Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-05-24
A GRICUL L T U R A L.


them down,to make room,,fo for young trees.
This is poor policy to say the least. Old
trees, by the exercise of little care and
skill in managing them, may be made
almost as productive as young ones, and
in much shorter time. All that.is es-
sentially requisite to .ensure, lthisS result
is to trim them, carefully cutting away
all the diseased and broken limbs, and to
free The trunks and larger limbs of the
"scurf" and moss, and aiterwardsstosin-
sert grafts--care at the same time being
taken to Tighten the soil,i and make it
rich, especially in the vicinity of the
roots. In renewing an old orchard
something like the following course may
be advantageously pursued-the propri-
etor having first examined the trees, and
decided whether they have sufficient Vi
taIity to renew their fcrmer energy un-
der proper treatment.
In April or May we should remove
the rough bark from the body and large
limbs of trees with a scraper, an imple-
ment like those used by boat builders in
removing the rosin from the seams of
boats and vessels, and afterwards scour
the entire surface with mixture of sharp
sand and ashes, mixed with soap and wat
er. Every limb should be treated in the
same way, whether large or small, that
can be come at conveniently, and care
taken that ali the moss and rough. bark
are removed.
The trimming should not be undertak-
en- until about the middle of June, when
all crooked and diseased wood should be
removed with the sharpest tools, reserv-
ing only such shoots and small limbs as
are suitable size to graft. If the trees
are old and very much decayed, the num-
Der retained for this purpose should be
small, as there may possibly not be
enough energy or vital power in the sys-
TEN to sustain large number, and as too
dense a top viii necessarily tend to
abrIdge the recuperauve actlon by pro-
ducng too much shade,
The soil should also be thoroughly
loosened around the roots, and filed with
strong and invigorating manure, and
kept entirely free from grass and weeds.
The best stimulus, probably that can be
applied, is compost made of forest
leaves, well decomposed, house ashes,
lime, gypsum and common stable ma
nure. From fifteen to twenty bushels
Of this should be allowed 10 every tree,
and so worked into and Incorporated with
the soil as to ensure its coming in close
contact with the roots. If the soil be of
a light arenaceous or sandy texture,
load of fine clay should be spread over
the surface, above the manure.
In removing the limbs, all the stumps
should be coated with wax OF tar softened
with tallow, or what is equally cheap
aud more easily applied, gum sheac dis
solved in alcohol. The reason why so
many old trees parish after the abcission
of the larger limbs, is, that no care is
taken to insure the healing Of the wounds
which lets out the lile-blood and energy
OF the system during the ascent of the
sap, leaving long black lines of decaying
bark as a perpetual reproach to the un-
skilllul or peryerse manager.
The second year the trees may be
grated, and if the tops promise not to be
thcR enough, new branches may be per-
mited to start, to be engrafted subse-
quently and in such places as will ensure
a symmetrical and desirable form to
the tops, The most eligible shape for
an apple tree IS that of an umbrella re-
versed; but this must be a matter OF
taste to most persons.
So far as working the soil and manur-
ing is concerned, our method refers to
rees standing by themselves; where
hey are regularly set in orchard form,
he best way would be TO plough the
whole surface carefully and manure broad
,ast.
This coarse may seem too precise and
expensive to some persons-but if so, let
hem try the cleansing, pruning and ma
luring process on single declining tree
hat they have long valued, and see what
wonderful restoration viii be affected.
VALUE or RooTs FOR FEEDING
Inc thing is pretty ceriain-cattle are
xceedingly fond of roots Of all kinds
hey are great promoters of health, and,
S we treat ourselves to various kinds OF
elicaces, see no reason why their pail
tes should not be gratiied. | estimate
cots for feeding, something like this