The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-24
Fruit Growing.

The season of transl lantng is now well
spent, and we trust that all our readers
have improved it as we have by enlarging
the orchard and vineyard. There will still
be time to set trees that have been well
kept back-cven if they have started con-
siderably on the new growth they may be
set out. Now comes the care and culture |
of those set already, and the treatment of
belated and perhaps partially wilted trees.
We extract from Franklin Davis & Co.'s am !
nual catalogue some excellent suggestions
upon these topics:
TREATMENT OF TREES COMING TO
HAND OUT OF SEASON.
It sometimes happens that trees are re-
ceived in frosted state--but if they are
properly managed they will not he in
iured by it. Let the package be put, un-
opened, in q cellar, or some such place,
cool but free from frost, until it is. per-
fectly thawed, when it can be unpacked,
and either planted or placed in trench
until convenient to plant. Trees received
in the fall for spring planting. should at
once be unpacked, and trench dug in
rather dry, sheltered position, when the
roots should be well covered. So treated
they will be preserved without the least
injury until spring. If they should come
to- hand late in the spring, and appear
much dried, plunge the bundle into
pool Of water, there to remain for TWEEN
ty-four hours, or more if very much
Wilted. After which, it should be I'M
hacked, and the roots and half the stems
should be buried in soil made quite wet
by watering there let them remain until
the bark expands to its natural iulness,
when they may be taken up and planted
as before directed, and we will guarantee
you good reward for your labor.
CULTIvATING.
When the transplanting is finished.
many persons are under the impression
that their work is done, and they can do
nothing more for the tree. But this is a
very mistaken idea. 1t is an important
matter to have them well planted, but
doubly important to have them well culti-
waited afterwards. developed in weeds
and grass, what plant can flourish? What
farmer. for an instant, would think OF
raising crop of Indian corn in the thick
and tall grass of a meadow? Such an
idea, he would at once say, would be pre-
posterous. We will say that it is not
more impossible than the idea of raising a
Thrifty orchard under the same treatment.
1t is indispensably necessary that tie
ground should be well cultivated to obtain
fine fruit. From the neglect of this arises
so much of the dissatisfaction of tree
planters. $. Give to your trees, for few
years, o clean, mellow and fertile soil
and they will bend under copious loads
of fine fruit, and yield to the cultivatol
his reward. The experiment only is
enough to convince any one of the advan
tage of good culture. Dwarf pears, more
than any other tree, require deep, ricf
soil. and clean cultivation. In cultiyat1ng
great care should be taken not to injur,
the trees by rubbing the bark off. The
best crops for an orchard are those re-
curing summer culture. such as potatoes
beans, &c. Winter crops are little better
than no culture. Rye is decidedly inju
rious.
MULCHING.
This is another very important matter
particularly in this climate. where we fire
auently experience severe mid-summe
droughts. 1t consists in covering tn
ground about the tree with coarse litter
Straw. leaves, shayings or anything tina
will shade the ground, and prevent evapo
ration. 1t should be done early in tn
spring, and will, in most cases, obyiat
the necessity of watering at the root. W
cannot too earnestly insist upon tn
momentus importance OF mulchins
We have known orchards plante
where more than half the nun
Der died when mulching was n.
elected; while, on the other hand, "
have witnessed trees set out under tn
same circumstances, and in like manner
and treated precisely similar, save only the
were well mulched, and not single on
was lost they not only all grew, bl
made four times the growth OF the other
Instead of stalking, let the earth be banl
cd up around the tree, so as to keep
erect until it gets sufficiently rooted
stand without support.
PRUNING.
We recommend the greatest care AT
moderation in this operation, believing I
we do, that upon the whole there is mo-
injury done by the use of pruning instr
ments, in unshillful hands, than would r.
result from its entire neglect. Some
the objects sought are to diminish the tho
growth, to increase the vigor of Il
branches, to admit light and air, and
form a well-shaped top. We are o.
posed to the too common practice
trimming up trees as high as man
head, leaving long naked stem expose
TO the ravages Of insects and the delet
rious effects of sun and wind, .
well as other sudden and extreme change
of the atmosphere. If tree is Above
to branch near the ground its dangt
from these ills will be lessened, and
will grow much stronger and faster, be;
more fruit, which will be more easi
gathered, less liable to be blown dow
and we may add, every way better.
watched closely when young and GROWN
it will never become necessary to take {
large limbs. Occasionally pinchng
cropping off the ends of a branch TO gi'
the tree proper shape, and remoyiI
those that cross or crowd each other, W
be all that will be needed by most tree
Peach trees would be greatly benefited
an annual shortening-in of the branche
say one-half of the previous years growth
this may be done at any time after the "a
of the Leaf until the buds commence
o,ralIiDn II, the Snrin0 thew never need M