Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-07
How to Grow Premium Fruit.

The veteran pomologist Of Ohio, NJ. b.
Bateham, in writing to the American Farm
Journal about raising fne large fruit, says:
There is likely to be a good crop Of most
kinds Of fruit this year, aud many people
will desire to grow extra specimens Of some
choice kinds for sending to the centennial or
their state or county fair. This is right
and commendable, and all who expect to do
anything in this line should aim TO do the
best they can. 1t is no particular credit to
man it his trees or vines chance 10 be in
good condition and produce for one season
better specimens Of fruit than his noigbbor's,
when no particular skill or care has been used
on his part Aud it may be that the season
will prove so favorable that good specimens Of
fruit will be quite general, so that no praise
will be due except for samples that are re-
markably fine. At any rate it is the duty
Of each one to do his best.
The common fault with us all is greediness,
in allowing trees to bear more fruit than it
is possible for them to bring TO the highest
development of size and quality. Take the
case Of thrifty young apple tree, which can
bear without injury say barrel OF fruit,
but it blossomed we'll, and enough is set to
produce two barrels, unless thinned of by
hand or by insects. Now the tree will carry
an excessive burden through the season Of
heat aud drouth and will fail to give full size
or quality to the crop. II may yield two
barrels Of fruit, but the value of the crop will
not be as great as that Of one barrel of fine,
large specimens, aud besides, the tree will be
exhausted SO that no fruit will be borne next
year.
Most farmers aud fruit growers think it i;
too much labor TO thin the fruit Of Il number
Of trees, or a whole orchard but have nc
doubt it will pay as well as any ordinary
labor. However this may be, there can b.
no question about the advantage Of thinning
few best trees when fruits are desired fol
exhibition purposes.
Mulchiug the soil-covering the surface al
wide as the roots or the tops extend, will
coarse manure, old corn stalks, chip dirt, ol
like materials, is the next important duty
Of course it is presumed that the trees art
not growing in grass sward-then the mulch
ing put on the surface in spring or carly sum
mer will be of great benefit 10 protecting
the roots from injury by drouth. If the sol
is of mellow order, and occasionally stirreC
with harrow or cultivator during summer
the mulching is not necessary where the tree
are standing in grass. | would not plow VI
the sod after the leaves have put forth il
spring. as that would injure many of the root
let's; but would mulch so heavily as to smoth
er the growth of the grass; or if this'could no
be done, NOV the grass early and often an'
leave it on the surface where cut, under thC
trees, so as to lessen in some degree tn
amount of evaporation from the soil during tn
heat Of summer.
In garden culture of fruit trees the sam
hints will apply. Thin the fruit freely an
early, and stir or mulch the surface Of groun
, during summer.
For grapes, the thinning is especially es
sontial if large and perfect clusters are dc
sired. Mulching the ground is not general
considered of advantage to grape vines; bu
, it is important that the surface be occasonall
' stirred, aud kept clear ofweeds also that tn
superabundant shoots be removed from ii
9 vines and the tieing up be done often.