New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-05
WHAT KNOW OF FARMING.
ny HORACE GREELEY.
XIV.
..nr-r,S TlE ADDI ID.

most II not al other countries Wlch
IN NJ arsod would point at once 10 the lrui'-
have ua'','N - generally diversity every little as
trees VIM form throughout these States and are
wen a. rIy found even on the petty holdings OF
gu''o - mechanics and worlcnen in every village
u" ~ tbe suburbs and outskirts OF every ciy' L
,ocau nothing like il abroad, save III TWO Vi
,Iroe of the least mountainous ana most iei.io
l;,ricts of northern Switzerland ltaly HIS
sono approach TO it i'll the venerable owe
80 ,i5cb surround or flank many perhaps
INST Of her farm houses, UNFOLDING grape-Vmes
a. apci,,t and nearly as large rs themselves; out
a.. average New-Fnglaud or Middle State homestead
ia, its annie Apple orchard and its cluster OF Pear
CHR, aud Plum trees surrounding its house ana
dating or bcltng its garden has an air OF comfort
AID modest Thrift which | have nowhere else seen
f,;rlv eoualed Upland Virginia and the mountain
ous norton Of the States southwark OF her may IA
time surpass the most favored regions OF the North
IN the abundance variety and excellence OF their
fuits: for the Peach and the Grape find here con-
genial climate, while they grown with difficulty
where they can be grown at ALL in the North Dut'
ND to this hour Judge that our country nor'h Oh inc
P,torlac is better supplied with wholesome ana par
arable treefnis than any other portion OF the earths
slnfacc of equal or nearly equal area.
On the whole | deem it misfortune that our
Nortbern States were so admirably adapted to the
Apple and kindred frmt-trees that our pioneer lolo
fathers had little more to do than bury the seeds IN
the ground and wait few years for the resulting
f,uit The soil formed of dccayed trees ana thelr
fliace thckly covered with the ashes OF the prml-
tive forest was as genial soil could be; while the
ror,oi,ipr woods which still covered seven-eghths
Of the country shut out or sottened the cola winds
If winter and Spring, rendering it less difficult
e,,a., hoe in Aput herr
Hampshire than it now is in Southern New-York.
Devastating insects were precuded by those great,
dense woods from difusing themselves from orchard
In orchard as they now do Shows fell more
heavily and lay longer then than now. protecting
the roots from heavy frostS, and keeping back buds
and blossoms in Spring, TO the signal advantage
Of the husbandman. ] estimate that my apple-trees
would bear at least one-third more fruit
if | could retard their blOssOming fort
night so as TO avoid the cold rains and cutting
winds often succeeded by frosts, which are apt to
nav their unwecome farewell visits just when my
trees are in bloom when the fruit is forming di-
rectly thereafter Hence l say to every one who
shall hereafter set orchard Give IT the northward
slope of hill if that be possible. Other things being
equal. the orchard which blossoms latest will, in
series of years yield most fruit, and will be most
likely to bear when the Apple crop of your vicinity
proves failure. do not recommend storing ice to
plant or bury under the trees in April for that in
wolves too much labor and expense; yet have no
doubt that even that has been and sometimes might
be done with profit. In the average, however,
Judge that it would not pay.
In locating and setting an orchard, the very hrst
consideration is thorough drainage. Nothing short
Of a destructive fire can be more injurious to an
apple-tree than compelling it TO stand throughout
Winter and Spring in sour, stagnant water. barren
ness dead branches, and premature general decay
are the natural and righteous consequences Of such
CRYING abuse There are many reasons for choosing
slminr or broken ground for an apple-orchard,
whereof comparative exemption from frost ana
natural facility of drainage are the most obvious
A level field. thoroughly undcrdrained to-day, may,
tlrourh neglect and the mischiefs wrought by Dur
rowing animals, have become little better than a
norass thirty years hence; but an orchard set on
toerably steep hillside is reasonably secure against
wet feet to the close of its natural life.
A pravey or sandy loan is generally preferred for
orchards yet have known them to flourish and
bear generously on heavy clay. Whoever has a
gravey field will wisely prefer this for Apples not
merely to clay but TO sand as well.
And. while many young orchards have doubtless
been injured by immOdeTate applications OF rank,
green manures I doubt that any man has ever yet
bestowed too much care and expense on the prepa-
ration of his ground for fruittrees. Where ridges OF
plateaus of fast stone do not forbid, would say,
Turn over the soil to a depth of at least fifteen
inches with large pillow and strong team; then
lift and nulveTize the subsOil to depth of not less
than nineinches apply all the wood ashes you can
yet with one thousand bushels of Mari if you are in
Mari region if not Use instead from thirty TO fifty
bushels Of quick Lime (OysteT-shell if that is to be
had with one hundred loads per acre of Swamp
Muck which has lain year on dry upland baking III
the sun and wind, and now you may think OIL settng
your trees. II your soil was rich Western prairie or
Middle-State garden to begin with you dispense
with all these fertilizers yet doubt that there is an
acre of Western prairie that would not be improved
by the Lime or perhaps better still smaller guam
tty of refuse Salt from packng-house or meat-re-
failing grocery. There are not many farms that
would not repay the application of five bushels per
acre Of refuse Salt at twenty-five cents per bushel.
YOur frees once set-land he who sets twenty trees
Der day as they should be set with each root i'll its
natural position and the earth pressed firmly around
its trunk but no higher than it originally grew, Is
n faithful efficient worker, i would cultivate the
land fOr the trees sake growing crops successfully
of Ruta Bagas, Carrots, Beets, and early Potatoes
but DO grain whatever for six or seven years, dis
tnrbng the rootsof the trees little may be, and
guarding their trunks from tug or trace, or while
tree by three stakes set firmly in the ground about
each tree not it preclude constant Guilt
walton with the hoe Inside well as outside Of the
stakes so as TO LET no weed mature in the field APP
ply from year to year well-rOtted compost to the
field i'll quantity sufficient fully to cOunterbalance
the annual abstraction by your crops. Make it
law nfexible and relentless that no animal shall be
Get into this orchard 10 forage, OF for any purpose
whatever but to draw on manures TO till the soil,
H.. IIro until ba trgf
blossoms begin to appear on the trees then lay
down to grass Withom grain. unless it be a crop
of Rye or Oats 10 be cut and carried off for feed when