Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-02
[From the Lake City Leader.]
How to Raise Apples I'm Minnesota.

How to Raise Apples I'm Minnesota.
We have noticed for several'years that
our well known townsman, Sam Doughty,
has had apple trees about his house,
whose branches were loaded with fruit
in autumn, resembling their jolly owner
in their plump growth and russet-ruddy
hue. AS one variety of apple tree after
another has matured successfully and
come to good bearing under his care, we
have come to regard him as the very
man the people of this State are looking
for, namely,-the man to teach them
how to raise apples. Compared to this,
it is of very little consequence who is to
the next governor.
Meeting our friend Doughty on the
street last Monday, we coaxed him into
his office, saw him squarely and com
fortably seated into the big easy chair,
and, presenting pencil and sheet of pa
per, demanded of him the secret of his
success in raising apples.
"You sit down and write it." said our
friend. 'Tell your readers there are
twelve or fifteen kinds of apples-almost
any Of the hardy varieties-that can be
raised here with little trouble and no
failure. Trim off the lower limbs, and
let The trees head out high, not less than
four or five feet from the ground. 1t is
the reflection of the sun from the snow in
February and March that kills the trees,
and 1T seldom kills up more than two or
three feet, nor ever more than four or
five. Protect the bodies by setting up a
board by each tree on the southwest side,
and if the heads are trained high, the
lower limbs will be out of reach of dan
ger; if low, they will be killed. The re-
Election of the sun thaws the sap, and
then tho sudden freezing at night de-
stroys the trees. 1t is neither summers
heat nor winters cold that injure apple
trees in Minnesota, but only the refec-
ton of the sun from the snow in Febru
airy and March. The Golden Russet is
tough to stand tho cold of our winters
as the burr oak. The latest fall growth
of ;his and other hardy varieties does not
kill, because it is up on the ends of the
limbs, out Of the way of harm. af
The protection of the trunks by the
board, as before stated, or by wrapping
them with cloths or wisps of straw, must
be continued till the tree becomes mature
and scaly, when it will take care Of it.
self. The blight is only on the south
west side.
l had Golden Russell three or four
years ago, that was headed out low; the
body was shaded and healthy, but the
lower lmbs-all the larger ones-were
killed or injured; l sawed them of, leav-
ing no limbs within the reach of the suns
reflection from the snow, and the tree
has since grown vigorously, and is now
loaded with fruit. If had not taken
off these low limbs, and thus compelled
the tree to head out higher, the tree
would have been completely ruined.
l raise the Golden Russet, the Red
Astrachan, the Rhode Island Greening
and many others, and never have had a
tree injured that was protected as have
described. 80. ...--r
If had known when came to Min
nesota what it is that kills the trees, am
sure that might have had, by this time,
as fine bearing orchard OF apple trees
as can be found anywhere in the United
States.
Nearly all the soft maple trees that
have a smooth bark, when young and
transplanted from shady places, and left
without Profession, kill by the spring
scalding on the southwest side, the same
as apple trees.
l have not had much trouble with in
sects. Have never seen the borer here.
Occasionally little green fly attacks the
tender growth on the tips of the branch
es, but is easily destroyed by soap suds."
"Do YOU ever do anything TO prevent
precocious growth in the springw
"Well, l have sometimes scraped the
snow away from the trees in the winter,
in order to let the ground freeze solid
among the roots. and then put it back or
throw on straw or stable litter to keep
the frost in the ground; but this is not
necessary, as the apple blossoms never
come too early. Mine have never been
injured by frost"
All we have to say to our readers in
addition to the above is that Mr.. Dough.
TVS method is very cheap and easy, and
it may work elsewhere as well as here,
for all we can see.