North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-02-11
f ar1nfr's Gnl II III II,
GRATING AND MANURING OLD
ORCHARDS.

other portions of orchard management, drawn |
from experience in renovating an old orchard. |
1t is far better to procure scions in winter,
than to neglect it as we have sometimes done !
until wishing to use them, so they not only
do better but can be used much later in the
season. Crafts set with scions on which the |
buds have stared, seldom grow-hence we
cannot graftfter the leaves come out; but
with winsr scions, well preserved grating
can be dChe through the month of May, and
even laer. Warm weather sometimes comes
on Suddenly, and gives rapid start to the
leaes-hence 1t is well to run no risk in this
natter; besides we have as much time now
As we shall be likely to get in spring for Sc
curing them. They may be packed in moss
or saw dust, and kept in cool, dry place
not too warm or they will mould and decay.
Look to them occasionally to see that they
are in good condition.
Let the work of grating be done by COM
petent thinking workmen. Only those who
can look ahead a few years, and see the kind
OF tree top that will best suit the case and
who understand the best method of securing
such top, should be employed. Inexper-
enced hands are likely to setkoo few CRAFTS,
cutting off larger limbs than they should, and
leaving too much to time of making shape
ly tree. If tree has fair top, it will be
better to graft nearly every limb an inch or
an inch and half in diameter than to cut off
larger cnes. Some limbs in most cases will
need cutting away to thin out the top, but a
fine headed, early bearing tree can best be
attained by grating thickly. 1.-two gratis
are set in such small limbs, one of them sho'd
bQ removed the first autumn, as two are very
seldom needed. BY grating few large
limbs, greater growth of the scions is Sc
cured, but there is also an increased liza bilitv
@of breaking out by high winds; the Union
with the stock is less perfect, and they will
not fIut as early by two or three years as
the smaller limb gratis will. There will also
be more trouble from sprouts, and this we
because of the greater trimming away of the
top given in such cases.
Another error in grating is setting the
gratis too high, on the top limbs mostly, the
first season. 1t is true that the highest
gratis on low conditioned trees, grow much
more freely than the lower ones, but this
should be a reason for setting low gratis only
on such trees, and then manure and culture
to induce better growth and conditions
When the lower gratis are we'll started, then
let the higher limbs be thckly grated, and
a fine top will be the result
Finally Con this branch of the subiect)
grating is but small part of the work
Pruning and care are necessary, or the tree
will be covered with sprouts and the gratis
will grow, but slowly, and soon will be over
powered by their native vigcr. One must
have a constant watch over his trees to the
most rapid improvement possible. The
growth of crop of useless branches and
sprouts is so much waste of Vigor-so much
;aken from the time and usefulness of the
tree. Labor given in season will accomplish
far more than if delayed, ard the reward will
be proportionally greater and sooner attained.
Care and well-drected labor, to largely IN
creased extent, cannot be extended more pro-
frably than in the orchards of our country.
Now few words on manure. "F. G." of
Starkville, asks Go. GENT, Jan. l. '63) if
manuring orchards-old orchards in particu-
Iar-by top dressing, "ls warranted by ex-
perience !" We think it is. Three years
ago we top dressed portion of our orchard
late in summer, with rotten stable manure.
and the trees were largely benefited by the
application. Several large trees have since
that time thrown off their old coats, and
show much finer and tn ritter appearance,
as well as bearing more largely than before.
The Roxbury, Russell and Baldwin have
grown most freely, but all thus treated show
good improvement. A year ago last fall, the
balance of the orchard was manured, and with
excellent effect.
Within the last seVel years the growth
and appearance of the forty year old orchard
has been materially improyed-graftng, ma
nuring and cultivation, has saved it from the
rapid running down. then so apparent, and
we now get three hundred barrel of apples,
where we formerly got thirty, with full as
good crops of other products among the trees
Beans and peas do well in an orchard. When
In grass we use it as sheep pasture, por-
ton Of the time. The soil is gravely loan,
with subsoil of hard pan at greater or less
depth, varying considerably even at small
distances apart.
This we found out in digging our cellar and
we'll In the cellar were apple roots extend
ing four feet in depth, nearly down to the un-
derIying strata of sand-no hard pan here.
a few rods distant-three perhaps--the hard
pan here came very near the surface-the
rosts went not over Is to 81 inches deep.
But on the shallow soil grew the most thrifty
healthy, apple tree, one ready to show at
once the applicatian of manure We will Of