The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-03-21
nesting ofthe Hooking valley HOrti~
euItarsI Society.
HoRTIcULTURAL R0oMs,
LANcAsTER, o., March 8, 1867.

DVo'StJ met, puTsuuhJ 10 auJourn-
ment, and was called TO order by the
President
On motion, reading the minutes was
dispensed with.
The report of the special committee
on Premium List was submitted and
read by P. b. Ewing (Vics President
J2A Fetters in the Chair and on mo.
ton the same was received and laid on
the table for consideration at next
meeting.
Subject for discussion taken mp
"the .transplaotiug and pruning Of
fruit trees, plants. &C."
Nj. ]. ? Clark opened the subject
by observing that spring planting
should not be done too early as is FIRE :
quently practiced. Wait till the
ground is in good working condition.
then, where there is natural drainage,
the holes { Tor apple trees) should be
dug from two to two and half feet in
diameter and about eighteen inches
deep, the loose surface soil thrown in,
with compost sufficient TO raise the
trees a little above their original po.
sition, and the dirt filed in and bank
ed up slightly-tops should be pruned
away severe y on planting, In gen.
eral, pruning for the purpose of sha
ping the top should be done early in
June-for curtalling growth late in
July or early in August is the proper
time. The next best season for gen
oral pruning is about the present,
though spring pruning is only desira-
bic when time cannot be taken TO do
it AT the right season, as it induces
suckers and inordinate increase OF
branches Pears need little pruning
for shape, it being their nature TO grow
TO proper form-the cherry also,
which should be allowed TO branch
low. so as to shade the trunk in bot
weather. Fire blight may often be
prevented by cutting in when the buds
are swelling, removing the portions
indicating disease or defect.
Mr. Stalter concurred az to the evil
of TOO early planting. Last year he
transplanted trees after the leaf had
appeared, which did remarkably well.
Thinks subsoiling unnecessary in any
soil fit tor an orchard does not ap.
prove of digging holes and putting in
rich compost; the effect is lost after a
year or two, and injury results from
the rootlets formed in the rich soil be.
ing unadapted to penetrate and draw
nourishment from the poorer surround
ing soil. The whole ground should
be equally prepared, then trees may
be set without the necessity OF making
holes larger than to admit the roots
The cherry should be planted in the
fall--apple and pear do equally well
in spring-mulching is benefit in
spring planting.
Mr., Kinkead said the pear was
among tho most difficult of trees
to grow. He alluded to the fact
of portion of the leaves OF pear
trees turning of purple color late in
the fall, while the rest remained green,
and would like to be informed il it
/ was an indication of blight
Mr.. Clark thought it was not, but
the effects of the work Of minute in
sect, attacking the under side of the
leaf, which they did in swarms. AS
to putting compost in holes for plant
ing, the object of it was to give the
tree start when most needed, in the
halfkiled condition in which it gen
orally leaves the nursery After q
year or two it can take care of itself
in proper soils. Our hill soil is cvi-
IDENTIFY good for trees.
Mr.. Rugh mentioned the excellent
effects resulting from digging around
the roots nf the trees ~ an old, de.
cayed orchard, and putting in bones
and other animal matter, rags and re
fuse of all kinds. His trees had won
dertully revived ander such treatment
and yielded him a great increase ol
fruit, and OF tar better quality.
Mr. Kinkead agreed with Mr..
Clark, as to the method TO be pursued
with the apple, the object being to
give it "a good start. Has great faith
in il from his own success in planting
this way AS a general thing, if the
tree lives through the first year it is
safe. The cultivation o. young orch
ards until OF bearing age, is recom'
mended by good authorities Great
differences have been noted in favor
of portions OF orchards habituaty
4 plowed, compared with those lett un-
plowed, the former showing nearly
double tue growth of the latter.
Mr.. Snider had planted an orchard
in new ground, digging good sized
holes, and filling in with decayed
leaves and soil, and out of 100 trees
planted in this way he lost but one.
Mr.. Fetters Gin the Chair remarked
that the main essential for young trees
is plenty Of plant food. In regard tc
planting evcrgreens, the most success!
ful mode is to dig holes the size tc
which the roots extend, and fill them
with water; then, holding the tree al
the proper height, let fine Soil be slit
ed n till of the consistency of NOR
tar; then cover with four or five inches
of dry soil, as a mulch. Bvergreens
can be transplanted any time during
summer in this way,
Mr N,n1nrr nnIlnh nifnniinM 10 Ihraf