The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-02-05
Cultivation or Orchnrd..

The report of Prof Beal of the de
partment OF horticulture and botany
in Michigan Agricultural College, con-
tains n large amount of interesting,
practical matter. For several years he
has been carrying on careful expert.
ments in the culture of orchards so as
to arrive at, if possible. the best plan.
| His experiments include nearly every
reasonable mode of culture, and non
culture. He reports or the past seal
son on this subject as follows:
| Experiments were begun on the apple or
chard in 1873, by cultiyating the ground
about some of the trees, leaving Others in
grass, and in applying barnyard manure
and ashes. Most of these have been con-
tinucd to the present time, but full results
have not yet been reached in all eases. So
far, tilling the land has given the best sue
cess in the healthfulness and bearing the
tree. Small circles cultivated about the
trees were no better than those wholly in
grass, for the Obvious reason that most of
the roots extended beyond those circles.
ON the other hand and Tor the same reason,
a circle of grass out nearly as far as the
extension of the limbs, did little or no
harm To lj-ycar trees where the ground
beyond them was cultivated. Trees of
that age wholly in grass, grow slower, pro-
quality than those well cultivated. Thin
ming the apple crop when the fruit is quite
small has been fonnd to be avery profitable
operation.
These experiments when completed
will be Of great value, and experiments
of the same kind should be systemat-
ically carried on by all the State agri-
cultural colleges, and then all collect
ed and averaged by the results. In
lines of experiments our colleges Of this
kind can be of immense benefit, and
fulfill the designs of those who insti-
gated them. One point in these or
chard culture experiments we wish 10
call especial attention TO, to-wit:
"Small circles cultivated about the
trees were no better than those wholly
in grass, for the obvious reason that
beyond these circles. On the other
hand, and for the same reason, a circle
of grass out nearly rs far as the extern
sion of the limbs, did little or no harm
20 trees fifteen years planted, where
the ground beyond them was culti-
waited"
These quotations cover mistakes
made 10y very many; for instance, how
often do We see men Of good intelli-
gence flor instance DIR. Stewart of
Del, and DIR. Tallant of Iowa. recon-
mend the placing, "the pilng up" Of
manure or other fertilizers around the
stems of trees long planted, when
reason should teach any one that there
was no feeding roots within twelve TO
twenty feet of such manurel and also
and tilling Immediately
around the stem Of AN old tree, and
calling it cultivating them. AS well
might they place a brick-bat at the
base Of the tree, 50 far as such work
could be of any benefit TO the tree. OF
course the rains will leach out the ma
nure and some OF IL may reach the
feeding roots. But II is very much |
better 10 apply culture and manure |
where it Is certain TO have some i'm |
effect, namely, under the ex-
Iremities Of the branches, aud beyond |
his is where the active feeding roots /
IRE found.
Our plan for cultivatiDg bearing /
we ask for none bett n, |
Dnly that we want better tool than /
he common blow to stir the soil with |
is 10 pillow the ground between the |
lows one way, not trying 10 pillow very |
near the stem OF the trees, absut the /
first of May with a common turning
Dlow, then in ten days harrow thor
Dughly, then in ten days again, and
hen about the tenth Of June pillow the
richard the other way then harrow
hree times as before. This plan we
ldopted after a great deal Of study
md experiment. We reasoned in this
way; II we should pillow the orchard
18th ways, turning all the ground
Dossible, we would destroy 80 many
cots as to give the orchard a severe
heck, but by blowing IL between the
Ows only one way at time we leave
t least half the roots undisturbed,
nd the trees are not checked at all.
md, we cared not how many roots we
lowed up between the trees one way:
We knew the undisturbed roots would
Iold the trees in thrift until the broken
cots recupesated in the fresh mellow
lowed land.
This kind ofculture IL adapted TO high,
~, rather poor hill land ON richer
nd more moist soil il would have to |
c modified 10 suit, for. 30 long a. an
rchard Of bearing trees i making a
rOwth Of from six TO fifteen inches
early IL has vig0r enough. There can
e no general plan for The culture Of .
richards given, for the culture Of each
richard must be according 20 its soil
nd requirements. The cultivation
ON a thin, dry soil, would
ause an orchard on a richer, n1Oister
III 10 run all 20 wood, with none or
tile fruit. Rich, level, OF prairie !
ills should be treated very differently