The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-04-10
RENOVATION OF OLD ORCHARDS.

Der every land"
RENOVATION OF OLD ORCHARDS.
There are many old and neglected or
chards about the cauntry, which by proper
pruning and cultivation might be made pro-
ductiye and profitable. Although there has
been considerable progress made in this
branch OF rural improvement, yet much re-
mains to be done. There are too many
plantations Of apple trees, growing in old
meadows, seldom or never manured and, if
ever grated, either to Indifferent varieties,
or left without pruning and care until their
tops are masses Of stunted and messy branch
es so crowded as to render the production
Of good fruit impossible. The trees them
selves may not be particularly unhealthy or
decayed-they only show slow growth and
unfruitfulness from neglect and inattention
TO all right management. In the many
changes always going on in the ownership
Of farms. such orchards frequently come
into new hands, or the long time proprietors
wake up to a sense of their forlorn condition,
and ask "what course of treatment will best
reyonate and renew my orchardf"
In answer TO this question, we reply,
pruning, manuring and cultivation" Ii
the fruit is Of worthless variety, grating
will also be necessary. In pruning, do not,
as we have seen men do, 20 into the orchard
with an axe and hand-saw and cut Of all the
lower limbs, careless Of all large wounds or
the symmetry Of the top, but either use
your own common sense united with some
knowledge of the habits and uses Of the diff
ferent parts Of a tree, or employ some one
who can make the most Of what is Of prom
ise and value in the orchard. II is general
" best TO thin out the thick, broken, and
deeaying branches, leaving the best placed
and most vigorous, and to cut away as few
very large limbs as need be. The outside
should be opened, so as to let in the sun and
air--we have seen trees so thickly branChed
on the outside that most OF the small inner
branches we're killed by the shading and
crowding. The best time for trimming is
undoubtedly in the early part Of Summer !;
small branches, however, may be cut OF at
any time in the year, and all out-of.place
sprouts should receive prompt attention. A
single years neglect will deprive US Of a
years growth Of the tree-perhaps more
never less.
II the trees are 70 be grated. keep shape
illness in view, as well as the growth Of the
future tree, and its necessary cutting and
trimming. Some recommend grating but
one.third Of the tree, beginning at the top
each year, and where they are very large,
this would be the best course.
Poor, exhausted soils will not produce
good apples, however fine the trees NAV have
been originally. Most orchards need FIRE.
quent applications of manure to induce
growth and fruiiInlness, and the running
out" Of some Of the best old varieties is, nc
doubt, partly due TO the exhaustion Of the
soil. Barn-yard manure, with occasional
applications uf lime and ashes, or muck
compost il which these have q part, are in.
dispensably necessary. Give the whole sur.
face good dressing; aud mulch Of straw
muck, or chips, beneath the branches o
zach tree, will assist in Keeping down weed,
and keep the ground moist-drouth Otter
proving injurious to the value Of our or.
/ chard crops.
I All young rapidly growing orchards ar.
not only manured, but cultivated. Our hes
fruit growers have found il 20 their ad,antag,
to pillow their orchards every ycar--takin:
care not 10 iniurc the roots or trunks Of III,
trees, and either TO cultivate in beans or pn
taioes. or 10 keep the ground bare fallo.
|, A corn Or sowcd grain crop, or meadow, cx.
hausts the soil and lessons the growth q
fruit and trees. When the trees are YER,
large, frequent topdressings and pasturine
down with sheep, have kept up the thrill
and producti,cness Of The orchard. Las
season, many manured but uncultyatcd or.
chatds. came pretty thickly into white clio
yer. ia Western New York.
The renovation of old orchards will be as
sisted by scrubbing and scraping the trunk
and larger limbs after a soaking rain, an,
washing them with weak I've or strong soaI
suds. This removes the moss. dislodges an,
!, destroys Insects. and promotes the health .
the bark generally.
. Trees necessarily planted in meadows o.
lawns should BE- manuted and muChcd q
far a. the roots extend. This will aid thei
gruwth--and indeed. fne fruit has beet
produced on deep soils when the trees wer'
we'll cared for. though surrounded By hcas!
4 turi. The apple Is hard, tree, patient .
, IN treatment and ncglcCt--but u u also
2 grateful one, returning largely for ever, at
J tentiun. There - no need Of 80 mans ms
crable orchards dishguring the face Of th
}. country. when the best ones are 50 easily sc
J. cured and return 80 large profit.
! County Gentleman
-rsee..yvs.ssysss4
/