Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-28
CULTIvATING ORCHARDS

The editor of the Gardeners Month
" insists that it is better for orchards
10 grow up 10 grass than to be kept in
a state Of cultivation, and doubtful
exception is made only in favor Of the
dwarf pear, and of "weak and stunted
trees" IN some instances. Our own
experience, as our readers are well
aware, has led us to different conclu-
sion, at least so far as the eastern and
middle States of the United are con-
cerned. There may be localities in the
rich warm vest where more moderate
growth may be advantageous. and this
exception holds more particularly in re-
lstion TO the Standard pear.
Many viii sgree with rs in saying
that yousg or newly set out orchards
win be grestiy injured or nearly de-
siroyed by Slowing grass to grow
among the trees. This is specially the
case with the peach tree. Every per-
son Of observatios may have seen hun
dreds Of dead trees, which have been
lost solely by being set in meadows
II would be wiser TO plant corn in q
meadow, without blowing or cultiva'
ton, for the total loss which would re-
suit would be only loss Of peck oi
seed per acre, instead Of hundred
young nursery trees. We could 60 on
and enumerate pages Of instances where
young trees have perished by hundreds
from want of culture, and also where
whole orchards have sprung up with q
good healthy vigor, with scarcely a
missing one, when subject to decent
cultivation. Peach and apple trees, sci
in grass or sowed grain, if they live
will grow about two or three inches
yesrly; if cultivated. they will grow
about two feet. At the former rate oI
growth, ten years or more would be re-
quired for them to attain the size and
value they would acquire in two ol
three, under good culture. We have
never known a single instance, where
an intelligent cultivator has tried botf
modes side by side, without adopting
the opinion here expressed.
Yet, if there are localities at Ger
mantown or elsewhere, where the sol
is so fertile that young or old tree'
standing in grass, will make shoots an
nually two feet or more in length, cul
tivation would obviously be unnecessa
ry. We have not met with such soil
except at the west; and rarely there.
The difference between a cultivated
and grass surface is perhaps less OBJ
vious with a full grown apple orchard
than with most other trees. II treated
as the Gardeners Monthly recommend
in the same article, namely, with an
nual top-dressings Of manure, the!
would fare better than nine-tenths o
the orchards throughout the country
The editor Of that journal, however
says "he cannot remember an instance
where fruit trees in a well kept ant
Iculiiyated garden, remained perfect.
heai;hy for q long period, or ever pro
duced but moderate crop Of FRUIT
His experience has certainly not beel
foriunzte; for many instances might b
cited 10 the contrary. The most pro
lductive azd healthy old apple tree
] which We knor, are those which stan
IN old. fertile, constantly cultivate
gardens. One of these trees has born
forty bushels as q single crop; an
nc1s Of them had the stunted, moss
, appearance nor the dead shoots an
branches. observed in some neighboi
ing orchards in grass. There is, how
ever, some ground for the obseryatio
occasionally made, that neglected tree
are hardier-the fact is, none but tn
very hardest individuals can endur
) such treatment; all the rest Of weake
endurance have long since persisted
and these only remain.