Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-13
Hints on Fruit Culture.

Although fruit culture has been on the,
increase in the United States for several
years, the demand for fruit appears to be
greater than ever, on account of the rapid
increase of the population. The quantity
OF fruit grown might be doubled by a
little attention to the culture as the soil,
the grating and pruning of the trees, and
the application of manures containing in
gradients specially adapted TO their re-
-quirements. A great many trees, of va
rious kinds of fruit, are unproductive on
account of the existence of stagnant water
in the soil around the roots. Suckers are
| allowed to grow around the trunks of
Others, and to absorb the ingredients
which should go to incfease the growth
or productiYeness of the trees. In some
orchards, seedlings or grated trees of in
ferior varieties have been permitted to
occupy the ground 10 the exclusion of
better fruit. Old trees, which are on the
decline, may be seen in many places cum
bering ground which might be proftably
occupied with young, vigorous trees of
the best kinds. Unsuccessful fruit-grow-
ers may learn many lessons in the well
managed orchards or gardens of some of
their neighbors
1t is probable that great many new
orchards will be planted in spring, as the
experience of several years has proved
that fruit growing is very profitable Be
fore planting new orchards it would be
well to pay some attention to those which
are already of bearing age. One acre
of fruit trees, properly cultivated, will
produce more than five acres of neglected
trees and impoverished soil. The raYages
of the borer, tent-Caterpillar, apple-worm,
and canker worm, increase so rapidly in a |
neglected orchard, that the trees are either |
killed or rendered unprOductive Rabbits |
and mice aid in the work of destruction |
and by the combined attacks of the ''pests |
of the orchard" a clean sweep is gener-
ally made of the trees or fruit. Let us l
now, consider what's best to be done in Or
der to prevent such disastrous results.
In the first place, the thorough drainage
of soil should be attended to, for if stag
nant water chills the roots, it will be vain
to expect productive trees or good fruit.
Unless the trees are very large, drains NAV |
be made in the center of the spaces be-
tween the rows without damaging the |
roots, and if the eXtremities of the roots
of some of the trees are cut off in sinking
the drains, the injury viii not be serious.
A good outlet being provided, drains from
three to four feet in depth should be con-
structed and the tiles laid closely, in order
TO prevent roots entering and choking the
drains. The closer the tiles are laid in
any drains the better, in order that water
may enter the joints without bringing in
sand. If tiles are not available, very SCI
viCeable and durable drains may be made
with small stones placed at the depth of
from eight to twelve inches and carefully
covered with sods to keep sand or clay
from getting among the stones and filling
up the cavities.
Some unprOductiYe orchards may he /
by grating vigorous trees of
inferior varieties, with scions of the best
fruits. In this way the most profitable
varieties for market or domestic use may
be obtained in a few years. 1t is not ad-
visable to have large number of differ
ent varieties; few of the best will be |
sufficient The prOductiveness of fruit |
trees of every kind will he increased by
judicious pruning and mulching, the re-
mOval of suckers or the prevention of
their grOwth-scraping and washing the
trunk and principal branches, and the ap-
plicatiOn of special manures. Very old |
trees cannot be made productive by any
kind of treatment. They should be
grubbed up and the place they occupied
prepared for the reception of young
trees, by deep tillage and the application
Of suitable manure Western Rural