St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-11
farm, Garden aud Hitrheu.
ire our 4ppte Trees Dying out ?

\ very animated discussion took place
at the Farmers club of the American
Institute, on Tuesday, Nov. l., upon
the subject Of apple Trees, the causes
of their failure and modes of relief
We were present, and took the following
notes
Mr.. G.. W. Southwick, of Madison.
Iowa, asked how to make his truit-trees
bear. They made annually a handsome
growth Of wood, and were exceedingly
healthy; nevertheless, lie was not able
to obtain from them any quantity OF
fruit.
Mr.. T. c. Peters replied: Il would
suggest draining. Within my own
knowledge there are many orchards
which have been brought back to fruit
fulness by this simple process. 1t pre-
vents too succulent a growth, and makes
better, sounder wood. Clay lands ought
always to be drained, if they are to be
planted in orchards"
Mr.. w. ). Carpenter said that in his
section draining does not prove the pre-
else remedy. That Is one of the essen
tials; bu:, more than anything else, he
believes our principle trouble is in the
atmosphere. East winds prevail about
the time of blossoming or the setting OF
the fruit, and check it OF prevent it al
together by reason of their GOODNESS and
untavorable influence upon the sap. 1t
Is true we have trouble enough from in
sects, and we should all guard against
them. But, II the season is right and
the atmosphere favorable we can expect
plenty of fruit of all kinds The rava-
ges of insects are really discouraging :;
and there is no other way, if man de-
sires permanent orchard of healthy,
productive truit-trees, but to renovate
them properly, and bestow upon them
the best OF care and cultivation.
Solon Robinson: Il have an apple
tree as fine rs ever grew on the earth,
with beautiful appearance, free from in
sects, and in good soil but for the last
ten years | have not got ten bushels of
fruit from it. | repeat the assertion
have often made before, that the apple
trees of our country are surely dying out,
ing new trees in their places may answer
in certain cases, but it does not help gem
orally This is an exceedingly impor-
tant subject; and, if we could devise Il
remedy that would prove perfectly sue
cessful, we would do something wemight
well be proud iof.''
A stranger who rose suggested that we
could overcome many difficulties if we
would remember two things: lst, to
plant our fruit trees upon new land I'd,
TO manure them with leaves and wood
manure entirely If we Will only dc
this, we will 60 back to olden times,
when there was plenty Of fruit for all.
VIM. :. Carpenter: 81 still main
tain that tile atmosphere is at present
the secret of our ill-success. If, in the
coming year, the season and air are only
favorable, we shall see fruit SO abundant
that we will be willing to take back all
we have said about the trees dying out =
Il. G. Peters: 81 have seen an or.
chard in Western New York which has
: been manured constantly, with WOOD
: manure, and lcached ashes, and it ha,
t never failed to produce Il fine crop o
r fruit. Now L think that ON limestone
soils fruit trees will not die out; but Oh
: other soils there is a liability to do it"
j. V. G. Smith: "This dying out
argument, L think, means that our III
5 dustry is dying out. The orchards o
our country are in a shameful condition ;
!. they are left neglected, they are not
pruned carefully, their tops are diseased
r their roots are diseased, and the fault
i rests in simple neglect, rather than nat
q ural tendency to die out, If we would
reform all this, we must brace up our in
: dustry and work hard"