The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-01-27
For the Lancaster Gazette.
What to do and How to do IL.

have heard many farmers say,
II have small piece Of ground,
what shall l do with Il? The field
is too small for for farming and
too elevated for corn, and yet my
acres are not consequently
| must leave it as it is" / shall
answer them in few words. Why
not have fruit trees planted there.
on? Why, every farmer in the
land should have as many good
varieties ofapple, pear, cherry, peach
and plum, as he has spare ground
for, also q number OF different kinds
of grapes planted between the
rows Of his trees, especially il the
trees are planted say 25 or 80 fOet
apart. For thOy will oil grow
thrifty, and with careful cultiva.
ton, will yield bountiiully. after
arriving to q certain age. say 4 or
8 years. l would then suggest, that
early potatoes be planted between
the rows OF trees and vines, and
then cultivate often with tho hoo
or shovel plow. Dig the potatoes
as soon as ripe, then pass the har.
row over the ground several timoa,
both ways: then SOW turnip seed
harrow in with large brush, and
your work Is we'll dono. The soil
for an orchard should be Of q light,
porous, but productive character.
The land should be elevated, and
we'll prepared by thorough plow.
ing; though I have found that
fruit trees will thrive we'll in now
ground. I have grown tbcm among
stumps, with happy results.
The land should havo a natural
drainage, If possible. In low lands
tiles should be used, il accessible.
Surface drainage may do somo
good by throwing tho burrows al.
ways toward the trees or vines,
but never so much as to cover too
much Of tho bark Of the trees.--
Small trecs are surer 10 grow than
larger ones. The trees should DO
stocky and we'll branchod, and see
that they have good roots before
planting them. To plant an or.
cbard, l mark Off piece Of grouud
as largo as | want II; then run
burrows crosswiso say about 30
feet apart, leaving space enough
between the trees for grape vines,
&o.,) then dig large holes, say 3 to
4 feet in diameter whoro the fur.
rows cross each other, and about
ono foot deep, mako q little mound
in tho centre with loose dirt; take
good soil-no clay-sot your troo
directly upon tho small mound;
separate the roots carefully from
one another, and spread them out
in their natural position; tho finest
soil put next to the hbros or small.
or roots. And don't DO afraid of
your back but get down upon your
knees, and work in among the
roots with your fingers; see that
the roots arc we'll covered with 6ne
soil, which will naturally exclude
moro or less air, Tho lattcr hav.
ing a tendency 10 dry the roots too
much, perhaps kill the troe. Ahor
filling the hole about half full, uso
light pressure with tho foot, upon
The soil covering tho roots, then
add more soil. Now you may pour
on several quarts Of water 10 settle
the soil; lhon add moro soil to all the
holo. Boar in mind, that all treos
must bo planted as deep as they
wero in tho nursery. Treated thus
you will end that 80 out Of 100
trees will grow without fail. II
planted In one season 600 ,roos,
oil grew we'll except ono, which
died for tho want OF good roots.
More hereafter,
Jan. II, 1870. "GAB."
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Florida and SnuNh No.oli.. nfe..