Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-28


fully or dead stub will soon form which is
very injurious to the health of the tree.
Prune back the branches, also, so as TO re-
tain proper proportion Of root to top Wet
the roots thoroughly before setting Place
the tree in the hole, adjust the roots, and gil
the hole with the richest soil mot with ma
uure) you can get. Pack il closely about
the roots then mulch with straw, leaves
sawdust or anything which will keep the
ground moist, but do not water the trees.
Don't grow grass among young trees. Ma.
nuriug must be done with care. Since the
soil is filed with rootlets the fertilizing ma.
terial should be spread broadcast and worked
in, and care should be taken in so doing not
to destroy any roots.
9. Pruning. In regard to this matter of
pruning, authorities differ so widely that there
is danger that through uncertainty as to what
directions to follow, this desirable work may
be wholly neglected Some say "prune
when your saw is sharp" should certainly
advise that it be not attempted when the saw
is not sharp. Others say there are only 81
days in the year when it may not be dome
Sundays. This also is good advice. You
must follow your own judgment don't
believe in pruning during the growing
months, at least the big limbs, during April,
May or early June Prune to get the shape
Of an inverted umbrella, since this secures
admission of light, and easy gathering DIFF
ferent kinds require great difference in prun-
ing to obtain this shape. The Baldwin will
only need thinning out. Another kind lops
its branches and must be trimmed from be-
low. Another variety grows upright and
must be cut down. The Northern Spy is u
close growing tree and needs trimming out in
the center. In any case preserve the UNI
breIla shape. The knife and shears are alone
needed if the pruning is done when it should
be- But how shall we prune a long neglect
cd orchard, whose tree tops are tangled
brush of live and dead limbs2 The dead
limbs, at least, must be cut out clean, or they
will rapidly multiply. Like mortified
hand, the safety Of the entire body demands
Its instant removal. 1t is the opinion OF
many that the black sap is due to pruning
during the growing season, though | do not
agree in this opinion. | should. however,
cut off large limbs in November, since then
the wound will heal soundly From the
middle of June to middle of July is also a
good time to cut off large limbs, as they tn us
heal rapidly, and indeed smaller limbs will
heal completely over the same season. In
pruning no long stubs should be left, as they
are both unsightly and cause the growth Of a
large number of suckers Cut off at the
shoulder but not below, since this would
cause a wound unnecessarily large. Use
sharp TOOLS and never use an axe or Ratchet
upon tree but to cut it down. Spontaneous
trees are generally scragged, crooked and
bushy. but hardy. Cultivate and enrich
the soil about them and graft them. Graft
the whole tree at once. Some say this
should not be done, but that it should be
done gradually, which seems to me like cut.
ting off dogs tail an inch at time. In
grating don't cut of too large limbs. | don't
like cutting of any over an inch in diameter
Do not let new sprouts starve the scions
Cut out about half the limbs one year and
half the next, giving up the entire tree tC
the scions Many OF the best trees in ouI
country are of the above mentioned class.
I. Varieties Choose only such as are suited
to your locality. In raising apples for mar
ket the fewer varieties the better. SomC
kinds will do well in one locality, and prove
worthless in another place, mile distant
even, it may be-
In my locality the Baldwin, Rhode IslanC
Greening and Hubbardston Nonesuch, sue
coed best For home use it is desirable L
have a variety, extending throughout tn,
season, A good list for this purpose woulc
be the Red Astrachan, Early Harvest, VIII
liams' Favorite, Sweet Bough, Garden Roy
al, Porter, Fameuse, Twenty Ounce or Bless
ing, Hubbardston Nonesuch, Baldwin, r.
Greening and Northern Spy. This last
however, comes into bearing quite late.
OF sweet apples would mention thu
Sweet Bough, Golden Sweet Bemis Sweet
Pound Sweet, Russell Sweet Ladies Sweet
and Tolman Sweet. With me the Roxbur
Russell is shy bearer and lacks quality
would also mention the Yellow Bellhower.
8. Gathering and Marketing. Here per
haps lies with many fruit grower the secre
of his success or the cause of his failure, Pic
carefully. Bruised apples will not keep
D There is no good reason why apples properl.
b. gathered should not keep until their prope
3 season for full maturity. The Baldwin an
' Rhode Island areening may easily be KEEP
? until into March. Only see TO it that tn
!, conditions be secured. My directions woul
y be to pick carefully, to put into the baske
y carefully, to empty into the barrels carefully
s and if put in pile or bin to do it carefully
!. Carefully throughout the entire handling c
y the fruit. Preserve these conditions and
e warrant you your apples will keep, / u
= away, sorting as | picked them, fourteen Q
c fifteen barrels of Badwins and kept them
- a bin, | sold off from them till March, an
}. did not have half bushel lost out of the Ell
Is tire lot. In putting up for market or hon
use, never put windialls and fresh apples II
a gether And in the sorting OF apples US
= brains and honesty. Keep your number