Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-08
MisrelIaneous.
ABOUT APPLE ORCHARDS.

The rains have revived all vegetation
not previously ripened or dead, and the
country now wears verdant, promisir
look. The apples which still hang upou
the trees are fair and growing fast; but
many trees that had good set of fruit
early in the season have Shed it nearly all.
50 that the prospective abundance of the
early season will not be realized. 1t is
painful to see the apple orchards in Massa-
chusetts and elsewhere so rapidly going to
decay, with very few young trees to take
their places. Many farms generally well
kept up will be utterly destitute of apples
IN lew years. if indeed they are not 80
now. We remember about twenty years
ago there was quite a mania in this re-
gion, and we believe that it extended con-
slueraoly over the country at the east, for
setting out apple orchards. The more en-
terprlsing farmers had grated the natural
lruit orchards, which, in earlier days had
grown with great vigor. with standard va
rletles OF fruit, and found large profits by
so DONG. The next thing was to extend
lhe business by planting new trees from
the nurseries. They were mostly set with
out skill, were Immediately attacked by
the destructive borer, which had never
been seen in former days, and which few
knew how to destroy. The trees failed to
get the treatment necessary tor their pres.
ervallon, they withered and dried, one by
one. I'LL often the few remaining sickly
specimens were rooted up and the ground
wholly cleared. We could count up more
lhan dozen Young orchards of from fifty
10 hVe hundred trees within the radius of
mile from this place, which have within
lew years shared the fate above. We
raised from the seed, and helped to set. an
orchard OF two hundred apple trees at the
same period as spoken of. They have
oeeh constantly attended to. With knife
In hand, the borers have been cut out once
or twice every year. They have bred
largely from old orchards near by. Some
patent preventives and others recommend
cd. have been tried. They are utterly
worthless, ii we except the washing with
weak alkaline preparation, which NAV.
and undoubtedly does, DESTROY some epgs
and otherwise benefits the trees. The
knife TO follow the intruder is the onlv
sure thing OF destruction which we have
found. A small elastic stick like whale
bone to follow where cutting would in
lr lule lhe 'tee TOO much is good thing.
Inc mice Killed by grdling, tweniy-four
Jured many others. This came of mulch
lhg' ior where there was no mulch, the
trees were not disturbed. With all our
vigilance the borers have destroyed or
rendered worthless twenty-five more, and
setung IN unfavorable spots, for the sake
OF ming out the rows in the orchard, has
ieit some more to linger in stunted con-
ditlon without remedy. The remainder
are doing well, and twenty-five of these
alone will more than pay for the expense
upon the whole. We ARE quite sure that
with the knowledge which experience and
observation might give, apple raising,
even in New England, can be made de-
cldedly profitable part OF farming. We
should put down few rules for ourself at
least to follow such as first, limit the
number of trees to plant to what in all
probability can be faithfully cared for;
second. plant them only upon such spots
as you know from observation that the tree
VIII grow upon-a spot very dry, very
wet, or undrained, if Hat or very windy,
is no place tor an apple tree---third,
in setting the tree, dig large hole and
llll In good fine earth, even if it has to be
transported; fourth if the soil and degree
OF moisture in the different parts of your
field vary, as most likely they will among
billy regions, study the locations where
the different varieties decided upon will
do the best, for there is great deal in
this; and fifth. and last, set out but few
varities, If profit be your aim, and only
those which have been proved successful
in your own region. In respect to the
latter mind nothing about the recomenda-
tions of the fruit tree dealer, unless he be
reliable nurseryman in your own vicini.
ty.
In regard to mulching. apple trees, there
are two sides to the question. On dry
ground, or during very dry season, a
good muching will often save the crop
Early apples, like the "Williams, ;" should
be allowed to rpen on the tree and tall
upon the mulch, as they will do without
bruising. In situations where ploughing
is impracticable, mulching is the only SUBJ
stitute for cultivation. But the practice
brings thousands of little fibrous rootlets
to the surface OF the ground, seeking food
and the influence of the sun, and the ulti-
mate good effect upon the tree is doubtful.
We have heard it expressed by an expert
enced and very successful apple grower,
near Boston, that he had fears that his
habit of mulching was shortening the
lives of his trees; but we are inclined TO
think that overbearing is doing il more
than mulching.
In this vicinity there is not more than
four varieties of apples that have been
grown at good profit, the Others tried
being titiu or inconstant in bearing. These
are the Baldwin, the Roxbury Russet, the
Nonesuch and fhe Cathead
or Golden Sweet.-Proridenc Journal.