The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-08
The Fruit Orchard.

SETTING OUT ORoHARDs.-Whcn fruit
is scarce there is tendency to set or
chards, and an abundance of fruit has
the contrary effect. There is but little
danger of setting out too many fruit
trees however Past experience shows
that as soon as there is more fruit than
can be readily disposed of, there is al
ways some way found to utilize it.
Distant markets are found, or fruit pre-
served in some way.
The President of the Ontario Fruit
Growers Association, in his annual ad-
dress, alluded to the fear which some
persons entertain of an over production
of fruit for successful market. In
answer to this fear he said that while
Britain requires fully 100000 barrels
of apples yearly more than can grow
there, the largest crop that Canada
ever produced, which was the previous
year, enabled them to send only 200,-
900 barrels. The rapid increase of the
cities at home would occasion a large
demand. He urged the Importance of
growing only the best fruits, and to
send to market only the best selected
specimens.
LEANING TREEs.-Orchards espe
cially of apples, are often dis6gured by
leaning trees Oftentimes il is caused
by the borer weakening tree on one
side so that it is easily blown over.
Where the tree is large it is not easy
to remedy ii, but with smaller ones it
is not so difficult. The earth may be
loosened somewhat, the trees set up
right, and carefully fastened by stakes
or guys, and the earth replaced around
the roots. 1t would be well to add
some rich compost to promote the
growth. If, as is very probable, the
top of the tree has become one-sided,
it should be pruned so as TO restore the
balance. In this way pear trees may
be rlghted up even when six inches
through the stem, but the best way is
to look after the young trees and not
permit them to depart from the way of
uprightness 1t is popular error that
there is nothing more needed to get a
good apple orchard than the setting out
of the trees.
SAVING OFF LARGE BRANCHES or
TREEs.--It is very great mistake to
defer the saving off of limbs of trees
until they get of great size. The pro.
per plan, as has been often explained
is to do light pruning annually. Big
limbs cut off near the body of the tree
leave large scar that never heals over
and of course decay begins, and tho 70,
eats in the very heart of the trees
This is a great wrong against nature
which she never forgives. Yet how
common it is all over the country tc
see orchards thus mutilated. Some
who feel it necessity to cut off large
limbs, cut them at a distance of loo
or two from the tree at first, so thai
the process of closing over starts Al
the trunk before the roofing of tn,
branch commences. Those who watcl
their trees while young, cutting small
branch here and there as needed, will
nave no large ones to saw off in afteI
years. Look to your young tree,
now.
ORCHARDS FOR Rocky LANDS
There are many fields on many farms
oftentimes, too rocky to be profitabl,
cultivated, or from which a profit i
barely made. There is room for mucl
more fruit, to be used in supplying th
home and foreign trade and on tn,
rocky lands orchards could be profitab
ly set out. There are some town,
where the land is so full of larg
granite rocks that it can never be yer,
valuable for cultivation, but whici
seems to be peculiarly well adapted t,
the growth of apple trees The maj
who owns farm consisting of suc1
land, may work hard during his Who'll
lifetime, trying to get living by cul
tivating such land, and barely max
ont to pay his way, while, if he woul
devote his land to the use to which
seems adapted-that of orcbardiug-
in few years he would derive HAND
some revenue from the sale of fruit.