Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-04-29
The Apple: its Culture and Value.
HG y. W, PIERSON

The following essay was read before the
late meeting ni the Woodawn Agricultural
/ Club:
Many complaints are made in this Poto-
mae region that apple trees die ont in twelve
to fifteen years without giving due return
for the time and land they occupv.-count-
ing the care nothing, is, perhaps,
correct. We will endelvor to point ont the
cause and the remedy.
Fourteen years ago when Hunilry came
INTO our possession there were several large
old apple trees in bearing that are in full
healthy bearing yet. Upon examination
we found the soil clay. with grayelly sub-
soil: Prcsuming this to be the proper COM
position for healthy growth, and long life
OF the tree, we would select such conditions
for our orchard. If such location cannot
ne had. or if an orchard is already growing
upon clay soil and sub-sOil, as many of the
decaylng orchards are, the remedy is to lay
deep underdraIns near enough together to
! thoroughly drain every part. Apple trees
cannot long endure wet feet. Ii is Il waste
. OF money, land. time and patience to set an
ofcii;lrd where, however rich the soil NAV
he, there Is underneath cold mppnctrabie
mass Of wet clay
Light soils of sand or gravel without 4
mixture OF clay are unsuitable to the full
development of the tree and the profitable
production of fruit.
III Is "i the first Importance that the va
rIellrs we select for Il permanent orchard
should he such as have been proved hy long
cultivation to he we'll adapted to this SEQ
ton. \ few thoroughly tested sorts for
summer, fall and winter. are decidedly pre-
ieahle L" multitude of every kind advcr-
tlsed by ambitious nursery men, who haunt
their wonderful propei ties by high sounding
names and flaming pictures in pencil and
type.
Early Harvest, Red Astraclan and Sum.
mci Pcarman, for Summer Fall Pippin.
Primate, and Porter for Autumn, Timber
Twig. Wincsap and Cart House or Roman
tic for winter, arc varieties that have proved
worthy OF cultivation with me- Others NAV
have tested other varieties equally worthy.
Winter apples arc the most desirable 10
grow largely, provided we can find good
varieties that will keep well. Timber 'Twis
place first on the list for winter, for scye-
raj reasons The tree is vigorous grower,
bears ahunhantly every year the apples
hang on until November, and will keep un-
til April. Fruit, mcdium-Si2e. suh-acd,
solid, rich, juicy and good flavor The
Wncsap and Carthuusr OF Romantic. are
excellent varieties, vigorous growers, full
bearing. but such extremely dry weather as
we had last season caused them 10 fall OF
and rot early in the winter.
The preparation Of the soil should he
thorough, by understanding if necessary, as
we have said hclnrc,--by deep cultivation
and cnrichng, ST. that li,c land would raise
4 n,,I a: A.
apart each way if The orchard is designed TO
occupy the land exclusively. Mulch around
the trees every summer until he limbs shade
the ground sufficient To protect the roots
from the hot summer sun. The ground NAV
be cropped with potatoes ur corn for four or
five years until the trees get sufficient size
and strength for bearing To bring the
trees into bearing. seed The land with rye.
clover and timothy i'll August. After the
ground is we'll covered, turn on 4 flock of
sheep Keeping them on until October every
year; they will eat all the wornly apples ss
they fall 50 hat what are lett will be- fair and
.oumd they will keep down Ill suckers
from the trees that they can reach the fruit
will continue TO improve from year TO year;
the land will become enriched and will not
need plouG-ling ottcnrr than once in four or
five years. destroy every cocoon or cater
pillar nest on the trees as soon ~ they can
be discovered.
This should be- attended to every year,
| from the time they trees are set until they
are chi down As cnmhertrs of the ground
By doing this there need he but few tWigs
or limbs removed at time, giving the tree
head proper shape with open low spread
in. branche:; to let in the air and the sun
| light 10 the fruit, and to protect the body
and roots from the direct rays Of the hot
summer sun. This is a necessity that can
not be neglected where success to the full
est extent is attained.
Those having Old, unproductive orchards,
may perhaps derive some advantage by fol-
lowing the course persued by J. F. Wade, of
CLAY county, Iowa who writes thus of his
practice. IN the winter Of 1862 I rented q
farm near l.ockl,ort, \. y, that had been
leased for twenty five years continuously,
with an old orchard on it of from two to
three acres A number Of the trees were so
near dead, the owner said they could not be
saved. l commenced trimming in the win
ter, and worked 1t them every hour of
spare time until July. The limbs and
! trunks were scraped whenever the rain
wovid loosen the old bark and filth SO that
it could be removed. In the course Of the
season the ground was ploughed five times
before the fruit began to fall.
II Imanured nearly all Off once with two or three
extra doses around the sckly trees, until they
walked into life. The result was, that fall, the
| bearing year, I sold 2OS barrels for G3 cts per
barrel for the fruit. The owner said, she had
hest fruit there for twenty years, but never such
Roxhury Ruzset5 as these. Twenty-Five covered
barrel head by actual count. Now for the 'ot
year" Neghbors said, "you have beautiful large
crop of apples this year but don't expect any the
next year. it is the OFT year." The next year I
picked and sold over 36O barrels of apples from
the same orchard and received 1.94 for the fruit
per barred. There are varieties that are inclined