The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-07-24
Dome, garden and farm
How To Raise an Apple Orchard,

How 10 Raise an Apple Orchard
Some few orcha-dists hold out the
opinion that apples ought not TO be
grated. They argue that trees raised
from seedlings are better bearers, health
ier and more thrifty trees, and bear good
crops of fruit to a greater age than trees
grown from grated stocks. We can't
concur with our agricultural friends
who thus argue, and would thus leave
the kind and quality of their apples to
the mere workings Of chance From
our own experience, We heartily recon-
mend the art of grating to those who
desire to raise an orchard Of select and
choice apples for their own Use or for
market. We believe by proper care and
management, apple trees can be grown
from grated OF budded stocks equally
as well a. from seedlings, and that they
will bear good crops to as great ali age.
BY budding or grating, we can have
whatever kind of fruit we want II we
choose horGe apples we can lave them !:
if early or late are desired, Il y can be
had, and thus the kind and quality of
the fruit is certain, and not a mere ac-
cident. For the easiest and most profit
able way Of raising choice apples, we
have adopted the following. which
proves successful:
Gather the seeds from good ripe ap-
piles, Of a good quality for planting
Prepare small bed of well puIverized
soil sufficiently fertile, and plant the
seed as soon as convenient after gather
ing. They should be sown in the bed,
30 that the young sprouts, which will ap-
pear in the following spring, will not be
crowded. After the first years growth
in the bed, they should be planted in a
nursery, about six inches apart in rows
three feet apart. Soil for the nursery
shonId be similar to that where the or
chard is to be grown. It is a question
with some, but we find 1t to be an ad-
vantage, to remove at least one-third of
the tap-roots before setting the scions
in the nursery. The tap-root extends
down into the clay, and scion will grow
as well with one-third taken off as not.
The advantage in first planting in the
bed and the removing them to a nursery,
is that in a small bed they are more eas-
lily taken care of while young and ten
der, while there is more room for bud
ding and pruning in the nursery. In the
following August, after the scions are
thus arranged in the spring, they are to
be budded. This is done with a keen.
sharp knife. Go to good, healthy grow
ing trees that are of the kind of fruit
desired, and get buds by cutting in Just
above the bud and sIoping out about an
inch below, taking together a small piece
of wood from the limb. Split the bark ON
the scions foot or even two feet from
the ground, raising it carefully so that |
the buds, after the wood is removed. can |
be inserted; then bind with a soft |
thread to hold them to their place. The
old stock should be taken off some time
in the winter, about four inches above
where the bud was inserted. A good |
healthy limb will shoot up in the spring,
which will grow three or four feet the |
hrst year. This should be tied to the
stock just above where it shoots up. to
force it to grow straight. Scions cared
1or In this manner will be ready for the
orchard in the following winter. Plough
the orchard ground thoroughly and cross
on thirty feet apart. If the tap-root has
not been taken off, dig the hole two feet
deep and fill with good rotted manure:
but II it has been taken off. a foot deem
VIII answer all purposes. Set the voung
trees out in these holes, manure and cuI-
tlvate at least one time in each wear.
and they will more than repay for the
time, trouble and expense, bearing good
crops of fruit to good old age.