Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-02-01
Asrienltmral.
FRUIT CULTURE. No. s.

When to prune, depends much upon
whether the trees are old or young, the
limbs large or small; but more, whether
the wounds are properly covered. As to
the season most appropriate, some say sit
should be done in the time of forescence"
(when the flowers are expanding,) others
when the foliage is falling" still others
lin the winter, when the sap is inactive"
The operation may be performed, even
al that critical period when the sap is in
full flow, If the wound be covered with
some solution to prevent its bleeding. For
this purpose, the best solution IS gum
shellac in alcohol, about the thickness OF
paint. 1t dries almost at ouce. II would
be better to avoid pruning in spring when
the buds are stoelling, as there is great dan
ger Of the loss Of sap by bleeding. which is
apt to bring on serious ard incurable
canker in the limbs.
The time best is about midsummer. the
sap has become thick, the wound will not
bleed, and will heal more readily THAI at
any other time.
The merit best time-and the most CON
yenient-is, In early spring just before the
sap begins TO rise, Whatever time prun-
ing is done, all limbs of finger size should
be covered with wax, clay. or the shellac
solution to protect them from the weather.
CULTIVATION.
After an orchard has been started, one OF
~ l. Il.
substantial fencing. Cattle have an earnest
longing" for apple trees; IL they can get
at them, they will browse of the top and
tender shoots, which Injuries them most
seriously. II would pay to plant a dcfen
sive barrier against Jiped. Wei 6 quadru
ped marauders. For such purpose the Hon
ey Locust i best adapted, a. it perfectly en-
dures Northern winters. 1t i beautiful a.
well a. defensive.
For young trees, especially, it Is better
10 keep an orchard under cultivation. The
object in planting trees j., Of course. to
produce fruit. but growth Of wood must
pyecede a fruilIng condition; the more
vigorous the growth. the quicker will they
become fruitful. With young trees, then.
there must be culture and manure to induce
speedy growth, that they reach frait-
bearing size as quickly a, may be, the only
precaution being. that the yearly growths
are well ripened.
II would be better far, If the land in
trees was appropriated exclusively to or
chard use. although fair crop Of potatoes.
beans. squashes. or turnips may be grown
without injury, but not without impairing
the growth Of the trees. Corn or grain :
very injurious In blowing, great care
must be exercised not to cut of the roots
or woand the bark. In rich soils like those
Of Western New York, where both soil aud
climate tend to give an exuberau; grown,
II sometimes becomes necessary TO cheok
the growth, and drive 10 beating By laying
down in grass; but in Maine where
checks, are the r1sle, certain law III
vegetable physiology needs no repeating.
In manurins apple trees, the judgment
may be guided by knowing the ana lysis or
the wood ana bark Carbouic acid. lime.
phosphate, potash aud soda, are the more
prominent inorganic elements Potash may
be supplied ii wood ashes 30 Ia in com
mon salt, phosphate OF lime in bones
carbonic acid in charcoal and muck Peal,
mari and muck. after being exposed 10
10 frost. are excellent, anu 80 are ashes.
salt and lime. Few orchards get lime
enough. Rotten wood. saw dust, chipdirt.
forest leaves, charcoal, soap suds, sink
water. sea weed. and urine are good fer
tilizers- Animal manures are all good, OF
these, some pronounce horse-dung 10 be
the best. Rock-weed and free use Of 1t
IL recommended. One OF the best COM
posts is composed Of equal parts of ashes,
charcoal dust or blacksmith's cinders, and
mannee. Some manures supply food better
for growth. than for fruit, and some, the
converse. For growth Of wood. animal
and marine MIXTURES are best for fruit,
ashes, lime. salt and bones.
In Maine, where the land is not rich, or
chards TO get quick growth. and TO give
heavy crops for succession of years,
should always be kept under cultivation,
and yearly manfred, aud no other crop
should erer b gr0teR upon the soil
The practice vi seeding down in grass
and digging ,rGg0a-,ckcel circles around the
trees, even If manure be trenched in, is be-
lieved TO be OF little or no comparative
beneht-yet often, II is an injury.
There is prevailing idea As erroneous
As il Is prevalent, that the roots Of a tree
extend 10 distance equal only to that OF
the branches, when it has been proved
conslusiyely. that the roots form 4 radiat-
ing circle Of hbres, no less than three times
a. great in breadth a. the height OF the
tree. Thus may 1t be inferred, that an al
tempt is futile, which proposes to benefit
such broad surface by spading circles
two or four feet in diameter, which would
be about l-l00 part Of the whole area OF
the branching dbsrs.
II grass niU get possession, or the or
chard be too rough and rocky to cultivate,
surface manure in the fall and depasture
with sheep. The testimony Of some OF
the best orchardists is, that by making
sheep ranges of orchards, in ten years the
product will be increased ten times. 20
prevent the sheep barking the trees, give
the trees a good coating Of green dung
mixed with soap suds which is good for
the trees and repulsive to the sheep.
MULcHING.
Universal experience attests 10 the great
advantage OF nulching around fruit trees,
as a means Of fertilization. and preservation
from droughts. Ii is a great preventive
from sudden charges Of temperature, rem
dering the earth warm and more agreeable
in winter and more cool and moist in SUM
mer. With newly transplanted tree, it does
away entirely with the necessity Of water
ing; they are more certin alto live. and 10
a rule, they will make three times the
growth the first year, than they would il
un-mulched.