Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-05-22
Sofia for orcharding.

Some certain conditions render II first rate.
The soil should be a rich, deep. yellow.
moist. but yet iriablc loan. II impregnAied
with sulphate OF iron it is frs, rate.
Granite soils are favorable for orcbarsling
The soil should be deep. strong and moist.
Granite soil is sometimes too shoal, weak
ard dry. Ii so. and not imbued with cop
pcras, it is poor. A good portion of Ok
ford county is OF good, available granite
soil.
Sandy soils are generally uniavorable for
fruit culture. The soil is too weak, and
dry, and still farther, there is generally no
subsoil TO prevent the roots from striking
penetrate dead. inert sand TO the depth OF
fifteen feet. A tree on sandy soil may do
well for short time; but When the roots
get below the top soil. manures. warmth
and heat. the tree must have = miserable
subsistence. Here is one great reason why
Trees do so poorly on sandy and intcrvalr
lands. There is. in part. remedy The
bottom OF the hole may be tagged with flat
stones, bricks, or even plsnks or slabs.
We have partially succeeded by this process.
Trees on surh soil sill be short lived. II
il be san,ly loan with a pan trees will do
very well. We have, nevertheless, seen
sands, and even coarse gravelly coil.
strongly imprc grated with sulphate OF iron
so that the rand or gravel was cemented
together tina, was good orchard soil. The
New Jersey Nin.land soil is cemented with
iron; and Is excellent for fruit growing
purposes. Sandy soils may be much i'm
proved by the application of clay, and by
muck for malchirg.
Cha, soils ar. forbidding to fruit culture
They are too hard and {, nacious and more
over. lack the proper food for fuit trees
Yet We would not discourage the owner
from raising some fruit for his own use.
The soil may be greatly benefited by an
admixiure of sand and loan, and by muck
for mulching.
Muck renders clay friable and soluble.
General conditions have much to do With
all orchard soils. The soil should be new.
ani better If never broken by the t,low
II then ha- retained most OF its vegetable
matter Vegetable manure i Indispensable,
to the healthy growth OF wood. Without
wood, how can wood be formed. Fruit
trees require vegetable matter for good.
healthy and sonnd growth, as well as forest
trees. VIII FOREST tree succeed on an old
pillow field as in its native forest where 1t
can obtain boontilul supply of vegetable
matter? your answer will apply TO fruit
trees.
Mois' Soil is indispensable to FIRST class
fruit land. whatever may be its general
character. Our original orchards were
planted on too dry land. The moistes,
parts of them have succeeded best We do
no; mean a wet soil. Where land is liable
TO inundation, or TO dead water, and j.
otherwise suited to fruit culture, IL NAV be
bedded or drained, and made suitable and
perhaps irst-rate for orcharding Trees
may be set on the surface of quite moist
soil by covering The roots With a cart load
OF good soil. Trees flourish on the a-in
OF swales beside brooks. In Mass. they
use the witch hazle divining rod to ascertain
currents of water running beneath the sur.
face. and plant trees over them.
Rock and ledge need not brighten you
from planting trees. This is the best soil
for fruit the other conditions being good
II you can get the roots OF your young tree
between The rocks, DO it, and you will have
q fourishing tree. II there be soil of
sufficient extent between your hedges 10 sup
port tree, put 1t there. and you will find
u safe and sUre-it being founded on
rock. But can an orchard flourish on such
land? YOU ask we have seen many
Furnishing orchard under these conditions.
where they cost nothing hut trees and set
ting. We can point out many location
where trees may br set IN soil that never can
be Plowed, and. with light application Of
animal manure and n heavy one OF veeeta-
ble' will yield a great profit Here YOU
may get hardy. healthy. thrifty and pro-
hBctiyc tres
There are certain traits in the formation
OF iruit tfees--known to the practical eve.
and hand too--wbich arc Indicative Of the
soil IN which they grow. 1.-THE soil be rug
gel. rocky and strong. the trees will be Of
the same character--wOod. hard and firm.
trunks and limbs sturdy, Astounding With
thorns and blossom buds. Indicating hard
mess, longevity aud irnufuine.s II the
roll be free. sandy--sandy loan or clavcy
ioam--we find soft and riiiy wood. slender
aud lmber trunks and limbs. and but few
thorns and blossom buds. Trees do no,
attain to that longevity on fee as on rug
Ced 'and
From the above extended remarks on
Orchard sptis ,ye seo ,l., ~.