Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-05-07

Slade x Co., Baltimore, r.. II. stars
and Watt &Knight, hichmondi and u
Illlups, Norfolk, Va. ie a.mJ
II. NJ. Smith \ Co., Richmond, Va
BE- rag For the Farmers Gazette. sH3
ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
sF sF' No /. asn sit, |
- M Elder: Among your readers
there are doubtless many who own or
chards aud grow fruit trees, and have |
very limited knowledge of pruning or
orchard culture. They have never read
Downin =" or !" Barry's Fruit Gar
den.'' and, save the cutting out Of dead
wood aud water sprouts once year,
generally the present month, theE Or
,chard receives no attention. Narsery>
men are tree growers, but, with rare ex-
ceptions, are not fruit producers and
their opinions vary SO much in regard
TO the management Of trees 10 the or
chard, to make them profitable, that the
novice in fruit culture isain dilemma
rs to the proper course to follow. One
marty recommends annual culture, while
=
the trees are young, growing root and
other crops requiring manure 10 Inc
spaces between'the trees, regarding corn
and small grain as very injurious. An
other will tell you to SOW down the or
chard ia grass and clover, and let. it
alone. An editor Of Northern journal
of SON note tells US that ploughing 40
orchard is very injurious by breaking
up the spougioes Feeding rootlets) sent
off anuAily from the larger roots, thus
interfering with the nourishmcpt and
growth of the tree To discuss these
points would occupy too much of your
valuable space, and my opinion may be
gathered from the following practice
pursued in one of my orchards contain
Jog seven acres.
The trees had been planted in 1882
in good soil. and dia quite well for
two wears Then the war came ou IL.
could not be cultivated, because, being
near the house, there was danger Of the,
enemy seizing the team, seven horses
and mules having already been taken
In the spring of 1866 twas pruned,
and more than one hundred trees were
required to fill up the spaces whence
dead aud diseased trees were removed.
Many Of the trees were covered with
suckers from the ground to the first tlll
Of branches; others sun.scalded, with
heads leaning over exposing the trunk
10 The suns rays; while others were
.scrubs-hide- bouud--liying, it is true,
but had evidently made no growth tor
some years Two whole rows had died
Outright, iu consequence Of vet soil, a
blind ditch having filled up.
Treatment. The bitches wire epen>
ed and the orchard was planted in cot.
ton. 1t proved to be SO full of nut and
wire grass that most of the crop was
abandoned The next spring the trees
were thoroughly prunedj those hide
bound were cut back, tops and branches,
and bark split, with missions from first
tier Of branches to,theroot. Those with
very much diseased bodies were sawed
of level with the ground suckers came
out in midsummer all destroyed but
one. the most vigorous, and that buded;
Others the following spring we're crown
grated. The year 1860 it was planted
in corn; broken up with one-horse
.ploughs; the season was bad itscareOly
made four barrels to the acre. The trees
assumed healthier appearance, howev'
or, and made some growth, bearing q
few barrels Of fair fruit. ln the spring
,of 1865 the pruning was again thor
oughly done With care one'third Of the
past years growth renewed from the
TOP aud side branches of the gratis .auC
Young trees bark of the older tree
,ascrapsd and lwhitewashed, one quart o
common salt added to each tub Of th'
wash. The ground was thoroughly bro
ken up with Watts Incompatible Aan'
l3 plough, to which was attached tw'
medium sized horses. Let every farme
who does not use it buy this plough
There is nothing like it Except its cou
sin, the " Dixie" by Starke) for rougl
land I The orchard was again plante'
in com; no manures or fertilizers use'
except on abost half acre which hat
been In sorghum cane. The reason wa
good. The tnrn-plow was only employ
cd for siding OF and billing; cultivators
hoes and harrows were uscd, as it wa
planted four feet square. The resul
was not quito.seyeu barrels to the acre
oil long corn except three or four bush
els Of nubbins aud uneound corn, Tn
trees have made very fne growth the,
F(the scrubby, ugly ones) now have fin
heads; they were punched during th
,summer where branches were wanted
and 10 ruperauons wood was allowed
grow on the trees cut back.
''' doubt (returning 10 the point frol
whence We started) II the same ieuit
could have bean obtained by manurin
.iand seeaiegiih grass and clover. d.
ring. the past feH weeks this. seven acre
have receNel about one thozsand load
ss(one horse eaEt) Of compost manu'
ualwoods earth, hog-pen aad stab
''sinnanure), with nearly ton of Peruvia
guauo. several hundred pounds Of pho
'rphate lime,l placed under or over twelV
v6arrels Irish potatoes, planted five fe'
by three, expecting TO grow corn b
tween the potatoes, planted the sam
distance, and possibly navy beans aftt
,t the potatoes are dug o Is.i et.