The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-21
Ghe farmer.
Caution About Fruit Trees.

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A writer in the Wing, published a
Elk;np, Md, cautions the public against
buying Apple Trees from travelling agents
who go about the country taking order
for various kinds oftrees, and send to thoss
persons who are transporting enough t.
trust them, the cheapest and most worth,
less trees, and care not whether they are
Of the variety ordered or not, so they get
the money for the trees. The best safe
guard against swindle Of this kind is 70
buy your trees Of some well established
nurseryman, who is known to you, and
who values the reputation Of his nursery
too highly to impose upon his customers.
Let the farmers Of Carroll buy only Of
their own nurserywen, and then they will
know that they will not be deceived.
But read the article from the Wig, as
follows:
"The quantities Of apples grown in Cecil
county have fallen of greatly within the
period Of my recollection, and il attribute.
BILE in large degree TO buying from tree
peddlers.
"For twenty years past, agents for the
sale Of fruit trees have been tramping
around with catalogues Of trees, from eel
ebrated northern nurseries, and illustrated
with plates representing the most beautiful
varieties, which they readily imposed on
the people, and the purchasers in expecta-
tion Of the fine fruit represented, have
after years Of waiting and careful atten-
ton found themselves completely deceived,
and instead Of Smiths Cider, Baldwin,
Russell and other winter varieties, they
have some worthless Fall apple Of little
account, and thus their years have been
spent, and with many il IS too late to plant
another with the expectation of eating
thereof. Many Of these tree peddlcrs after
exhibiting their fine specimens, and then
inducing farmers to purchase, then buy
trees wherever they can find them cheap
est, and label them to suit the kind PROM
ised, regardless Of which they are, as scores
Of deceived men can testify.
"This Is one Of the most infamous kinds
of deception, and those guilty Of it deserve
place In the penltcntiary. But indepen-
dent Of this deception it b imprudent to
buy apple trees from northern nurseries,
as their varieties do not suit our climate,
nor mature perfectly here, the Baldwin and
other Winter apples ripening too soon,
making an inferior apple. Plant the kinds
that are suited to our soil and climate, and
you will not be deceived.
Forty years ago the apple crop rarely
failed here, and the Winter apples which
then grew were the Courthouse. Gray
house, Romantic, Lady Finger, Flat Pip
pins, Russet and some other varieties.
The Pennock sometimes kept through the
Winter, and the Fallow- water, which Is Of
later introduction, good bearer and an
excellent apple, is often kept through the
Winter.
"A supply of good apples Is valuable in
family, and keeping apples Of good
quality are always saleable, and should be
raised by every one who has an opportu-
nifty to do so; but so many have been do
ceived of late years by tree peddlers, that
they are discouraged, and ready to give up
the growing Of apple trees.
"The surest way, probably, is to graft
your own trees, and then you cannot be
deceived, if you know the trees from which
the gratis are taken. The time Is about
the first Of April, and although Il is said
the gratis should be cut in the Winter and
kept in dried sand, l have been shs most
successful 10 cutting them from the tree
at the time Of grating, and using wax
made Of rosin, beeswax and tallow, using
most rosin and least tallow, 30 that it win
not melt with the hot sun Of Summer
While the grating is going on the wax
should be kept in warm water The stock
in which graf is to be inserted should
be cut of with fine saw, and split across
the middle. If the stock is large enough
for two gratis, one on each side, drive
small wedge in the middle to keep the
SIDES open enough 70 receive the graft,
which should have one or more buds on il
Of the last years formation. Then the
graft should be cut of wedge shape for an
inch or more At the lower end, the outer
edge being little thicker than the inner,
30 that when pressed into the stalk it may
bind firmly on the outer part, and the
wood of the stock and graft should just be
even on the outer side, 50 that the sap Of
the stock viii flow under the bark Of the
graf. When the gratis are inserted and
the wedge taken outof the middle, put the |
wax on the top Of the stock and cover IL
over, and run It down each side with the
thumb covering the outside Of the graft.
The knife should be sharp that is used
In preparing the graft. With alittle pac.
tice the operation Is easy and very sue
eessful. Pear and Cherry stocks may be
grated about the same time, and in the
same manner"