Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-03-18
agricultural.
farmers Club--Parfs.


Mr.. B. F. Twitchell enquired if the
views of "Sears" were correct in one par
ticulir-as to pruning young trees early
in July-thoughL it might be an objection
to pruning so early where the grass under
the trees would be trampled.
Mr.. PARIS supposed the object in prun
ing late was to prevent the suckers from
starting again. He saw no objection to
pruning, on the ground OF treading down
the grass. as he would prefer it should
be done-he would not secure the grass
crop under the trees, but would NOW it
and let it rot to fertilize the ground.
Col. SWEET thought the grass around
fruit trees should be killed out by mulch.
ing. One Of the best orchardsin An1ros-
coggin County, in the town of Greene,
has not been plowed for 35 years, but
mulched He would trim large limbs OF
trees in the fall, rather than spring owing
to the run of sap, which oozes out and
rots the trees.
4. S. Thayor remarked thatthe grasses
that grow under trees was not worth
much he would spade upunder trees and
turn il under though i. was more work
than To mulch.
Mr.. Paris said the roots OF apple trees
al. II. -. l..
far mulching was required; white ash
roots spread four times as wide rs tho
limbs.
DR.. +. II. brown said, in relation 10
pruning trees. there is a good season for
cutting of large limb when the new
wood is growing. 1t is matter OF inn
portance how - prune; should be done
iudciously; never cut off large limbs.
The soil on the hill is good Tor fruit
especially ; there is but one other place
in town, whore Mr. Ephraim Maxim lives
il is owing TO the iron in the soil; the
Jackson place is favored by getting the
washings of a large territory. In rela-
ton to small fruits. Mr.. Goodalc. the Sec
retary of the Board of agriculture, has
much cxpericnce-thc Pear, on Ounce.
which he introduced did not do much
As to Grapes, the Isabella did not do
much here. the Diana is q hybrid. fort
night earlier; the Clinton Is early, and al
ways ripens and bears well too astringent
for dessert; the Isabella il taking atten-
ton now; Capt. VIM. K. Swan had speci-
mems ut the Fair in perfection, Is sub
acid. good for open culture in our climate.
The Hartford Prolific is not so good Il
dessert sauco--it is good To raise here
rpens well, but drops off like the North
ern Muscadine; you hardly ever see it III
clusters. 1t is defective on that account;
should speak we'll OF the Concord grape;
it will ripen under favorable circumstan-
ces-, is fine lookng-have the Iowa
grape; il i, splendid one on paper; it
bears early, and gets ripe after frost
comcs-a fancy grape. The three grapes
I would cultivate, are the Delaware, Di-
ana and Hartford Prolific. Objected to
robins on account OF Their destruction OF
cherries and strawberries they are great
depredators; the cherry bird will go
Though q net placed over trees. Tho
black rust on improved trees never troub-
led me. Think the robins ought To be
killed here rs they do South of us. New
York has done much To import the spar
row To destroy the canker worm. The
Raspberry can be well cultivated; the
Franconia or other varieties; have some
in the shade under trees, which come
later than the native; rather acid, but eX-
celent, easy to be picked; must bo culti-
vated; will not grow in the grass. The
currant is very valuable. rs all know;
good for preserves and sauces. Have set
out the cranberry on highland, but think
they must be on Overilowed land, to pre-
vent blossoming As to plums. the
Washington, jefferson and Mclaughlin
are equal to peaches; but the black rust
is such destructive agent to them / des.
pail cultiyating them; it is contended that
it is an egg deposited in the bark, fun
gus grows about il. and II grub is formed
that does the mischic(-somc think il is
in the circulation of the trees, like scrotu-
Ia in the human system plum trees grow
finely here.
Col. SWEET, said he was a friend of the
birds; would not Kill lhem-thinks they
do more good than harm and so of the
crows-he would plant corn to feed them
on account of what they do.
Dwarf apple trees are being sold very
plenty; they have had their day in
Vermont, and have proved failure.
Mr. Brown said the culture of Grapes
requires the most favorable conditions
they must have the sun and be sheltered
from the cold winds. Would prefer the
sun in the afternoon.
Mr.. Jarvis c. Marble said he had con-
siderable experience in fruit culture;
bought fifty apple trees at Norway and
setthem out-bought fifty more seedlings;
bought fifty New York trees OF MIR.
Goodale after two years l had the seed
lings grafted--Mr. Goodale's We're graft
ed; thinks the trees which were grated
have decayed. while those which were
grated when they were set out did well ;
but few died. Got the Northern spy