The Hickman courier., 1877-12-07
FARM AND HOME.
How to Plant an Orchard to be
Failure.


Failure.
AS many persons seem to try to see
how little fruit they can make their
apples trees bear, and also seem to take
pride in growing worthless varieties, /
will give such men a few hints to aid
them in their endeavors to render their
orchards of no value
First, crop the land where the trees
are to be set till there is no fertility left
in it. 4 good test of that state is to
Elant few hills of white beans on it !;
and if it fails to grow any pods of these
beans, the land ia in the right condition.
Next see that the fences are down around
the field, 80 that your own and neigh
bors' cattle can come in when the trees
are planted, and browse on them, which
will save you the expense Of trimming
them once year.
In buying your trees ask your nursery
man if he has a ''cheap lot - and say
you are setting trees for the use of others
when you are dead, and that you are not
going to pay out much money for them !;
and he will call your attention, probably,
90 a worthless lot of tlees, not labeled,
and such rs will suit you exactly, being
varieties that have been condemned by
horticultural societies as worthless. He
will say 90 Yes, here is a splendid lot OF
fine, straight trees-labels are lost-got
mixed-excellent sorts-will sell them at
get for a song;" and while you are
alive, as you are we'll advanced in years,
it will be just the same as if they were
the best varieties in existence, 50
you should order your nurseryman to dig
them up, and you will come for them.
Don't tell him to have them dug up care
fully, and with as many roots as possible,
because you want the load as small as
possible, and short, shabby roots are
easily set.
When you get the trees loaded upon
your wagon, don't throw anything over
the roots to keep them from the rays OF
sun, and the drying wind and when you
get home, select sunny place to throw
down the trees, aud be sure not to set
them till next day. If gay one advises
you TO heel in" the tree till planted,
tell them you have heard of such bosh
before from the A" book farmers"
In setting the trees, let your hired
man do it, while you take the world easy
at the village tavern. Tell him to dig the
holes as small as possible, and not let the
roots in that if they can't go in spread
out as they grew naturally, TO curl them
up in circle, to put the yellow, lower
earth around the roots, and the dark,
fertile soil where it does not come in
contact with them in the least. You
should also tell him not to be particular
about filling in earth in the cavities
between the roots, also not to press the
earth upon them, and be sure not to
water the trees, unless a rain sets in.
Lastly, say to him: '' John, want you
TO hurry up this work. There are only
one hundred trees to set, and will give
you till six O'Clock tonight TO set them. -
Another point: You have undoubtedly
read or heard that it is a good plan to
manure and cultivate the land where
your trees are set, but don't do it, because
this advice is tound in She papers and
you don't want to follow any such unre-
liable rules for the management of an
orchard. If your father or grandfather
did thing, you should follow their
examples. Above all, don't subscribe
for an agricultural or a horticultural
paper, as they cost from one to two
dollars year, and for that sum you
and your whole family could see a circu:
performance which you would remember
for lifetime.--Farmer's Friend.