Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-24
Agrnjltaral.
PiOughi,sg Orchards.

A correspondent in Worcester Co,
Mas, wishes nh opinion concerning the
cultivation of orchards-whether, on the
whole, it is better to plough the ground
or let it remain in grass. Had the lRqul-
nv been made two OF three years ago, We
should have had no hesitation in advising
ploughiug among the trees, but more re-
cent observation and study Of the question,
inclines Us to give the advocates of grass
ia orchards the credit of making out
very strong case in their arguments
against ploughiug. Mr.. Thomas Meehan,
Of PhiladelphiS, has been very successful
for many years past in growing pears 10
land entirely overgrown with grass; and
Mr.. T. s. Gold, Secretary of the Connec-
ti,ut State Board Of Agriculture, has
found that his very best fruit comes from
an orchard that is paStured most of the
season by a herd Of dairy cows. Young
trees certainly DO much better when care
fully cultivated among, as IN nurseries or
Young orchards, but after tree Is old
enough to completely ill the whole soil
with its roots there is considerable doubt
Us 10 whether the tree Is improved by
having these roots constantly torn and
INITIATED. Constant cultivation keeps
the feeding roots below the surface where
the soil Is cold and unaffected by the heat
Of the sun Ploughing, also, destroys all
the roots which form IN the upper layer
of earth. and it Is hardly likely that these
roots can be spared without inJuring the
growth or productive powet OF the tree.
The idea Of allowing trees to grow IN
grass Is very unpopular, chiefly, We believe,
because trees 70 grown are almost luvari-
.5lv allowed TO stsrye tor the wait OF
manure or other fertilizer,
Trees standing u grass, IT near hog
r.l. barn ward OF other rich SPOT. often
COW and bear fruit equal, 10 every re-
s.cct. 90 those which have received The
very best cultivation. winch fact would
certainly indicate that trees which faii to
bear well in grass, fail, chiefly, because
ley are starved. IL observing facts
c.ncerulug Ia, ,aoject We may nave been
to careless, aud have drawn conclusions
too readily aud without fully understand
-c or comprchcndlug all the bearings
D. rs certain that trees usually Do grow
ali ocsr much better when the ground
Is cultivated and MANFRED, than when
they stand IN grass, but It is also certain
that trees IN grass very seldom receive
say attention whatever further than 10
ROW tbe grass and pick what fruit grows
To give the trees which stand IN grass
fair chance TO show what they can 10,
We should manure as heavily Is we should
were The ground under cultivation. We
recently commenced to topdress the ground
Under a portion of our fruit trees Is al
experiment, and thus far they have grown
snd borne quite as well a. the average OF
those under cultivation. Of course the
manure was applied literally. that both
trees and grass might obtain their fail
slpuly. We should certainly advise our
correspondent to Try the effect OF heavily
t,pdrcssing portion OF his orchard before
! 0oughinC 1t. de will ind that he can
Q low his trees to branch out lower, thus
making 1t easier to gather the tTait, while,
at the same time his fruit will be blown
Of much less by winds Pruning trees
sufficiently to allow Of cutivating undor
them, Is often seriously damaging to their
health and Iougeyity.-Ex.