Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-05-28
Fruit Trees along Fences.

ssF. G., thus writes TO the New York Eve
ming Post, and: it,seems to US that what he. says
is something worthy the serious attention OF
those most interested: 4I L0I /
In my travels once met a man who had
s.strange freaks about planting trees. Along
bis fences, in every direction he planted trees
oflall kinds. Along the road were apples OF
winter varieties, so that the boys could not
melt them. They were handsome" the owner
said, and he was quite right Such red and
fair cheeks were seldom seen, for these trees,
as we'll as the rest along the, FENCES, had the
benefit of field culture, tearing up the roots
more or less; but the grass Immediately around
the trees remained, and was never disturbed.
1T was interesting to see this farm, fenced
in and cross fenced with trees Of all kinds,
but each Kind by itself, ON its own line. Thus
there we're Hifences' of peaches pears plums
and cherries, interspersedn3 With ecu urrants,
forming fine bowery range iOnezfence had
q variety Of all kinds, not proniscuously scat
tered Tut put together BY divisions. 971 ;: 5;.
From q distance this had fine effect; moth
ing could we'll exceed yit.T You could see the
fences come running down hill, or sweeping
around :itY and standing thicker and more
established on the-plain; and fruit trees the
largest of all, surrounded and were scattered
j 10 among the buildings all fruit trees The
only pain TO the eye was the grass at the roots
Of the trees l. mentioned this. 1PoohE
they'll do all the better. Look at the fruit
you want to treat them as you do some womeni
treat them rough and they'll do all the better
for you This philosophy was questionable.
But then he had tho fruit to shoW-and Esald
no more. ~- - - a ]
Here was large yield, great income, and
without interfering the least with the cutiva-
ton of the farm. ol And there was all the
chance for sun and air, with low, tops gen.
eray. There was cultivation OF the sol and
the grass to restrain eXuberance OF growth, IT
there is any force in that. There was, how
ever, no protection, which a multitude OF
trees grouped will afford. .n.t 4o.; CO. " |
There was no pruning, each tree was lett to-
itself; and when one died another was put in.
Early ripening seemed to be result OF this
scattering, and better quality Of fruit, [
thought, especially when it is considered that
there was no pruning. ~ - '..'1.
The soik in the valley or plain, was a dark
sandy loan; on the hills yellow, with more Oh
less clay; and these trees ION the upland) were
bent down most of them with fruit, with less
growth of wood, as is to be expected.
Here were beauty and profit combined. NO
special orchard was grown. 1t was not needed;
all was given to grain and grass And these
trees afforded ample shade for the herds
They also affected the grain some along thes
fence, but not much. vro3 o. na~. ;!
Here is a lesson certainly. Our unoccnpiedi
fence land can thus be made to yield, and
Weld more largely than the regular average:
orchard itself. IT will supply all the fruit
needed, with considerable to sell, with no IN
terfereTncoe With the regular business OF the:
farm, save only the gathering of tho fruit!
fruit grown to hand as though the wildwood
had given it to you. Pruned and taken care
Of, the crop of course would improve, as we'll
as the beauty Of the landscape.