, 1862-07-12

A correspondent of the Nevada Transcript
writing from Grass Valley upon this subject says
An excess of water was the cause of apple trees
dying this season. Even here in the foothills,
where ample drainage might supposed natur-
ally to exist, still sufficient care is not taken in
selecting orchard grounds with a view to this es-
sental condition, and trees are planted on shall
low, spongy soils, with view more to guard
against the summers drouth than to protect from
an excess of moisture in summer or winter. A
deep soil and dry or well drained subsoi are
deemed essential to almost every variety of fruit
trees; and though the young y start Wig
orously in wet ground, it is IA @ affected in
juriously by such copdidoa advances in
grS7s:h apa-sa-ss s- --sss,sS4 - 10. ,galc
may be taken to protect from excessive winter
and late spring rain, by open drains to carry off
the surface water and avoid the slow process of
percolating through more or less retentive soil.
Perhaps there may be a deficiency in some need
ed element in the soil, as lime or potash for a
healthy growth of the tree. 1t is said that the
bark of the apple tree contains more than fifty
per cent of lime. In soils where that mineral is
deficient healthy state of the tree can hardly be
expected, and the defect will need be remedied
by artificial means; top dressing of lime, or
wood ashes containing considerable proportion
of lime, would be beneficial in districts where the
lime rock is not present.
Under the heading of Trees Dying, may be
classed those arising from bad planting. Mr..
Smith of Sacramento, adds to his catalogue of
trees the caution against too deep planting-as-
serting that more trees die annually from this |
cause than from all other causes combined. l |
think Smith is correct in his statement The sug-
gestion may come too late for those who have
planted their orchards, but it will account for
some of the cases of fatality among fruit trees.
and serve as a caution against future operations
of the kind
Still another source of loss and disappointment
goes under the cognomen Of the borer-an error
and misnomer, and deriving its appellation from
misapprehension Of cause and consequence
The disease affecting fruit trees, known as the
oorer is, l apprehend, sun blight, caused by the
too powerful rays of the sun on newly planted and
feeble trees, whose vital action is not sufficiently
established and active to resist the high summer
heat at midday. The grub that afterward makes
its appearance under the bark, has but little more
to do with the disorder than has the same insect
with the tree that has been feled in the forest by
the ak. The diseased part is usually exposed to
about two O'Clock sun, and few inches above
the surface of the ground, where the direct and
heat is most interse, though some
times extending or appearing in blotehes higher
up the body Of the tree. The disease, if it may
be called such, usually occurs the first season af-
ter setting out, and has its origin in unskillful
planting and want of proper care and protection
ill the roots become established and the tree re-
covers its natural condition and habit. To rene {
ly the evil, the tree should be well root and ton
oruned at planting, set with care and watered and
attended to, to promote vigorous growth for the
current season. A tree Of healthy habit is seldom
attacked by the borer Mulching and shading
md wrapping the body of the tree have been at +
ended with good results, but the latter, when the i
'ther directions are followed, viii hardly be re- a
Iured S