Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-14
Manureing and Oultivating Trees.

The difference between quackery and reg
ular treatment is, the former applies RENE
dies indiscriminately, while the latter ad-
ministers according to certain and specific
wants, When the farmer breaks his wag-
on the quick would proceed by driving
nails here and there all over it, hoping ac-
cidentally somewhere to reach the fracture.
The regular reparer first ascertains where
the difficulty lies, ,and then proceeds at once
to correct it.
1t is somewhat thus in the cultivation of
of fruit trees, particularly with those sorts
like the dwarf pear, which will not flourish
under neglect. We often see directions on
the precise amount of manure which should
be applied to the dwarf Orchard-sOme de-
manding even as much as an annual coat
ing of three or four inches around the tree
to be worked into the soil, while others sue
ceed with very moderate application.
Others, again, find, as they suppose, that
manure is entirely unnecessary or detrim-
entail One man appears to succeed as well
with his apple orchard kept in grass close
| ly grazed by sheep 'or swine, with only
the top-dressing which these animals give,
as another does with constant and mellow
| cultivation These differences of treatment
must depend much upon the character and
natural fertility Of the soil and to give
precise directions that are required to be
| followed out in all cases, would be like is
suing general instructions stating how
many strokes of the whip must be given to
a horse in order to get days labor out OF
! him, without reference to his character for
spirit or stupidity or like the orders of
railway manager to apply the brakes every
fifteen minutes, without regard to an up
ward or descending grade.
We often receive inquiries as to the
amount of manure to be applied to trees.
The answer must be- Act according to Cir
cumstances The question "a ain recurs,
Aow shall e know what our soils need
The answer is Observe the results of
growth An examination or analysis Of
the soil will be Of little use. But the trees
will tell their own story. If the soil is so
rich that the trees make annual shoots of
two or three feet or more in length, without
any cultivation of manuring at all, (Which,
however, is hardly a supposable case, then
it will be needless to give additional care.
The annual growth is the best guide to
treatment There are very few apple or
other orchards which after reaching good
bearing state, throw out annual shoots
more than foot or a foot and a half long,
and many not half this length The owner
may lay it down as an unalterable rule that
when his trees do not grow one foot annual
ly, they reed more manuring or cultivation,
or both. By observing the growth he can
answer all questions Of the kind referred to
without difficulty.
parhapS If NAV he uSefl1l +O ramark on
the different means Of degrees for increas-
ing the vigor of trees lst. The weakest
or most inefficient means is digging small
circles with the spade around the foot Of
the stem, either with or without the addi-
ton of manure because the roots Of a tree
being at least equal each way to its height,
reach out on all sides far beyond these cir
cles and often not fifteenth part of them
are effected ID Better than the last
named mode, is keeping the grass grazed
short by swine or sheep-protecting the
stems from injury with boxes or thorny
brush-give annually in autumn thin top
dressing of manure. Sd. Where this treat
ment does not impart sufficient vigor, then
the third remedy must be resorted to- viz,
keeping the whole surface in a clean, mel
low condition If the soil is rich enough,it
will d to raise beans Or root crops, or even
Indian corn--otherwise it should be left
perfectly clean, and manure added annual
ly if necessary. Thick dressings of manure
applied in autumn and spaded under in
spring, are only required for dwarf pears
which have become stunted, in connection
with free pruning, until shoots at least two
or three feet are obtained Meadows or
sowed grain should never be allowed in
any orchard whatever Country Gentle
man.