Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-27
farmers Department.
Valuable Information on Fruit
Growing.

0rOWluB.
From the proceedings of the late annual
convention OF the Fruit-Growsrs' Society OF
Eastern Pennsylvania, as we find them repor-
ted in the Gardeners Monthly. we make the
following extracts, which will be found to be
highly instructive. This society, being CON-
posed of many of the most experienced fruit
growers 10 this important halt Of Of our Com.
monwealtb the views expressed by them in
the discussions at that convention are justly
TO consideration.
PRUNING FRUIT TREES.
A. w. Corson cut ont only all the useless
wood for the first season, so as to give shape
TO the tree, but would prune very little
after.
David Miller, Of Chester county, lets all
kinds of fruit trees branch close TO the
ground, appearing like pyramids set on the
surface. They are set closely together, so
that they protect each other from sun and
storms, ard are enriched by their own fallen
leaves. Only cuts cut suckers. His orchards
are ten years planted, and opples produce
about fourteen bushels per tree. BY bis
system, has no fear Of branches breaking by
their own weight, or being blown over by the
wind.
A. w. Harrison, of Philadelphia, would
never prune il he could have the management
OF his tree from infarcy. Would dsbub
such shoots with finger and thumb, as appear
ed where not wanted. Even in the raspberry
be only lie: such suckers grow as he wanted
for fruit next year.
f. II. Cook remarked that systems Of
pruning depended on locality and climate.
With him the Catawba grape always rotted
in proportion to the severity Of the pruning
it received.
w. Saunders, of Germantown, viewed
pruning in any case as negative advantage.
1t was sound theory to remove the bud in-
stead OF the branch. Has made perfect spe.
cimeus Of pears without any use OF the knife.
Whether pruning should be performed iE
summer or winter depended on the object.
If wood is wanted, prune in winter if fruit.
prune in summer. Fruit. buds are formed
in fall,-pinching at that season, and produ-
cling new buds then, we therefore add to the
bearing system Of the tree. The subject was
almost inexhaustible.
MIR. Baldwin, DIR. Esbleman, of Chester
county, and others gave their views, zorro.
borative of what others had narrated. The
last Damed gentleman. in agreeing with MIR.
Corson's plan of only pruning during the
first two or three years Of the plants exis-
teDce, added that he did not close into the
trunk :he first year after transplanting, but
left snag few inches long to bear q few
leaves, which snags were, however, cut away
next season.
CULTIVATION AND DIsEAsEe OF THE APPLE.
David Miller, Of Chester courty, repeated
his experience 10 low trimming. His soil
was limestone. All his kinds did we'll, ex.
cept Newtown Pippin, which bore but shily.
MIR. Harrison, alludlng to the last obserya.
tion, remarked that all the most popular
fruits gave out first. He thought this an
evidence that high and stimulating culture
had much to do with the fact, just as a pet
child takes disease easier than more neglected
ones.
Mr.. Miller referring to the wearing out OF
fruits, stated that in his district a variety of
pear called locally the Arpine, 1--WE nnder-
stood,) thirty years ago used to produce so
aoundantly, that they were sent to Phlladel.
phia by the wagon load. These trees, and
trees grated from them, now bear nothing
bat knotty, scrubby fruit.
Mr.. ueines Of Chester, remarked that soil
exhausted OF the required elements, rendered
the trees constltutionally diseased, and graft.
ing from such trees fixed the habit to o GER
tain degree.
Mr.. Baldwin, referring TO the exhaustive
theory remarked, that in some orchards,
where Newtown Pippins we're diseased, he
had seen Baldwius thrive to perfection.
Mr.. Saunders, referring to the scab on sp-
Piles, spoke of it as a fungus and gave, as
the result OF extensive observation, that
sheltered orchards we're not near as liable to
disease as exposed ones.
DIR. Eshleman remarked that it was only OF
modern orchards that failures we're reported
and Mr.. Saunders replied that agricultural
improvements had influenced the climate,
and with its winds aud the amount of atmos'
pheric moisture bad changed.
Mr. S. Miller, Of Lebanon. had seen the
best crops In exposed localities, and very bad
ones in well protected spots. His remedy
was clean orchards and rich soil.
Mr. kessler never crops his orchard uses
only the harrow TO keep the surface clean.
Has fine crops.
Mr.. Grider knew an orchard that was
never cropped or bad any manure applied.
lie had seen apples 10 that orchard so abun-
dant as to cover the ground under the trees
in the autumn several inches thick Auoth-
er party bought the orchard, plowed it up,
and have had no crop since.
Mr.. Baldwin agreed with Mr.. Saunders.
that the clearing away Of forests had rendered
the climate more chaugeable, which might
e~SSSS' W. "N'o oioSooSS tuoh W. u'S''g'
BEST MODE OF CULTIVATION TO PROMOTE FRUIT
FuLsEss IN TREES.
Mr.. S. Miller would msnure and cultivate
when young, put 10 sod when older, aud keep
circle clear around each tree by scraping.
Mr.. Harrison instanced two old Virgalieu
pear trees in Connecticut, standing on either
side garden fence, one in culture" one in
SOC, - the first now dead and gone,-the last
bearing yet.
MIR. David Miller planted his trees shallow,
in fact. on the surface,-and seeded down
with wheat. He mulchsd the following
season With compost Of stable manure,
sospy water. bog'pen scrapings, coai'ashes,
etc. In two years they had made hhe
growth. 1t was then plowed up and put
down in corn and not cropped, We understood
since. HIS peaches had been great success.
One year 10 trees produced enough fruit, at
seventy five cents per basket, TO realise
S3IJ. His whole system he summed up as
follows: Deep soil ! plant shal How; branch
the trees low, even to the surface of the
ground, and apply a slight top dressing, oi
manure every year.
TRESCBISG, DRAISING AND sUBsoILISG.
| Mr.. Millhauer had seen good results follow
| A.. fntA in al