Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-04-09

element in itself, forming, as IL does, the
greater part of the bulk of many yere
tables, as well as dissolving the plant-food
in the soil, and then becoming the medium
Of transmitting Il through the living or
canism, IL must be apparent that 3 supply
is one Of the requisites Of success In all
departments of fruit culture.
Too much moisture may be as injurious
as too little, aud as q cultivated soil per
mits The surplus to pass off by percolstion
as well as evaporation, the Importance OF
cultivation Is evident TO prevent extremes
In either direction. II we sow wheat, rye,
oats, or any Of the cereals among trees,
they abstract a largo amount Of moisture
from the soil, and usually as the very time
when the trees need Il the most; oOnse-
Quently such crops are moro or less in
furious. To seed down the land TO grass
is even more Objectionable practice, be-
cause the soil Is not disturbed once In a
season which would be of some benefit to
the trees growing therein 1t Is not only
for the purpose Of regulating the supply
ofmoisture, that cultivation is recommend.
cd, but frequent manipulation Of the soil
assists in its decomposition, thereby fur
nishing the requisite amount of food 10
the trees.
For the first few years afterI plant
ing tho trees, the soil around them
should be thoroughly cultivated, and
as few people will do this unless an inn
mediate return for their labor can be Sc
cured, such crops as beans, potatoes, or
other vegetables, may be grown in the
orchard, but as much fertilizing material
should be added annually as is removed in
the crop. There are without doubt soils 80
I'D IaN a.,
without any of these precautions, but they
must be considered as exceptions to the
general rule; but no weeds, grass, or
other plants should ever be allowed TO grow
near the stems Of young trees, especially
apple trees, because, as Is well known, the
parent of the apple tree borer will de-
posit her eggs more frequently in trees
thus surrounded than in those not fur
nished with such convenient retreat.
Mulching the soil around newly planted
trees is sometimes practiced with beneh.
cial results, but If continued for several
years in succession, 1t will cause the roots
TO grow near the surface, where they arc
more liable to be injured in severe win
ters, as well as in long protracted drouthS
in summer, than if deeper in the soil
In eultivating an orchard with plow
some care is requisite to prevent iniurinp
the roots, and the soil should not be
worked so deep near the trees as at a dis.
tance from them, but If an occasional root
or a number of them are destroyed, it will
be far less injurious than total neglect OF
cultivation. When the trees become SO
large that they shade the soil under.
meath them, then cultivation may be dis.
pensed with, and the land seeded down To
clover or grass, or, what would be still
better, used as pasture for hogs, but in
no case should cattle or even sheep be al.
lowed in an orchard AS rule, orchards
should be cultivated for the first ten or
fifteen years, but should circumstances
show that this system can be dispensed
with in less time, then adopt such a plan
and adhere to it for the alternate system
of plcwing for year or two, and then
seeding down the land among trees is
scarcely to be recommended for any soil
or location,-Hedrh and Home