Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-01-28
farmers department.
Apple Trees and Orchards.


New York Observer writes as foi-
lows upon this subject
akPPLK TREES ARE DYING.
So sav our fruit men, A sad fact
to all lovers of fruit and OF human
health and happiness One great
cause of it seems not to be known
tn Eastern orchardists. 1t was dis
covered by gentleman mot the wri-
teri in Grant county, Wis, by dis
secting trees, that they were diseas.
ed. It is, the pressure Of bark agains
bark in the crotches, or branching
places-the angle made by two oil
more branches being too small. This
pressure first kills the bark; then in
sects harbor there and lay eggs, and
worms are produced, which eat the
wood, and water is admitted, whicn
produces decay in the wood' ana
this decay spreads downward IN .ne
BODY of the tree, or towards IT, IL IL
commences in a branch vi courSe'
the tree must die, if these causes
continue to operate, probably in a
few wears. certainly long before it
otherwise would. Water acts like
vo.son on apple tree wood. If a
crotch forms. hollow, water in it
may get through the bark and kill
the tree.
The remedy is evident. Whenev-
er the bark of Que branch presses
against that of another, or threatens
to do it, CUT OFF ONE OF THEM. When
trees are small. this is easily done
with knife Begin a little below
the parting, and cut slantlng upward
so as to hit it; shave off smooth, and
cover the place with common white
paint, or. something else that Will
keep out water, by means OF a brush
or feather.
If the branches have become large,
it is sometimes hard to decide what
should be done; but let it be remem-
bered that causes of disease and
death to the tree are operating
there, and the only way to stop them
is to cut off one of the branches. In
some cases, it may be best to let
them both stay and run the risk OF
the trees living to be worth some
thing.
Much has been said in favor of
low tops, but 1t should be known
that branches starting low are more
apt to grow SO upright as to cause
bark to press against bark, and so
cause the death of the tree. AS the
stem increases in length there is
more tendency to horizontal bran
ches, and of course the crotches are
more apt to be sound.
Frequently bad crotch appears
in branch, and then itrequires the
same treatment that it would at the
first branching. To determine wheth-
er crotch is sound, pull the branch
es apart gently. fit opens, cut of
one of them. In small trees the loss
is small, for the nourishment is
thrown into the rest of the tree and
its growth is hindered very little.
Another correspondent of thu
same paper writes on the subjec
PRUNING APPLE TREES.
From experience in pruning apple
orchards for fifteen years, / give the
preference to the winter months,
from the middle of December to the
middle of February, as the best time.
The last years growth of wood is
then well matured, and the sap will
not flow to rot the bark or wood
when the limbs are cut off, but hard
surface will be retained till the cut
portion is grown over. At the win
ter season there are no crops to be
injured and the limbs are more con
veniently removed thanin the months
of June or July. The winter is a
time of comparative leisure to the
busy season Of planting and hoeing,
and the well-ripencd Pippins or
Baldwins are a good present stimu-
lus to the work of seeing that the
trees are put in good condition for
another crop. The prospect for ap-
pie orchards in the southern part of
Berkshire county, Mass, is much
more encouraging this year than for
several years past; and, as pears and
grapes are becoming more liable to
blight and mildew, eur old standard
fruit, with its improved varieties,
will be welcomed back with higher
honors.