The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-28
evening sstate 5o,trnat
THURSDAY EVENING, DEC. %. 1871.
CULTURE OF BEARING ORCHARD.

When an apple orchard has attained to
It's bearing age-from fifteen to twenty
years---f it has been properly cultivated.
there will be but small portion, if any. OF
its surface soil that will not bo occupied bv
the roots Of the trees.
An examination OF the soil and sub-soi
would probably show us numerous large
roots, extending in all directions through
the soil, and few down into the sub-soil.
the latter in search of. moisture, mineral
food, and perhaps to anchor the tree more
firmly to the earth while branching from
the larger roots, the soil would be filled
with network Of smaller roots, or rootlets.
and still branching from these, o magnify
ing glass would reveal Numerous root-hatrs.
or slender fibrils, that perform very i'm
portant part in absorbing moisture, and
nutriment from the earth for the tree.
A tree, lifted clear from the ground with
all its roots intact, would show a great re-
semblance between the formation Of its ton
and roots, only that its roots would extend
more laterally, and less virtically, would
be longer and more slender, and to COM
pensate for the immense surface of ledves
in the top, evaporating moisture, there
would be great number of roots and root
hairs absorbing moisture from the earth.
It is therefore apparent that as the roots
cannot strike downwards so freely as the
branches of the top ascend upwards into
the air, they must extend farther, laterally.
and it has been found, as stated in a for.
mer article, that the roots cover nearly
twice the area of tho top. With these
facts in view, the question arises--should a
bearing orchard be cropped? We reply in
the negative, for the following reasons =
/. To raise crop that will pay, the
ground must be plowcd deep--so deep as
to tear up quite a portion of the roots that
minister to the growth of the tree. ~
2. The growing crop must be nourished
from the soil that feeds the apple tree, and
its fruit, thus competing with the tree for
the available food in the soil.
3. The cultivation Of the crop is OBJ
structed by dependent fruit and leaf-laden
branches, and the branches are broken, the
fruit knocked off, and perhaps the trunks
of the tree barkcd by the whifiilctrees, pillow,
or harrow.
What, then, shall be done with the bear
ing orchard? There are two courses--the
one to be followed to be determined by
the strength Of the soil. $50
The surface of the orchard to the depth
of two or three inches may be kept mellow
and clean by the use of such implements as
the cultivator and harrow; or it may be
seeded down, and pastured by sheep or
swine. If the soil were very strong, and
the trees inclined to make wood too fast to
fruit profitably, we would seed it to grass
and pasture close for a few years, until the 4
growth of wood was somewhat checked.
We are not certain, in case the growth of
yuonn xUa v.oy, opt ft,ot
not moto crop or two of grass, to promote
fruitfulness. And here we would say. in
reply to a correspondent of the R,1'dl Home, |
that trees may grow too fast to be fruitful. 4
Wescan always find some facts that seem
to c6htrovert almost every theory, but |
botany teaches that rapid growth of wood |
is uBfavorable to great fruitfulncss, and |
what farmer of long experience has not OBJ |
served fruit trees growing near hog-yard
or barn-yard, or upon other spots, unusu- |
ally fertile, that made every year great |
growth Of top, and but little fruit, while |
Others of the same variety, not excessively |
enriched, bore large crops.
We have all noticed that grain, growing
in rich places make a great growth Of
straw, but fills lightly with grain. There
is scarcely a law Of vegetable physiology
lully cotdulioHt1i bfidii tlic dDOtcs
Were the trees making rather feeble
growth, we would pursue the first course
cultivate the ground. The cultivation
should be done, mainly, in the spring be-
fore the branches are bent down with leaves
and fruit, and in the autumn after the fruit
is gathered. Even when the ground is kept
clean by cultivation. sheep or swine should
be turned in to pick up the worm-blighted
fruit.
Farmers with small orchards, often make
them hog-pastures with quite favorable re-
suits. They can be rinqed so as to use it
as a pasture, simply, or they may be al
lowed to root it over, but in the latter case
they should be watched to see that they do
not root too deeply, and tear up the roots
of trees. An orchard, used as hog-pas-
ture, and rooted over, is not an ornament
to the place, nor a desirable promenade
for the family. but many a farmer can at
lest to the fact that such orchards have
borne large crops Of fair fruit.--Rmal
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