Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-02-25
gellows falls Timss,
BELLOWS FALLS, FEB. %, 1875.
Apple Culture.

The following Is the paper on Apple
Culture" by J. H. Putnam of Grafton,
and read at the recent meeting OF the
State Board of Agriculture, at Fayette-
vile:
In proportion to the money and labor
required, apple culture yields as good re-
turns as any other farm product. In
this, as in every other fran product, good
culture is the requisite ofsuccess. Should,
other things being equal, prefer south
ern or eastern exposure TO northern or
western. Among the hills of Vermont
those soils which will produce good
crops of corn may safely be planted
with orchards, and the preparation of
the soil should be that required to grow
a good crop of corn, planting the trees
where the soil has become well mellowed
by one years cultivation and the culti-
walton should be continued. Twenty
five feet each way, giving seventy trees
to the acre, is the proper distance to set,
though there is no harm in setting near
er and cutting out a part of the trees
when crowding commences. Some rec
ommend digging large holes in which to
set trees, but if the soil is in proper con-
dition no great digging will be necessary;
hole sufficiently large to admit the
roots without crowding or twisting will
be all that is necessary a deep hole
filled with fertilizing material, if the
subsoil is hard-pan, makes good dish
to hold cold water, and stagnant cold
water about the roots is death to any
fruit tree. If necessary to set in an I'M
broken sod, dig broad holes rather than
deep, and apply liberal amount of fer
tilizing material at the time of setting
In procuring trees get good ones from
whatever source they may come. Those
that have made a thrifty, healthy growth,
and have been neither forced nor stunt
ed, and the chances are strong that those
grown near home will give the best sat
isfaction. Nurserymen and their agents
are often charged with humbugging the
people, they have many things to answer
for, but the humbugs do not all come
from western New York; as great
humbug as there is in the whole range
of fruit growing is that of the crab APP
pie stock for which the people are asked
to pay one dollar per tree. The best
sized tree to set is one that has grown
three and one half to four and one half
feet and branched practically this size
being better than those much larger, not
requiring SO much cutting back.
If the trees are to be kept any length
of time before setting, they must be
heeled in. The broken roots must be
cut back to the sound wood. The top of
the tree must be trimmed to give it the
proper shape and also to restore the bal
ance between the top and roots which
has been destroyed in transplanting
After the tree is properly pruned, wet
the roots which will cause the soil to adj
here more closely in setting; then place
the tree in the hole upon small mound
so that the roots will spread out in their
natural direction, then holding the tree
perfectly upright fill around it with the
best soil which it is possible to obtain,
taking care to place no manure in imme-
date contact with the roots work the
soil among the roots so that no space
will be left untitled Shake the tree oc-
casionally during the process, and after
the roots are we'll covered press the earth
firmly down with the foot. After the
tree is set it should be mulehed Try tx
raise no other crop with the trees unless
the soil is well cultivated and manuret
each year. In manuring an orchard
apply the fertilizer broadcast to tn,
whole surface of the soil as the small
rootlets which take up plant food are a
a distance from the tree.
Pruning is part of the subject upor
which there is endless variety of theory
and practice. Starting right with thu
young tree but little pruning will be re
quired at any one time but this littl
must be attended to closely and may b
done at any season of the year, requiring
no implements but the pruning knife
never on any occasion except to cut i
down use an axe or Ratchet about frui
trees Trees that have been neglecte
until they are nothing but mass c
rough bark, tangled brush and dea
branches require heroic treatment A
regards time, any time is better tina
no time, but the best time is in Noven
Der, the trees being dormant and tn
wounds made at that timeseason perfect,
The black cankerous stripe sometim,
seen and caused by the flow of dark, III
healthy sap is due more to a disease
condition of the tree than to the time
pruning. In the selection of varietie
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