The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-04-30

Continued
SOIL.
A strong loan soil is the best for the
pear tree. A loamy clay, where the clay
largely predominates, is favorable for this
tree. If on clay soil, plant entirely above
the natural surface of the ground and
cover their roots with mounds Of earth
instead of planting them in holes. Soil
that is damp during a considerable por-
ton of the year, or where the subsoil is
so wet that the roots will come in contact
with standing water, should be under
drained. Most clay lands will be bentit-
cd by thorough drainage. A low wet,
frosty location should be avoided elevat-
ed localities are the most favorable. |
would obviate the old plan Of digging
large holes for my trees by thorough
preparation of the whole ground where
the orchard is to stand.
Twenty years ago planted an apple
orchard of four acres, 40 trees to the
acre. This field had been cropped for
many years to corn and wheat alternate
ly. A heavy coat of manure had been
applied every two years; the land plow-
ed deep. This was as good a prepara-
ton of the soil for setting trees as one
could well give it. inexperienced as l
was in setting fruit trees sought the OK
perience of others. | read Dovning'S
Fruit and FruH Trees Of america. He
told me to dig my holes from three to
four feet square, and eighteen inches to
two feet deep. Desiring to be thorough
in my work, | followed the outer extreme
Taking one man with me, we went to
work throwing out thirty-two cubic feet
of soil for each tree, quantity that
weighed not less than two tons. The
ground was filled with small stones espe.
cially the subsoil, and was hard to DIG
Four holes each was our days work, anC
hard one at that. According to direc
tions, l mixed with the earth, when re
placed in setting the trec-compost manure
prepared by mixing muck and ashes will
well rotted manure, using five bushels tt
each tree. After setting ono acre in thi
way, being somewhat tired of so much ex
pense and labor, lcssened the size o
the holes dug on the second acre to thrc
feet by eighteen inches. | found quite
difference between renewing thirty-tw
or thirteen and one half feet Of soil. O
the third acre | dug the holes two fee
square by one foot deep. The fourth an
last acre was set by digging the holes jus
sufficient to accommodate the roots with
out bending or crowding. These wer
set without manure. The trees on tn
last acre, from the first commenced q
vigorous q growth as the trees on tn
first acre, and at this time are equal j
size and productiveness. Scarcely tire
on the first acre stands erect. The so
replaced in the holes before the tree W;
planted was packed as well as it could |
done when the earth was dry, but the d.
composition of the manure and heay
rains settled the ground unevenly, lea
ing the trees leaning, some in one dire
ton, some In another.
Except for the first pear set out TIVE
ty.fve years ago have never dug hol
larger than was necessary to place Il
roots in the same direction that they gre
before the tree was taken up for tran
planting. My dwarf pear trees we
placed upon rich sod, inverted, into t
bottom of each hole. Standard tire
should be planted from fifteen to TWEEN
feet apart. Dwarf trees from eight
ten feet. Some varieties require me
space than others. Most persons think
wet time the most favorable for setti
trees, and if the weather is dry VIII
their trees are received, will head tn,
in some damp place like the cellar, a
wait for rain. Trees should not be
for two or three days after rain. lft
soil is wet it falls upon the roots in hca
clods, pressing them down together.
dry, the soil can be sifted among the (
rous roots, separating each rootlet fir
fellow. Roots are thrown out in lay
so as to reach different strata of car
In setting out the tree, the upper la,
should be raised until the lower TO
have been placed in their natural post
and covered with line earth, Place
two roots in contact. After the upl
layer of roots has been placed and coy
ed, thoroughly saturate with water.
the weather is dry, mulch the tree. y
er water tree at any time after il
planted Retain the moisture by tn
ough mulching, or create INC
ture by thorough culture. 1t has b
said that "a man can create more moist
with hoe than with watering pot"
do not favor mulching trees after the
season of planting. prefer good cult
after stirring the soil, to mulching,
pear orchard should be kept clean fl
weeds; should receive as good culture
ought to be bestowed upon corn or p'
toes. To avoid late growth OF woo
do not cultivate the ground after the
of September.
DWARF OR STANDARD TREES.
Which shall We set, dwarf or sta
ard trees? In answering this questic
will say that l have planted both in al
equal numbers. Should plant both az
but select fewer varieties. Dwarf t
require more attention, and will su
more from neglec. of culture, theref
should not be planted by any one
will not give care and culture to
trees. Dwarf trees can be made proi
Die. The crop returned in quantity
quality will be about in the same rati
the amount of culture and care givel
the trees. But few persons will
them the requisite care to insure sucC
hence but few persons should plant dy
trees. Standard trees, after the first
years, will bear degree of neglect,
as there is no trouble in 6pding in e'
community, persons that will neglect t
trees, they had better plant standards
VARIETIES.
There is an almost endless number
varieties, very few of which have pic