Litchfield enquirer., 1865-03-16
Agricultural. al

at soRK FOR MARCH N. THE ORCHARD ARp
 NuRsERy.-l'rees ct planting time excite our
 'iveliest syinpathies, for between tue hard
 usage they get in being taken up in the nsr.
 sery and the neglect they receive at the hands
 "i 'nanv planters, they often have hard strug.
 a'e Tor existencs. At the ordinary prices f0e
 tfs's we Can hardly expect of the n1rserymen
 more than ordinary car., and under the brst circumstances tree comes out Of the erouDd
 with much fewer ro,,ts than 1t had while it
 stood ID the nursery row. This root pruning
 would not be Uf 30 much consequence if the
 majority of the people cid not set it out just
 as It IS received, and leave it to survive or
 perish. When it is consid. red that in the growing tree the absorbing surface of the roots is ip exact rotation to the ev.porating surface of the leaves. it will be seen shat. when in taking trees up Se cut part of2he roots. this balance is destroyed. When such trees are planted out. the rOots are unable to supply the demand of ths leaves produced from the nu. 'nerous buds upon the branches. The conss. qnence is. each bud puts sut . few. leaves, and though the tree may retain it's vitality though the season, no yigorous growth is made and it /, is often some years before the tree recovers rom the shock of removal. While we do not mean to Say that nurserymen never send out worthless stock. we believe that much of the poor growth of young orchards is due to want ofc care and knowledge on the part of the plant. CT. Those who buy trees are apt to lopk more 10 that which is above ground than to that witch goes below the surface, and are more taken with quality of branches than Qusntity and quality of roots. It Is difficult to convince such persons that the tree will be all the better at the end of the season if 1t is made to show less ct branches at planting time. Get all the roots possible from the nurserynan, cut oG all the bruised ones. and smoothly cut the ends of those severed in taking up. Then after re moving ary useless branches, cut back all of
 last year s growth. In cutting, have reference to the future shape of the tree. and cut to . bud pointing in the direction where branch will be most desirable. Do not buy cheap trees 1t is poor economy to save . few dol lars on an orchard by getting poorly grown trees to start with. Do not believe the large stories te d ,of new varieties by glib-tonRued tree peddlers. who show collection of highly icolored plates, and talk fruits wisely, though they may have never planted . tree ia their 1 lives.
 CHERRY TREES. Plant early if the soil is open. and attend to any graitiug the last of his month or early in next month., The scions shnnld be t,eshly cut. M sssG gF{ CUTTINGS iron. currents and shrubs started thus must be made before the buds start. Plant "n. those made last autumn us early as a place can he prepared. ex ' GrsDisD 1'sEKs. These nay often be saved by the use ot a plaster of COW dung and clay or loam bound on with cloth. Put on plenty to retain moisture. |" GRATING. Root graiting should be got out of the wny IS soon as possible, and prspara- lions made for grating trees in the grouud.-- Cut sciohs.
 INSECTS. If any of the twigs appear as if they had . swollen place upon them. an exam. iIlatiun will probably show that the apparent swelling is a cluster of the eggs of the tent caterpillar. This insect glues its eggs to the twIgs, in broad ring If these are found, re. move at any cost of time and trouble. 5
 MANURE. Surface manu ing is now prae tsed by. our best orchardsts. The manure may be carted out and applied while the ground is frozen. ssyIg gs' ,5'ag ,ilt-- sa
 ORCHARDS. Wash the trees, if the weather is suitable, as recommended last month W pruning must be done before summer do 1t now. The weight of authority is if favor of summer pruning.
 PLANTING. Tine trees should have been or. dered by thls time, but if postponed until now io it at once. In ordering apple trees it is we'll to recollect the value of sweet va ieties as food tor stock. Draining will always pay in the orchard, and the drains should be made before planting. The land may be staksd out and the holes made at any time when the season is mild enough. ! 5- 1aI .. SEEDS. Order tree seeds for planting this spring. Those kept over winter In boxes of earth. should not be sown until the coil is warin. 7- a's# rt-tt"
 1ransp,antng of all hardy trees and shrubs may be done as soDu as the soil is in working order.-- Agricahu,ist ,,.... ,. f,s 6s-..-