The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-03-29
For the Palladium
Removal ting Old OrchaT DIS.

One who travels over this region of coun
try can but observe the great number of old
orchards which are fast going to decay
Some of the trees are entirely dead, others
dying, and all showing unmistakable signs
Of soon being beyond the reach of reinvigo-
ration.
Particularly is this true of pear orchards.
If we examine into the cause Of all this. we
will find that prominently among the inf1uen-
ces which brought about this state of things
stands the fact that the trees, whether they be
apple or pear. have exhausted the supply Of
nourishment that nature had stored up for
them in the soil on which they grow. In these
old orchards, the limbs of the trees interlap
from one side of the orchard to the other
Of course the roots do the same, and have
done so for years past, insomuch that the once
rich soil has been robbed of all the peculiar
elements of nourishment that support apple
and pear trees.
1t must be borne in mind by the Horticul-
turist. that gear after year large crops Of
fruit have been taken from his orchard; limbs
have been pruned and taken outside of the
orchard, and no adequate return has been
made in any shape.
There are many orchards in the Western
ing process for from forty to sixty years.
hence 10 great marvel that their energies
should begin 10 wane.
Who would think of cultivatiDg corn or
wheat for even twenty successive years on the
same ground? Yet most men who own an or.
chsrd, seem 10 think that fruit trees ought to
flourish and be productive through an indef-
mite succession of years. Their actions in
dictate this conclusion. at least. Many men
are concluding that fruit cannot be success
fully cultivated any longerin this region, be-
cause the trees which their grand fathers
planted are going to decay.
But what NUT be done for these old or
ehards! This question recently pro-
pounded to me by friend who had compile
ted one of the best barns in the county
Said barn is built in the side of a fine gravel
ly bank, walled up the back side with
stone. The building is capacious. having all
the possible conveniences, both for storing
grain and for housing stock in winter. The
frame work is done in the most substantial
manner: the weather boarding is we'll planed
and painted white with green windows; two
lightning rods adorn each end of the barn,
and in short everything appears admirably
combined for comfort and convenience.
The most noticeable essential of the whole
establishment remains yet to be told, and
that is that the barn is so situated as TO COM
pletelv drain all the manure into creek that
runs close by. and thus save all the trouble
by which modern farmers are annoyed in re-
moving manure TO their fields. But this is
escaping the question. What did I tell
George to do to renovate his old pear or
chard?
told him to cut down all the trees which
were nearly or quite dead; then prane out
all dead or 6ecayed limbs Of the standing
trees. Then if he rad 10 stable manure of
his own, to buy some of lis neighbors, spread
this copiousiy ever the ground. say enough
to cover the whole surface two inches deep,
add as much chip manure, or rotten wood,
from The woods, and at least one wagon load
Of unleachsd ashes. After this is done, spade
the whole under as deeply as can be done
without injury to the roots OF the trees. and,
my word for it, there will be such improve
ment in the appearance of the trees in two
years. as to astonish their owner.
This will apply equally well to apple trees
as 70 pears.
II any one ever saw very old apple or
pear tree that was thrifty productive. he
saw it standing at goodly distance from
other trees of the same species, or else it was
sustained by some accidental drain from a
manure pile, or by manure being applied d.
recily by one who understood that trees can
no more live and prosper indefinitely from a
given amount of nourishment, than that a
horse can keep in working order eternally on
a single ton Of day. Ssh