The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-11-05
FRUIT CULTURE.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST.

RANT lfuiC trees. IlaGt tOtS OF Irult
Plant every Kind of fruit. Everybody
plant fruit. Plant the best varietics.-
Plant in as many different places as pos
sible on high ground and low; on hill
side and level; on the east side and Oh
the west; facing 10 the north and to the
south some on rich land and some not
50 rich /; some in the old of the moon
some in the Lew, and some not in the
moon at all; by the hedges and bitches
the highways and byways, for home ust
and for market, for private use and fol
public. Now to attend to this matter al
once. Raise your own fruit and don't
have the boys running all over creation
into everybody's orchard, pilfering what
should be found in great plenty at home
Club together and send one of your
own number directly to some good
nursery, to purchase your young trees
Don't buy from travelling pedd ers, unless
you can't do any better; some Of them
may be honest enough, but the tempta-
ton to dishonesty is SO great that many
fail to resist it Second rate trees can
often be bought low by the quantity at
the nurseries, especially when a lot or
corner is to be cleaned out and made
ready for new stock: and then the very
obliging pedder can label you anything
you may want, without reference to the
nurseryman' books. | make no asser-
tinns. but merely hint at the risk in buy
ing of irresponsible. parties.
The difference in the prices from the
nursery and from the peddler, will more
than pay the expense of going direct TO
the nursery, unless you and your neigh
bors wants but very small quantity
Before planting prepare the ground as
thoroughly as circumstances will admit.
Don't forget the benefits of deep tillage
and rich compost. Prepare the whole
feld or lot, instead of the immediate
spot where the tree is to stand; then
furrow the ground both ways (unless
too steep) the same as for corn or po-
tatoes; then cross it both ways again,
running only in the furroWs where the
trees are to stand If for apples about
every eight or tenth furrow, peaches ev-
cry fourth or fifth, as you think best ;
then plant the trees right in the cross
ings without manure and without dig
ging deeper than the original plowing
if it can be helped. Better raise a
mound than dig pit. Don't crowd the
roots, but straighten out nicely and sift
in among them finely pulverized soil,
gently pressing it down till every root
is completely imbedded fll up the hole
little above the general level, press
down firmly with the feet, and cover
again with loose earth to prevent baking
and the more readily to receive mois-
ture. Never plant when the ground is
wet. The broken or mangled roots
should have been nicely pruhed OF with
a sloping cut from the underside, and
the fibers or rootiets shortened little
before setting.
At tie proper Season plant the ground
in corn, potatoes, beans, or some other
hoed crops. but don't sow wheat, oats,
or rye, unless you wish to check the
growth. Cultivate from year to year,
get Off as rluch corn, potatoes, DC, as
you can, but don't let the ground get
poor. Spread your compost over the
entire surface, and, as the trees increase
in size, run the plow, shallow in the re-
eion of the roots, but deeper where it
will not disturb them Muzzle your
horses, wrap the traces, use short sim
gletrees, and hold the plow yourself un-
less you have a very careful hand. Give
the trees good shape before they get
too large. Cut out the extra limbs while
small, that the wounds may the sooner
heal Remember that every cut is a
wound, aud the larger the more serious
but every tree has to be pruned more or
less If you would have good, healthy
orchard. Remember, too, that the
limbs, which seem wide enough apart in
the small tree, are very apt to prove too
close when the tree gets larger Go
through often, always with good,
strong, sharp knife in your hand, ready
for use as opportunity may offer. Don't
let grass or weeds grow, or leave trash
close to the trees; they form too good a
harbor for mice. To prevent depleda.
tons from rabbits, make raid on the
rabbits, rout them from their strong
holds.clean out and clean up all the sur
rounding thickets, and if your neigh
bors can't be induced to follow suit, the
trees can be wrapped with small rope
made of hay, straw, or long grass; but
be sure to take all off again in the
spring. so as to give no protection to
insect ravagers. If your ground is too
rough for the plow. and the above d.
rections can not be followed,do the best
you can under the circumstances. Raise
tobacco on your new, steep ground, and
pile the stalks around the trees in the
fall. After several crops of tobacco
seed to clover.
Now. don't come over into my or
chard and tell me | preach one way and
practice another. | am not writing fol
myself, but for others; but / believe
have learned or verified all these things
bv experience or observation, and if my
testimony hereto will be Of any benefit
to Others. they are welcome to it. lor
need not ask who am or where | stay
but just take what say for what it i:
worth, and what | intimated bit ago
now say plainly: Don't do as I do, bu
do as 1 tell you. JED.
A RetOrt.
A story of two well l-known clergy