Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-25

For the Kennebec Journal.
ORCHARDIyG.

The present status of orcharding is not
fully what it might and ought to be, or as
near the standard of perfection as pros
poets and circumstances warrant. There
are very many good orchards in nearly all
the towns, both of old trees, planted By
the early settlers, and also newer ones,
Started by the present residents or their
compeers. There are also too many de-
caying, unthrifty, unsightly ones, rapidly
going from bad to worse, and loudly call
ing by their hopeless state for regenera-
tion, or replacing by young and vigorous
| trees. Neglect. in many instances, has
led to the sad plight we find them in, while
unsuitable situations, sapping crops, eli
matte influences, and other minor causes,
properly enough classed under the same
head, has completed the rest.
Maine is emphatically fruit-producing
locality, when put to the best advantage
she is capable OF. and no other State can
produce more or better apples than we can
here. Possessed of variety Of soils,
rocky hills, sandy plains, gravel knolls, 81
luvial valleys, protected hooks, and ex-
posed sweeps, every habit and inclination
in the different varieties can be suited, and
| the advantage taken of their peculiarities.
| No section annually loads the tables at the
Fairs with better fruit, fair, luscious, no.
BILE, and healthy, than does the State of
Maine, from kittery to Quoddy, from the
sea to the forests. While we may not
compete with more favored climes In the
culture Of the grape, the peach and per-
haps the pear. yet in apple production, if
We develop our resources, we need take
no second rank. Many of the best varie-
ties of apples known, originated within
| our borders, and Of those whose origin was
outside, we can rival the parent tree in the
| qualities and quantities of many of the
better sorts
1t is too common practice to let go
without word of comment, to put out
young and tender trees, fresh from some
forcing plat and sheltered situation, reared
by some nurseryman who grows for sale.
and who aims at "quick returns" il he
does ignore "small profits" in some ex-
posed situation, where choked by grass,
molested by cattle, and exposed to all the
inclemencies of wind and snow, cold and
heat, in poor, wet, undrained soil often
times, they are left to struggle their way
up, or die. Too often the latter il the
easiest course for them, and in fact the
only course. Could we gather the statis-
ties of trees annually lost, of meney
thrown away by this neglect, it might
cause reform in this particular. 1t would
be. to say the least, an astounding item
of waste, an immense drain upon the
farming community. Not all are guilty
OF such unthrifty practices, or pursue such
wasteful courses. but still il is far too
prevalent. Aes
Land designed to be used as the site for
an orchard should be plowed, if arabic,
and thoroughly pulverized one year pre-
vious to putting the young trees upon it.
Two years would be preferable, and the
soil should be made fertile enough to pro-
duce a good crop of corn. If not under
laid by previous subsoil, put down under
drains thirty feet apart deeply as conven-
lent, and of the most permanent kinds.
You will not want to disturb them, or the
trees by their repair, and so it is best to do
it well at first. Having the land well pre-
pared by draining and fertilizing. select
the best trees procurable three TO four
years old, stocky, thrifty, Of hardy APP
pearance if ungrafted, If grated Of har-
dy sorts, and set them out carefully. Take
especial pains to prevent exposure Of roots
even for brief time to drying atmos-
phere, and use your best knowledge and
Judgment in setting out. II is immateri-
al whether you transplant in the fall, or
spring, if you do it well.
A very good way is to plant several
seeds where you wish each tree to stand,
and save tho best one, after the first year.
Trees grown without transplanting grow
faster, and are more likely to do well, and
also come into bearing earlier than those
removed, generally. The ground in either
case should be kept under cultivation, and
some head crop. such as beans, peas, or
potatoes, only allowed.
FOOrE.