The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-10
49,
Fruit Culture.

request of the Grange:
Worthy Mastsr, Patrons and Friends:
The field assigned is vast, tbs motive
power is weak; but if could bring to
bear giant intellect, coupled with the
most powerful energy, justice could not
be done in ON essay limited to an occa-
sion like this.
Fruit, luscious fruit! the sight Of which
causes the eye of the infant to sparkle in
bright anticipation, childhood to dance
with gleeful joy; that which excites
hunger and longing in youth, produces
strong desires in mature manhood and
sharpens the appetite of old age; that
which is necessity of our physical ma
ture; luscious to the taste, excites the
digestive organs, strengthens the nerves,
renovates the system, and is universally
sought by man, beast and bird; and yet,
@, how culpable are we, in that we fail
to provide such an essential, and by such
neglect set before our children tempta-
ton to criminality which they are scarce.
ly able to resist, for their longings for
fruit-in its season-are such that they
are bound to have it, by begging OF
sponging if they can, but by stealth if
they must. And yet, how little atten-
tion is given by the mass of farmers and
landowners to this vastly important item
in the make up of a good living. Oh
says one, have no time to attend to
such matters. To such would say, save
the fragments, utilize the moments, and
you will have time plenty. But, says
another, it takes up too much good
ground for an orchard. I answer by
saying, shame on you, sir, when I see all
around your lots, plots and gardens
enough lands wasted in jamestown,
carless, Jerusalem and horehound weeds
and other malarial and noxious pests to
grow all the fruit trees necessary for
your household.
But to the subject. First, the location
for apples. Let it be a depression or
northern slope, thereby keeping the tem-
perature as low and even as possible
through the winter and early spring in
order to. prevent killing off by frost
The ground should be dark, tenacious
loan, with clay subsoil, which will give
a more vigorous and healthy growth as
we'll as lessen the danger of uprooting by
storms, and being less porous is not 80
subject to frequent atmospheric changes,
and is altogether preferable to light sand
| or gravel soil. Set the trees 18 feet each
way. While l am apprised that this is
less distance than is usually adjudged
necessary, yet, after observation and ex.
perience of fifty years, I claim that it is
sufficient for the penetration of light
and heat for the full development oI
fruit and growth of tree, and thus planted
they act as mutual support and protec.
ton to the tree in time of storm and tc
\ the. fruit in time of chilling wind and
late spring frost. As to the propagation
and stocking, it is folly to 60 beyond the
| mountains, rivers and seas to get selec.
tions while Natures God has given every
soil and climate that variety suited to it,
latitude. once imported seventeen va
rieties of select apples distance of 60(
| miles only to learn that but three out Of
the lot were worth bringing, while al
were good, and extra good, in their ma
tive soil. Fruit, like other things, must
be acclimated, and where there is great
contrast in the component parts in the
makeup of the soil, as we'll as great diff
ference in the climate, it has its wonder
full effects upon the fruit, and usually te
its disadvantage. But for variety, by
propagating from seed, hybridizing and
grating we can have all that is necessary
to our latitude. Indeed, too many vari'
eties is only vanity, or rather for the sake
Of gratifying vanity, for only few o.
the varieties can be superior. We wan
size, flavor and keeping qualities in the
fruit and health, vigor and capability ol
much bearing in the tree, and the requi
sition is full. Take, for instance the
early red and white June, followed by
the golden sweet and golden Russell
these succeeded by the horse apple ano
the variegated Redraft, Tor pie apple
| these followed by the merit or Shockley
and the large yellow Pearman, and these
again by the red cluster, the winter sweet
| and the green Pearman, and we have al
in point of variety, favor and keeping
! that is desirable. In short, fruit all the
time, for the three last named varieties
as I have tested, will keep to meet the
fruit of the succeeding season. And
here arises the question of preservat' IN
The answer is, gather at the approach O.
frost, store dry in well-ventilated apart
ment where air can pass underneath, anc
all that is further necessary is to keer
dry and above the freezing point. The
stocking and culture of an orchard de-
mands attention. Sci the scions of any
healthy, well-shaped sprouts at hand
and graft for select varieties; but do moi
set as if planting a stack.pole, in hole
Just large enoug gh to swallow the stock
with cramped roots, but let the c2cava
ton be sufficient to hold the roots laio
horizontally, set in ten inches deep, fill
| with good soil sufficient to cover the roots
| and then drench with water to settle the
dirt we'll about the roots; then ill the
remainder of the hole with dry dirt. Il
this is done from November to February
| and the same sides of the tree turned tc
the points of the compass as it frat grew;
there need not be exceeding 2 per cent
of loss in transplanting. Then keep the
ground we'll pulverized-deep at first
| more shallow near the tree as the roots
expand. Keep down weeds, avoid crops
that leave on the land any amount of dry
stubble or haulm, branch the top at foul
feet above ground, and in due time there
will be a good orchard. If grating is
done at the ground simply cut off the
stock and slit in the center of the stump
then insert the graft, shaped glut OF
drolikn taking care that bark shall