Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-06-11
MANAGEMENT OF A YOUNG
ORCHARD.

With regard to officiating The ground,
everybody knows that keeping the ground
loose and free of weeds aud in friable
state near the surface, is absolutely nec-
essary in raising hill of corn but
every body does not seem to know that
the same treatment is indispensable with
regard to fruit trees when young ana
growing. Such, however, is the case,
and those who expect good fruit by
merely planting trees and leaving them
to take care of themselves will find their
half'done work to end 10 disappoint
ment aud loss
Wheat, oats and grass, when suffered
10 grow near young tree, will rob it Of
Its proper nutriment and produce fruit
results as unfayorable as the growth of
weeds around hill of corn. Corn,
beans, potatoes or onions may be grown
in young orchard, but none of them
should be planted within four feet OF
the trees, and in all cases the ground
should be kept clear Of weeds aud loose
on the surface.
Young trees treated 10 the above
manner, upon rich dry soil, will grow
with great rapidity aud will produce
fruit 10 half tho time as those which are
robbed of their nutriment by the con,
slant renewal Of crops Of grain and
straw.
With regard to praaiag, there are
probably as many young trees Injured
as are benefited by pruning, from the
work b2ing done either in a wrong maI
ner or at wrong time, Still there is
proper time and right way to do it.,
which adds much to the value Of thr
orchard. This, however, must dep md
in great degree upon tho skill and
judgment of the cuiIivator. will ven
ture, nevertheless, to give few hints
which may prove of use to the inexperi
enced
First, lot il be promised, that tue siz
OF the tree is increased alone by food
prepared in the leaves, and may there
fore be said togrow downwards instead 1
upwards 1t must be obvious then that
every healthy limb which is pruned 4
Injuries The growth of tue tree. Why
then prune at all? | answer, for tw,
very good reasons.
First-to prevent TIT top from grow
Ing too thick, aud 81 condly, 10 prevent
too msny primary limbs from growing
out Of the trunk. A tree will remain
sound aud healthy to a great age provi'
ded he bark can be X pt s0u'd Til,
cutting off Of small limbs does little OF
no harm, as the wound begins to hea
over before the wood begins to decay
whereas the cutting off of large ones i,
dangerous. 90 the future health Of IN,
tree, as decay onsuss before the wound /,
protected from the atmosphere B.,
healing over.
II is therefore proper that not more
than three or four limbs be allowed {,
start from the main trunk aud that
these should grow at right angles t.
the main trunk, foI il they arc suffered
10 run up near together they will, wheu
they attain considerable, size, como il
contact and pi9ch-ihat is enclose Tia,
lark between tho branches; when lhi,
Is the case the li'ubs are very apt to
split oil when the tree comes into ful
barring
By giving tho Framing and sco,udar,
limbs the right direction in tho start
there will afterwards be but little MS,
i'F saw or knife except to pruue ava,
sm'u Inn which ara beginning to deea,,
or sneh as eross each other aud cbafe. =
Nary va Farmer,