The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-26
Grtisits State Sulirnal.
TUESDAY EvE'G. NOV. 20, 1872,
Pruning and Thinning.

bushels Us on the unthinned trees, and
that while the latter would scarcely bring
fifty cents per basket, tho large and excel
lent fruit resulting from thinning sold read.
lily for dollar and half.
Another proof Of the advantage of this
process is furnished by DR.. Hull's orchard
las reported in the Alton Telegraph in
Southern Illinois, who has "mode or
chard" of 1 800 trees, affording this gear
nearly 10000 baskets; and while "ord-
nary penches go begging for buyers at from
twenty-five to fifty cents, these 10000 find
a ready sale at seventy-five cents to one
dollar and twenty-five cents. So much for
pruning and thinning, and careful picking
and packing"
We cut the above from the Country Gen
tleD,an, as the basis Of some remarks
which we wish to make upon the subject
of improving the size and quality of our
fruits. Every few years the cry of over
production in some one or more kinds of
fruit, is heard, and tho advice is urgent,
and repeated-"Don't plant any more
orchards" A young man eager to pursue
the study of law, once asked the "Great
Expounder,n Daniel Webster, il nc consid-
cred the legal profession over.crowded.
"There's plenty of room in the upper sto-
ry," was the sage and laconic answer; so
let those who hesitate to plant fruits, for
fear that the market will be over-st jcked,
remember that the supply Of extra fine
fruit is never equal to tho demand.
In ell Of our large cities, the number Of
those who make money easily and rapidly
whose annual income far exceeds their
legitimate wants--is large and increasing.
This class are ever ready to spend money
lavishly for luxures that can afford graft
cation to any of the senses, and they cro-
ate demand for large, handsome, luscious
fruits, far beyond the supply.
Were we young man, just starting in
life for ourself, with the culture of the
soil our vocation, and an inclination for
fruit culture, we would select favorable
locality, and plant orchards of apples,
pears, plums, and cherries. We would
engage in the business with determination
to produce the finest fruits Of their kind,
and to make everything pertaining to the
growing, gathering, preserving, and selling
them our special study.
Unless there were O nursery convenient
where we could 60 and select two or three
year old trees, of such varieties rs we
wished to plant, with the most perfect
confidence that they would prove true to
name, we would commence at the beginning
by sowing seeds, or at the end Of the first
season by buying the seedlings and grating
them ourself. In the latter case we should
be careful to procure scions from bearing
trees with which we were familiar, and
take every necessary precaution to have
the work done well and thoroughly. We
would conhne our culture for market TO a
few varieties of long Keepers, such rs
Baldwin, Russell, Northern Spy, Hubbard
stones Nonsuch, and King of Tompkins
County, and we would make the cultiya-
ton of our orchards and the care of the
fruits paramount. Generally, the farmer
considers his grass and gram of first inn
portance, that must receive attention with
out fail, and then if he can find any spare
time he may give it to his orchard.
To raise fine fruit, the soil which is to
supply the pabulum Of the growing trees
and fruits, must be we'll fed. This is best
done by spreading fine manure upon the
surface in autumn, so that it may find its
way down to the roots during the winter,
prepared to minister to the first growth of
spring.
A thriving young orchard should be
pruned every spring to obViate the neces-
sity of cutting off large limbs, which IS all
ways detrimental to the health of tree.
The head should be kept well thinned out,
limbs crossing aud abrading one another
removed, and any branches inclined to grow
out of proportion shortened in, go Us to
make round, Symmetrical head.
THINNING THE FRUIT.
What orchardist does not observe, every
season, some trees SO overcrowded with
fruit that none are able to attain to full
size. and much is too small to sell with
flrst-class fruit. Now, can this be RENE.
died--and if it can, what is the best way?
Boys should be employed, and trained to
the business of taking care of orchards,
under competent foreman. In the early
part of the season they should be kept busy
destroying worms, curculio, codlipg moths,
&C., and later in the thinning out the fruit.
Some varieties--the Northern Spy, for
instance-have tendency to set more
fruit than they can carry Though to full
size, and when they are gathered much
must be rejected from first-class lots.
Quick motioned, handy boys provided
with suitable ladders, benches and small
baskets, could soon go over tree, thin
ring out the crowded clusters, and remov-
ing all the imperfect fruit. This fruit should
be fed to swine, so that all eggs or larva Of
insects might be destroyed. The last thin
ming should be done after the effects of the
second attack Of the codling moth becomes
visible, and large proportion of the wormy
fruit picked. There is little doubt but that
the remaining fruit would grow large enough
to bring the income from the crop up to
higher figures than if all were allowed to
grow to maturity, and then the greater
ease and satisfaction of selling extra fine
fruit is no small item in the calculation.
GATHERING THE CROP.
Success depends in great measure upon
the careful picking and handling of the
fruit, and packing in barrels in such way
that 1t may reach market free from bruises.
Careless pickers will toss or drop the fruit
into the baskets, and pour it out upon the
pile, or into the barrels in such o way as to
bruise more or less of them. Careful pick.
ers will keep the baskets near them, and
place the fruit therein, not relnquishine
their hold upon it until it touches the bot.
tom Of the basket, or the fruit already in
and with small basket will lower the
fruit down into the barrel before emptyne
il.
Thus by close attention to all the opera
tons of growing gathering and marketing