The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-24
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Planting Fruit Trees.

town residents are about carrying into eXecu-
ton the long.formed resolution to raise their
own fruit. The successful accomplishment
of this purpose depends very much if not en-
tirely upon the first steps taken. Subsequent
errors may be sometimes corrected, but if the
foundation is wrong all is wrong and there is
no remedy. The question whether the plant
ing of fruit trees is to be followed by the
growth of fruit, is mainly settled before the
trees are brought on the ground-in other
words success depends largely upon the prep.
aration of the soil.
Our readers are familiar with the methods
of fruit culture practiced in this country, and
yet as line upon line and precept upon pre-
cept are still needed, we give in short space
some sensible advice taken from longer dis
sertation found in a recent English periodical.
Most of the failures attending fruit culture
result from errors in selecting the site, or
want of care in its preparation. The best
site is on gentle slope with a southern or
western aspect well sheltered from cold winds.
Low and damp locations on account Of the
danger Of early frosts should be avoided. Ii
hill is sheltered by a.higher range or a
growth of trees, it offers desirable site, as
its free drainage and open exposure tend to
produce well-ripened wood with short joints,
and also somewhat retard early poisoning in
spring.
When drainage is necessary it should be
the first thing done; and the drains should
never be less than four feet deep, as the frost
and the growth of roots will otherwise work
mischief. Drainage on wet land is necessary
because the land is improved in quality, and
because the roots of fruit trees will not grow
in water. When followed at once by liberal
dressing and better culture generally, its ef-
feet upon old orchards as well as new sites is
to raise the temperature of the soil by the ad-
mission of air, and to stimulate the vitality of
the roots, and it also softens the climate by
diminishing the amount of evaporation.
The soil in an orchard should be well
trenched, and if there is less than two feet of
good soil additions should be made of all suit
able materials. On thin and light soils clay
and mari may be advantageously distributed,
while heavy land should be lightened and
warmed by appropriate admixtures.
While severe pruning should not be the
rule, it is necessary that young trees should
be so headed back as to form the right found
alton for the future fruit tree. This should
be done in the early spring when the roots
are active and before the buds open. When
branches are cut near the base the stronger
they will grow, and all young shoots should
be rubbed off or pinched back to four or five
leaves, unless needed to form the tree. Light
and air are essential, not only 10 mature the
growth, but also for its proper elaboration;
and if all sizes are allowed to develop branches
the stimulus to the roots from the extra foil
age will be no real gain if obtained at the ex-
pense of the main branches, as it is more i'm
portant for every leaf on those to have its due
share of air and sunlight, than for tree to
be allowed or encouraged to carry great sur
face of foliage on the plea that it all tends to
encourage root action, and must therefore
add to the strength of the tree. Such treat
ment produces grossness of habit and delays
fruitfulness.
Although recommending deep culture and
liberal dressing for the soil, we must add that
1t should have time for consolidation, and
when the trenching has been.done, it is well
to crop the land with potatoes and set out
the trees in the autumn following. Cultivat-
ing the potatoes frees the land from weeds,
and also thoroughly intermingles the soil.
Even for single tree, the soil should be well
mixed and then consolidated by artificial
means.
Station planting should be adopted on bad
soils or subsoils-this method consists in lay
ing foundation of concrete or something of
an impervious nature in the bottom of the
hole to prevent the perpendicular descent of
the roots, and to give them horizontal d.
rection.
Close planting may be the rule at first, and
if necessary thin out afterward, as this en-
ables the trees to nurse and shelter each
other. In this respect much depends upon
the kinds of fruits planted. AS an illustra-
ton, take the case of apples: almost every
variety has distinct habit of growth; some
are exceedingly vigorous, others make wood
more sparingly; and above all, soil and situa-
ton exert wonderful influence upon the
growth of fruit trees, and to allow each the
same amount Of space is about on par with
the tailor who made all his customers clothes
from one measure. The only really safe rule
to follow is to ascertain how the different
varieties behave in your own district before
planting extensively, by looking round the
gardens and orchards in the neighborhood,
and by consultation with the local nursery
men and gardeners. In this way the intend
ing planter will gather much valuable infor-
nation that will be a:guide in the selection
of the most suitable varieties, as well as their
style and habit of growth in that particular
neighborhood