The Hickman courier., 1869-03-20


( sAzr-y trees, of two or three years old.
where the planter can, it is best fol
him to visit some reliable nursery and
make his own selection of trees See
TINT they are carefully taken up, with al
the roots possible.
You want the best varieties, and if foI
market or family use, you should dis
crimiDate in the selection of varieties
Don't desire too many kinds of apples
Ii you wish to plant for market you Eill
find dozen varieties better than lar,er rs1
number
Your trees having been properly taken
up, see that the roots are not exposed to
the wind or sun. If, on receiving them,
you are not ready to set them out cover
the roots with earth so that they will not
become dry before setting. Never let
THE roots freeze out of the ground. IF,
by any accident, they should become
frozen, bury them well in the ground till
the frost is all out of them, aud all will
be we'll
Where the whole plot of ground has
been deeply stirred, there is no occasion
for digging holes for your trees. 1t will
only be necessary to throw out the soil
at the place where you wish the tree to
stand, sufficiently to admit the roots of
the tree. when spread out in their natur-
al order, and the tree, when planted, a
little deeper thaP it stood in the nursery.
Always shorten in the top of the tree
to correspond with the loss of root in
taking up. Plant no forked trees. In
putting out your trees, see that the best
top soil, and nothing else comes in con-
tact with the roots, and let soil be press
ed over them, then raise .he soil we'll
around the tree and tread firmly.
Thorough culture of the orchard
should follow thorough preparation of
the soil. Corn is the best to plant among
young trees, as it insures good cultiva-
tion, and the partial shade it affords to
the trees, is beneficial in the hot days of
the latter part of the summer. After
the orchard has thus been cultivated for
several years, it may be sown down to
clover, which will tend to induce fruit
fulness.
Never SOW small grain in a young
orchard.
Insects are a great drawback to fruit
culture. The codiing moth is a great
pest to the apple grower. As an aid in
the warfare against it, our most intelli
gent orchardists are giving their hogs and
sheep the run of the orchard. They
pick up the wind falls, most of which
are occupied by the larvae of this insect
The apple tree borer must be looked
after, aud their presence may be known
by their chips, OF sawdust like appear
auce, which they throw out from their
holes near the root OF the tree With
pocket knife in hand dig them out, or
punch them to death with a wire or small
apple sprout The nt-caterpillar must
be destroyed, and the cankep worm
guarded against. Many fruit growers
are death on the birds. | encourage
them to come on my grounds, and find
them very pleasant companions in my
daily toll, and welcome allies in this in-
sect warfare
The second year after planting let the
tree be pruned, with view to well bal
anced head. And every season theseaf-
ter let the trees be examined, aud dSDy
limbs cut out Early spring
is favorite time to prunc. l prefer
june. Small limbs may be removed at
any time, but for large ones late fall or
early winter is to be preferred. Wash
Ing the trees with strong soap-water or