The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-10-04
Protector. for Orchards

Mr.. Charles ID. Bragdon, the work
ing editor OF Moore's Rural, who has
been rusticating for a few weeks, re-
marks as follows on what he saw
among the orchards III his country re-
treat:
More and more dependence is placed
upon top-dressing of compost, muck,
ashes and upon mulchlng with coarse
manure, or even straw alone. 1t Is
getting TO be believed that blowing
among old orchard trees is a positive
injury, shortening the lives of the trees
without increasing heirproductivenes
materially. 1t IS claimed that an old
orchard tree needs all its tibrous roots.
which must be fed, it's true, but which
may be fed by top dressing, and which
some OF the most experienced farmers
say, Is the only natural way of feed
ing growing trees. There is a good
deal OF common sense in the theory,
and great deal of success follows the
practice. The best orchards [ have
seen hereabouts-I mean old orchards
are those that have been thus treated
the past ten OF more years. But their
owners see that they are properly fed
The trouble with the practice is Cor
may be) that the feeding or manuring
the trees Is too often neglected while
II the orchard Is plowed, the farmer
will draw on tons of manure in order
10 get crop of corn or potatoes from
among the trees. Thus the orchard
gets some beneht-shares it with the
crop planted.
The best fruit-the cleanest. best
grown and least defOrmed fruit have
seen Is that grown IN orchards in which
pigs and sheep have been permitted
range tor series of wears up to the
time the fruit really begins to mature
and drop. 1t Is astonishing what a
difference 1t makes in the aggregate
amount of perfect specimens of apples.
pears and plums that hang on the
trees. They destroy innumerable in
sects. Those who admit the pigs TO
the orchards ring or rim their noses.
They do not allow them to break the
sod by roofing. Thus, they make them
watchful of every larva and insect
which appears on thesurface. and com.
pei them TO eat the stuug fruit which
drops from the trees In the early part
OF the season.
Sheep are more dangerous In an
orchard than swine They are more
liable to gnaw the bark from the trees
especially If Young, and the pastur-
age is short. But as rule, there is
little damage done. Here is one man
who has kept thirty handsome South
Downs IN his orchard this season, and
not a tree Is injured nor can You find
an apple on the ground after 10 O'Clock
IN the morning, unless you happen to
be under the tree about the time II
drops.
No orchard that [ have seen. how
ever, surpasses one in which no live
stock has been kept other than poultry
hens, geese, turkeys, guinea and pea
fowl. Here is an extensive range.
inclosed by a high picket fence. The
trees are mulched and MANFRED every
year-sometimes IN fail, and some
times III spring. Turkeys roost in the
trees; SO do the other fowls. The
geese have pond fed by brook, in
which to battle. All the fowls are kept
in this orchard that can be with profit
The crop of fruit is bountiful
and beautiful. The abundance is
due to care in pruning, washing and
feeding. Its beauty and perfectness is
largely attributed bv the owner to the
vigilance of the fowls in hurting in
sects and destroying them. The profits