Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-24
Farm, Garden, Kitchen and Shop

asserts that the rOOt-HDreS Oh IFulJ anu Jun
err trees are produced annually, like leaves,
and living so near the surface of the ground
where they receive their nourishment, the
cultivation Of the ground by any instru-
mcnt whatever will cause their mutilation,
and interfere with the successful healthy
growth of the tree hence the advice is Civ
en- to allow the orchards to remain in
grass.
Such advice As this, coming FROM 50 in
duential a source is likely to do much in
Jury to orchards under the care Of ignorant
hands, unless more judicious method Of
treatment is suggested. We have album
dant reason at present to deplore the state
Of the majority Of our orchards for this
very reason, that they are grass-grown,
neglected and decaying.
1t may be set down rs a fact, that wher-
ever a farmer takes pains to cultivate his
orchard to help the fruitfulness ofhis trees,
he viii be mindful of their health in other
ways, and will be constantly on the look
out for worms and insects, or will take care
10 Prunc properly, or thin out superabun-
dant fruit in short, it proves that he Is 4
fruit-grower of good habits, which are real
ly the foundation Of all real success. But
If, for the sake of some Scientific truth" a
farmer is led to believe that grass in or
chards is a benefit, he is at once easily led
into an entire neglect Of the means ncces-
sary 10 preserve his fruit trees, and, rs a
result, his trees are easily barked by mice,
affected by the borcr, infested by caterpil-
lars the grass absorbs nourishment prop
crly belonging to the tree, and the farmer
with easy habits of negligence clinging
strongly to him, will forget to replace it
with q good dressing Of manure. 1t is
readily seen where such Il course will final
ly end, and it is not slight responsibility
for amy one to assume to promulgate to the
world such advice as this, which will, with
out doubt, have Il tendency to do far more
harm than good
The "let alone" system has prevailed
long enough and in these days Of cnlight
cned horticultural knowledge, no practice
should be tolerated or encouraged for al
instant which will act as a hindrance t,
successful fruit culture. This "lct alone
system for orchards has been advocated
for 50 many years by a majority Of our az
ricultural journals, that it is not strang
farmers consider it perfectly proper an,
reasonable; and now the task is hard t
convince them Of the error of Il policy ST
deeply seated and so self-cyidcntlv suicidal
Our answer to the question is, "cultiyat
by all means not only to begct good habit
and proper attention to the health of tn
trees, but to increase their fruitfulncss, an
maintain it for year, ahead. Every on
who has observed orchards at all unde
different methods of treatment, knows tina
trees will grow faster and better if tn
ground is cultivated and MANFRED well. .
correspondent Of ours, Il practical fruit
grower, says that after an experience Of
quarter Of Il century, he has arrived at tn
conclusion that cultivation has prove
highly beneficial while the want Of cult
Walton has been equally detrimental
"When ! set my first orchard, nine tree
were left without cultivation, while tn
rest were well cultivated for several wear,
The trees let alone did not make near hal
the growth that the cultivated ones did.
The essential point aimed at is to Undue
the growth Of the tree, or first make tn
tree, then get the fruit.
As general rule. young orchard, n,
old enough to bear, may be moderated
stimulated, provided it IS not ut the sacr
flee OF the maturity of the wood. If t.
rapid growth Is induced, the wood wi
not mature, and the cold Of winter ma
Kill It, Hence, Il farmer must use h
Judgment well between the two extreme
OF cultivation, a. giving rapid growth {
retardlng growth altogether.
II any farmer will take pains to stud
the simplest facts IN vegetable PhysioIog.
ne VIII ma that the roots OF all trees an
plants flourish best IN the surface son
where all the vegetable mouIdlS abundan
an" where they nave the Deneht ciHun, al
warmth ANA lcfliII|a'Ioh' IhcH hcarHe
To inc surface varies from TWO to SIX mel
g. rarely over two 1t VIII then be al
parent mat IN our treatment OF our tree
we must use such means ~ will on Il
one hand, neither mutiiatr or disturb the
roots, and on the other not to dePrive thcl
oil appropriate and necessary nourlshmel
ana moisture.
During the first year Of planting Il
roots of fruit trees extend only a short di
lance fom the trunk, and increase rapid
during each succeeding year, extending
last far beyond the tips of the branche
Thus, in course Of time, the soil to an I'M
mite degree becomes filled with an inn
merable number of roots, large and sma
and to drag pillow down deep through tn
vast mass Of precious feeders, would n
fail Of producing deep and irrcparable il
jury. But the objects Of cultivation CO
be far more easily attained by a light sti
ring of the surface-soi with Il cultivate
harrow or hoe, to a depth of three inches
rarely more-but pillow should never
used. Hoed crops of roots, etc, never
grain, may be permitted in the omen spa