American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-12
The farmers Department,
Planting Fruit Trees.

The propagation and cultivation ol
fruit trees is most pleasant and agree
able occupation for the sons and
daughters Of farmers those who have
been educated in industrious habits,
and those into whose minds sound
moral principles have been instilled,
areinwardly fond of it. We are all
fond of fire apples, pears, peaches,
plums, ounces, and cherries, and
therefore all should be willing to lend
a helping hand in their production.
But never from ideas Of economy
plant inferior trees the same care,
time and room are required for poor
trees as for the finest specimens. The
difference in expense is but small,
and will be much more than made up
by the first crop of fruit.
The roots of trees being designed
not only to sustain them in proper
position, but to furnish them with
nutriment, care should be taken in
planting to loosen the earth for con-
siderable distance around them. Those
who try how small a hole will accom-
modate the roots or a tree, miss their
aim, for experiment has dcmonstra-
ted that tree planted in hole three
feet in diameter will grow more in
five years than one planted in a small
hole in ten. | don't wish to be un-
derstood by this to limit the size of
the whole to three feet for there is no
limit the larger the better.
Trees are often planted too deep );
This IS one Of the greatest disadyan-
tages where the soil is cold or moist.
| consider tia safe rule about Or a
little less than the depth at which
the tree grows when at the nursury
Some give as an excuse for not
planting trees, that they will never
live, to sell the fruit suppose those
who planted that orcharc on your
farm had thought the same, where
would your apples have been? 1t is
to a farmers interest, and even his
duty to plant trees, if not for his own
use, for the next generation.
Some excuse themselves on the
ground that they don't expect to re-
main where they are much longer,
and are going to sell; but in what
way can an equal amount Of capital
or labor be expended so as to increase
the value Of a farm more than a we'll
stocked orchard.
1t is an excellent plan to plant one
or two rows of trees every year; by
this plan you may secure the best of
any new varieties which may come
out, and also have regular supply
of fruit.
After the best kind of trees have
been secured and planted, great care
should be taken to protect them from
being.injurcd by cattle they should
be secured to stakes to keep them in
proper position. If any of the trees
appear to be weak, it is better to re-
move them at once and supply their
places with sound ones. 1t is a great
mistake to think that by getting large
trees to plant, you will get fruit soon
er for it is seldom the case.
1t is almost usel SIS to plant a young
orchard where there has been one be-
fore. The trees will not attain their
size but will be poor and stuuted.
1t would seem that the first set Of
trees exhausted the proper food from
the soil, that it requires several years
to regain it.
There seems to be a great diversi-
ty Of opinions as to whether orchards
should be cultivated or not.
As far as my cxperiece goes l think
too much cultivation is not best; the
trees require all the nourishmens they
can get. The plan | would adopt
is something in this style:
Before planting the orchard, put
the land through regular three years
rotation (corn, oats and wheat sow
grass seed as usual with the wheat,
but use none but clover, and not be
sparing with it. In the fall after the
wheatis taken off, or next spring
plant your trees. During the sum
>mer let your pigs run in the orchard
and eat off the clover, which by the
way is excellent food for them. Let
the pigs have possession of the or
chards until the clover begins to run
out, and the sod gets thick. Then
manure and plant potatoes, follow
them with wheat and clover: in the
spring turn calves or sheep on the
wheat and keep it down until winter.
Let this course be pursued until the
trees commence bearing, when with
an occasional coat of manure and
lime the trees will take care of them
elves.
1t may seem to the practical far
mer that his land remains too long
without interest, but in the end it l0iU
pay. No man can reasonably expect
to raise two good crops at the same
time from the same ground. If one
Of them is good,it is at expens of