Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-21
AaritMltmral.
EXHAUSTED FRUIT TREES.

1t is no uncommon thing to meet with
single trees or even whole orchards, once
productive, that have become barren, either
yielding no fruit whatever, or few scrub
by specimens--m apologies for the
products formerly given. In such cases
you will perhaps hear it said that the trees
have failed, or become exhausted where
as the truth is that the soil is exhausted
Such phenomena are viewed as among the
mysteries of the vegetable kingdom, but
they are among the simplest and most easl-
ly explained fact to be met with out OF
doors 1t would be difficult to find any
thing more irrational than the course pur-
sued by many in regard to fruit growing.
A young orchard is planted out, and forth
with sown to a grain crop in which the
trees stand during the summer months like
storks in a rush pond, their heads just
peering above the nodding grain Year
after year similar course is pursued. The
land is expected to bear as much OF some
sort of crop as though an orchard had new
er been thought Of After much hard strug-
CLING half the trees-twO thirds perhaps
are found to have survived, and they begin
to bear little fruit. At last by stretch
of leniency, the orchard is seeded down,
and after one CT two mowinga converted in
to hard run pasture Who ever thinks of
manuring an orchard-or what fool would
dream of giving up the land to the trees,
and manuring it we'll and cutivating it
thoroughly! Yet if after the worst pos 81
bic usage the trees do not bear plenty of
choice fruit, either the nurseryman is biam-
ed, or the climate is cursed, or forsooth the
trees are exhausted In the June number
of the Horticulturist the author of "Ten
Acres Enough" cite the case of farmer
in the best truit-growing region of New
Jersey, who came in possession of farm,
which 80 years ago was used as a nursery.
Many choice fruit trees were planted upon
the estate, but the new proprietor "consid-
ering the raising of sweet corn and pickles
the chief end of man." neglected his trees
until they only grow meagre crops of in
different fruit, and had made up his mind
to grub out the useless things to furnish
more room for "cOrn and cucumbers, when
he was successfully tempted to sell out
The buyer determined to reclaim the degen-
crate trees, being encouraged to take this
course by an account which appeared in
the Horticulturist many years ago, and
which we cite as proof at once of the extent
to which soils may be exhausted by neg
lect, and the manner in which renovation
and reclamation may be effected. Two out
cast pear trees that had once borne fine
fruit, had for some years only produced
worthless specimens. The owner was told
they had exhausted the proper elements of
pear tree growth in the soil, and that these
must be renewed Determined to test the
truth of this theory, he set to work very
vigorously ;-scraped off the rough outer
bark and put on coating Of soft soap =
pruned and shortened in the trees about
third, pairing the large cut and covering
them with a solution of shellac dug
large trench around each tree cutting away
portion Of the roots, and filling the trench
with good soil and well prepared manure
Next season the trees put on rich dress
OF luXuriant foliage-the second year there
was a moderate bloom, every blossom of
which came to fruit Their vigor and fruit
tulness were restored, and they literally re-
ncwed their youth. The theory of rotation
Of crops in general farm practice, is based
ON the fact that constantly growing the
same produce eXhauStS particular elements
III the soil, and this fact no doubt, often ac-
counts for the baroness of fruit trees and
the failure of orchards The soil is robbed
of its nutritive qualities year after year.
no new supply is furnished-and out of
nothing nothing can come. The practical
lesson Is obvious, we must feed our fruit
trees if we expect them to feed us.-The
Canada Farmer.