The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-26
AGRICULTURAL.
Facts Concerning Orchard..

Horticulturists are Lot unanimous in their
opinions concerning the proper methods to
pursue in the management of orchards, vet
almost every intelligent and successful grower
has developed some valuable points on this
subject At the last annual meeting of the
Western New York Horticultural Society,
several members ventilated their experiences
In the cultivation of orchards, which are val
liable to others engaged in the same line of
culture.
Elisha Moody of Niagara County said his
observation had led him to believe, first, that
before planting the soil should be thoroughly
prepared by drainage, If not already suffi-
GENTLY dry, and by deep cultivation. After
the trees are planted, some hoed crop, such
as potatoes or beans, may be grown in an
apple orchard four or five years without ma
terial damage to the trees, after which time
the land should be devoted exclusively to the
trees, and should be kept in a thorough state
OF cultivation with the pillow and harrow.
With this treatment Mr.. Moody claimed that
an orchard could be brought into good bear
ing in ten years from time of planting. The
most successful fruit growers in the county
cultivate their orchards as thoroughly as they
do their gardens, while all the orchards that
have proved most profitable and that have
produced from $500 to $500 worth of fruit to
the acre, are orchards that are owned by men
who believe in cultivation.
There seems TO be no doubt that, where
grass is permitted to grow in an orchard, in.
sects will multiply much more rapidly than
where cultivation is the rule. In blowing,
especially before the ground freezes in the
tall, many insects will be destroyed that have
prepared for themselves comfortable quarters
for the winter. 1t is claimed that though
some old orchards that are now in grass are
producing good crops of fruit, it is readily ac-
tod fnp hxv@ tNE Al. i
are, without exception, on the very best part
OF the farm, were planted at an early date,
and on the best and drest ground that could
be selected. Such trees have sent their roots
down deep into the soil, and are not affected
by the grass growing upon the surface.
Other orchards can be seen, standing in sod,
that are barely living, making but little if
any growth, producing but little fruit and
that of an inferior quality. Such trees as
these are undoubtedly on soil Of little depth,
and hence are ipjnriously affected by 'tho
grass.
A thrifty growth of wood should be kept
up by the application of fertilizers if neces-
sary. Of course different soils will demand
different fertilizers. In such great fruit-pro-
ducing sections as Niagara County the sup
ply of barnyard manure is insufficient, and
many orchardists are experimenting success
fully with the different commercial fertilizers.
ing, without blowing at all. In certain
orchard where this practice has prevailed, the
result is that the roots are spread out near
the surface of the ground and completely fill
the soil, and just below the surface these
roots are now so large that it would be inn
possible to pillow the land, while very many OF
the trees are now dying. The dry seasons
for three or four years past and the winter of
1875 were more than the trees were able to
stand nnrpr INIT of 81,
but little snow, and the ground froze to an
unusual depth, while the roots, being so near
the surface, suffered from both the drought
and severe freezing. Had the ground been
in good state of cultivation, the roots would
not have been at the surface, and conse-
quently would have escaped both the drought
and the cold.
The subject of protection to orchards,
through the means of forest trees as wind.
breaks, was discussed at this meeting. 1t
was claimed that Norway spruce was well
calculated to perform this service, though the
Scotch and Austrian pine both make good
windbreaks and are hardy. They cannot,
however, be as successfully transplanted as
the Norway spruce, while they would OCCUPY
more rows as hedge. With ordinary care
there need be but little loss in transpanting
Norway spruce, and when once planted it
will always improve In usefulness instead of
being an object of repairs as other fences are.
On noted fruit farm of 100 acres in this
section the farm is surrounded by Norway
spruce, with also hedges across the farm at
intervals of thirty rods. These hedges not
only protect the trees from sharp winds, but
also protect the surface of the ground, SO
that the snow will not be drifted about, but
will remain where it falls. In level countries
SUCH windbreaks are of special importance to
the successful cultivation of orchards.--
american CultiudtOr.