Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-08
Farm, Garden, Kitchen and Shop

hNoo olih plOuhNAANtiiNSo 1iN
over, and the trees in state either OF neg
lect or rapid decay.
The eager inquiry continually comes up
in the journals Ofthe day, or at the discus
sions of horticultural societies, can they be
saved and how?
We are among those who believe that if
a tree is rightly planted, and carefully pro-
tected from insects and cold winds, judi
ciously pruned, and at proper times, using
liberal quantities Of manure, no fruit-grow-
,er will ever have occasion to utter the oft
repeated complaint, 'My fruit trees are dy-
ing out"
We think that the causes of the decline
and decay of all the old orchards, which |
once were such pride and glory to our
country citizens, are not attributable to at
mOspherie Influences or a changed climate
alone, but chiefly, yes, almost solely, to
mans neglect.
If growers would only cultivate their
trees as well as their gardens, how little
would be said as to the decay Of our or
chards.
But having poor orchards on our hands,
how shall we treat them?
lst.-Let every farmer who has a poor |
decayed, diseased tree. take ladder in one
hand and pruning-knife in the other, |
climb up into its branches and cut all dead
or diseased limbs, leaving only those which
are perfectly healthy next with a hoe or
rough iron instrument scrape thoroughly |
the rough, coarse bark up and down sever
al times then wash thoroughly either with |
water containing Il solution of potash, or
with the I've from wood ashes 90 down still |
deeper and Dig up the ground Immediately |
around the trunk of the tree, and clear out
all worms, all dead and diseased wood and |
roots, turn up well every inch Of the soil
under the tree and beyond the edge Of its
branches. At a distance Of six or eight
feet from the trunk Of the tree, or immedi- |
atey under the edge Of its branches, dig a
deep trench two feet deep and as many
wide, entirely around the tree, and replace
with fresh, rich earth from another spot, |
well mixed with manure or rich earth ey
ery fall tOp-dress with well rOtted manure, |
and every summer mulch the ground all
around well with coarse hay or litter; get
Wuod-ashes ut any cost, at first outset, and
apply literally under the tree at the time
Of first stirring. When shortening in the
roots, also thin out the head of the tree,
but under no circumstances lop off large,
healthy limbs here and there, nor prune
carelessIy and recklessIy Keep the ground
between the trees well cultivated, and en-
trelv free from grass, and the grower who
has the patience to wait rs well rs the en-
crgy to renOyate thoroughly, will find his
orchard again returning to thrittiness and
productiveness to q degree that will glad
den his eyes Although a renovated or
chard can never have the prospects OF. life
that young orchard possesses, yet tOriive,
six, or ten years an old orchard rejuvenated
can be made to produce sufficiently remu-
lucrative returns. After that time, if still
failing, cut them down, for they cumber
the ground. and replant with young trees.
2d.-Auothcr method, and an eminently
successful! one, too, is to rcgratt the stock
with other varieties. # is certainly far ca
ser to cut down and dcspoiI tree than to
replace one. So long as it is not radically
diseased or rotten, but simply neglected,
moss-covered and uupruned, its fruit like
wise degeneratcd until all its characters
tics of size, form, color and flavor are chang
ed, these trees may by iudicious methods
be 50 restored Is not only to be profitable
in their own fruit, but as stocks for graft
ing. forming, if desirable entirely new
heads. We remember several orchards thus
treated There were two orchards twenty
to twenty-five years old merely divided by
division fence, the general condition be-
ing precisely the same-the fruit in all its
varieties being Of the least possible value,
extremely small, knOtty and bitter, almost
unacceptable. At last one Of them was
rejuvenated by trenChing special manur-
ing, cleaning the bark by scraping, wash
ing, etc, and one-third Of the top regrafted
with choice kinds every year, until the
whole was done. complete and thorough
change took place; nothing could exceed
the health of the new wood and gratis
while their growth and maturity was extra
ordinary; the foliage which before was
small and sickly, and usually fell off al
midsummer, changed in every particular
becoming large, green, and full of vigor
while their neighbOrs, on the other side OF
the fence left untouched, resigned to ma
lures skill and the friendly offices of grass,
roots, were denuded entirely Of their leaves
scared by neglect and died.
A practical fruit-grower, who was asked
the question whether it was best to plant ;
new orchard or to renovate an old one, re
piled, Il should renovate the old one first
by all means, because your labors can b
made to pay a great deal quicker on tn
old orchard than on the new" Newl,
grated trees will begin to bear in thre
or four years, and continue to increase yea
after year; while the improvement of tn
stock and varieties of fruits in the orcharC
will be a most valuable Gem Old orch
ards that are allowed to run to grass shout,
be dug up every season; and if the Who'll
orchard cannot be cleared of grass, do
certainly as far as the branches extend.
the orchard is near the pig pen or poultry
yard, let them have free run Of the Orchar
through the warm season, for they will ca
and destroy most of the windfalls under tn
trees, and also keep the soil well stirred il
search Of worms. Scraping the trees, toe
at times Of pruning, is also important an
all moss or rough bark should be entirel
removed. This can be done best directl
after heavy storm, as the bark and mos
will then be in a condition to come Oft. A
ter this cleaning, u wash made of woOd-as
I've, or potash water, should be put on tn
trunk, and large limbs, which will kill a
insects and larvae, giving to the bark
smooth appearance Old trees should Nc
have their tops all removed at once, bU
gradually, say one-third every year, cuttin
off the southern portion first. Prunin
should be done regularly every year an
then only small limbs all the tools nece
5ary are a shrap hand-ssw, fine pruning
saw, and pruning-knite.
The apple-tree borer can only be Grad
Gated successfully by hunting him to I'll
end Of his hole with fine wire, and KILN
him frequently the trunk is covered for
iODL ABOVE ana DelOW Jne surface Oh Ut
ground with paper tarred or smeared wit
tobacco, and has proved a good remedy
but it needs removing every year, and do
not prevent the borer from burrowing in
the crotches Of the tree higher up. A VII
orous personal inspection of fruit trees
least three times during each growing Sc
son is the only method for perfect freedo
from insects
3d-Fruit growers too often neglect tt
Importance of draining Many orchar
we have seen located in wet lands, full {
superintendent moisture, clogging up Il
tree and inducing disease. By drainil
the same, the trees have been brought ba
to fruitfulness, the ground made drier al
more porous Draining prevents too su
culent a growth, and makes better, sound
wood. Clay lands ought always to
drained if they are used for orchards.
4th.-AnOther successful method is
supplying abundance of natural manu-
If we could advise all the fruit growers
the country at one grand mass-meeting,
would say, plant your trees on new Ian
and secoedly, manure with natural N
nures. Bythiswe mean leaves, leaf-moul
wood manure, decayed forest earth, al
wood ashes. 1t is no cause for wonder tn
so many of our fruit-trees fail because tn