few tress around their dwellings, pay
to their fruit trees, and also their gar
den shrubbery, and then wonder they do
not do better, saying 1.-THE climate is too
hot, too dry, and the strong winds break
them down" Sc. A proper care and
attention is all that is necessary. A lit !
lie attention given to such things in the
right time as preventive Of evil is better
than three times the labor when too late
TO restore them. How much easier and
better it is SO to live as to keep well,
than it is to restore an abused or neglect
cd body from wasting disease. As with
man so with tree or shrub, for man is
but plant. We read of the passing a.
way Of mortality and say, "as the tree
falleth so it lieth;' and so with man as
with tree. But now to our fruit trees.
A fruit tree supposed to be well and prop
erly planted, needs more care (uearly or
quito double) the first year than follow
ing years, especially TO the surface earth
arouud the trees. We notice as we vis
IL the different sections of the State that
there is very great neglect If young
planted trees The earth is left exposed
70 the burning sun, even in our warmest
counties--not the least care; when by
simple process, the whole crown roots
could be protected, and the health Of the
trees preserved by very little labor.
Fruit trees in this country, should al
ways be planted as carly in the autumn
as November. During the rainy season
the surface earth should be covered with
wcll-decomposed manures. Not that
which has been burned up with the sun
and heat for years, but with good man
pres that contain nutrition. The rains
falling on this food of the tree will con-
yey its juices to the roots of the tree in
liquid form, by degrees causing the tree
to make roots and grow vigorously below
the surface, until the genial sun shall
awaken to life the foliage Of the tree by
the ascending sap. When the rains are
over, and the sunny rays fall with pow
er, this manure should be nicely spaded
in over the entire surface-roots as deeply |
Us can &c done without injuriug the roots
Of the tree. A brief time afterwards, ,
before the soil becomes heated by the
cuu luNS, tue sulIdSI sioult w !
covered with such material as is conven-
ient-cean strawy manures, grass. seed
less weeds, tan bark, or the scrapings
Of wood pile. This we call mulching,
though this term would imply moist COW
eriDg. f.s treatment is absolutely nee
sssary il ibis country, until the tree be-
comes vel established, its roots penetra
ting below the immediate and constant
power Of the sun which will often ab:o-
lu.eiy scorel the tender roots by means
of the heated earth. If those who neg
lect their trees wonder that they do not
grow, lie: them remove the earth in some
OF our boz days. and place their hand in
the heated Garth aud try its temperature
then tbly viii no longer wonder that
de'ica-e root makes no progress, or that
the leaves (thc lungs Of the tree) shrivel
mi curl when the roots (blood- vossols)
arr scdcrcAai aud burned. There is a
very g:ea: neglect in this matter all ever
the state Ii is as objectionable as TO
take money and throw it into the river,
Tor 1t Js property lost that might be pro-
dncnTe, It is burying the talent, aud p,
Therefore wrong; the example is bad
Bet 30. attempt to grow the trees,
than 20 Jegin, neglect and lose them.
Ev , man is an exampser; for instance:
let one man in II community Of ten plant
trees. .nrubbcry, vines and flowers, md
81, the'u just and proper care they de- /
scrye N tais country; plant them, nur.
ture 09ru, protect them, and care for
then Just rs these God blessings merit, I
ami ,ory will always fully reward for
become healthy and fruitful, laden with
blossoms and fruit. This is the natural
result, for God has SO ordained it. This
example OF success every neighbor will
initiate, for people like to look as well as
their neighbors. But let neglect and
carelessness rule this same exampler,
and his example is again followed. And
however wrong that cxample may be,
should any one reprove them for neglect-
ing their trees aud garden-spots, they
answer: 81 look as well as my neigh
bors " Every man is responsible in
degree tor the appearances Of his neigh
borhood, in all that relates to beautiful
homes; aud that responsibility is increas-
ed just in relation to his condition,
wealth and family. A man with n fam
lily c.u rarely ever DO excused for not
making home comfortable, agreeable,
prosperous, beautiful, aud happy As a
man, a responsible man, he is bound by
ell the laws of his being to do 20, for it
is written: "Ho who shall not provide
for his own household is worse than an
inGdel." Aud one of the most impor-
taut of these duties is to prepare food
and nourishment for the body, so that 1t
may become beautiful temple for the
soul to dwell in; and beautiful garden
with rich fruits and fragrant flowers, aud
other needed luxuries for the table, will
do more to promote health, happiness.
and independence, than almost anything
else; and to secure lu.cous fruits care
must be paid to the tree, for the "tree
is known by its fruit" When we pass
garden or orchard We judge man by
what we see around his home. "By
their fruit we known them"
To conclude. we urge that even now,
dur'og this d'y and burning season, the
green weeds that are now drawing the
nourshaent from the soil should be gath
ero3 and laid around the trees. These
gengrato moisture and greatly benefit the
trees by Keeping them cool A more
than louble good is thus accomplished:
the weeds are destroyed, the goodness of
the odrtb retained, aud the tree protect
ed aul benefited. When We look upon
the many small orchards now suffering,
and the many small pretty gardens now
neglected for the want of onlya little fore