The Portland daily press., 1872-11-20
Fruit Raising In Mnine.-No. HI.
lBy Henry Reynolds, NJ. d.
SHELTER FOR ORCHARDS.


Shelter for orchards has received but lttlo
attention in this country. In England with
climate much milder than ours, the practice
of providing shelter for their fruit gardens is
almost universal. The fruit gardens are sur
rounded by hedges. These hedges break the
force of the wind and render the air within
the enclosure much warmer. q he air is also
more moist and the earth becomes dry less
quickly in such enclosures. 1t is well-known
that the ground dries rapidly,i in proportion to
the velocity of the wind. In fruit raising a
moist state of the air is one of the most de-
sirabe conditions to be maintained. Rapid
evaporation from the ground and tree is one
fruitful source of disease in fruit raising
The scabs and cracks upon apples, is sup.
posed to be due to this course. Hedges pro-
tect trees from the severity of the winters.
Fewer trees would be winter killed if protect
ed. The most usual cause of trees, being win
ter killed is due to the grounds freezing to a
not supply sufficient sap to the tree to COM
pensate for the loss of moisture from
the limbs and bark while exposed
to the drying winds of winter.
Spaces of ground enclosed by hedges a1e
frozen less deeply than those not thus enclosed
The drying winds of winter are also intercept
ed. Thus there is much less danger of in
furious evaporation from the trees when en-
closed by hedges. The retardation of rapid
evaporation from the orchard in summers is
also an object desirable to be obtained By
preserving the ground and atmosphere in a
moist state, the growth and perfection of the
apple is promoted. The fruit attains to great
er size and acquires aricher, finer flavor. The
productiveness of the orchard is also increas-
ed which together with the finer quality of
the fruit, adds considerably to the net profits.
In orchards well protected by shelter, much
less fruit is injured by being blown from the
tree in high winds. Another advantage of
shelter is the prevention of certain diseases,
such as bghts, cracking and scabbing Of fruit
to which reference has already been made. BY
protection, we shall also be enabled to culti-
vate successfully less hardy varieties than
now succeed in open and exposed situations.
By surrounding an orchard by dense
hedge, home is made for the birds where
the untiring and faithful friends of the birds
who are the untiring and faithful friends of
fruit culturist. The mission of the birds
has been too generally misunderstood and
their determination has been sought by those
who should,o ,on account of their own interests,
have been foremost in their protection and
I preservation. The ravages committed in our
orchards by insect enemies are well known to
every orchardst. Almost every remedial
means except the natural one of the birds
| themselves, have been tried in vain. Methods
| of entrappng and killing these varied insects
have been practiced, but ever must be ex-
ceedingly inefficient. All means for the ar
tificial destruction of insects must prove TO be
incomplete and inefficient. Nature has wise
ly provided the birds OF the air, for the Datur-
al enemies of the insect world to hold them
in check. But presumptuous and needless
| man has aimed at the destruction of these
| and 10! the insects unchecked have swarmed
through his fields and orchards devouring
whatever may fall in their way. Now if we
would remedy all this, let us protect, encour-
age and increase the numbers of these feath-
cred tribes who are ever active in this pur-
suit of insect foes and who make cur morn
ings glad with their joyous melody. If we
| would ensure their presence about our orch
| ards, we must provide shelter of trees for
them near by. Thus the thick hedge so neces-
sary to the thrift of the orchard. is the best
of homes for the birds.
Briefly then we may state, some of The ad-
vantages derived from shelter for orchards, to
be: prevention of injurious evaporation in
the drought of summers and the severe cold
of winters, which often destroys many trees;
greater quantity and finer quality of fruit;
less fruit injured by high winds, and protec-
tion from diseases and insects.
HOW TO MAKE THE HEDGE.
The shelter of the orchard is best obtained
by planting an evergreen hedge. For this
purpose spruce, fir or white cedar NAV be
used. Small trees, about foot high, should
he used for transplanting. Larger trees are
more apt to die from the effects of removal.
Three rows of these trees should be set
around the orchard. The rows about six fee
apart and trees, six feet in the rows. The
limbs should be allowed to branch near the
ground. Thus an almost impenetrable hedge
will be formed in few years. If the hedge
is set at the same time the trees are, it will
afford good shelter by the time the trees
commence bearing
SHELTER MORE NEEDFUL NOW THAN FORM
ERLY.
The destruction of our forests has render
ed shelter more needful for our orchards now
than formerly. In the early settlepent OF
the country when orchard trees throve with
so much vigor, the clearings were small and
entirely surrounded by forest, affording the
best ofshelter. OF late years, the continued
destruction of our forests has removed this
shelter and given the drying winds of winter
and the severe droughtS of summer almost
unresisted access to our trees. We must
now restore this shelter by planting oi
hedges.