The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-16
Where to Plant Fruit Trees.

1norc are SeN6Td OTCudTuo COubdluilik
from 800 to 800 trees. There are also
many trees planted in rows on the sides
of farms aud in gardens and lawns.
This year there is a good crop of fruit
on the trees that are outside orchards,
but scarcely any cherries on the trees
that are in the large orchards. In the
orchards most of the fruit is found on
the trees in the outside rows. A like
state of things existed last year. Trees
that stood by themselves were loaded
with fine fruit, but those that were in
orchards were nearly destitute of any.
The writer of this article, who has
large cherry orchard, has observed that
the trees in an orchard bear well while
they are quite small, but generally fail
to produce good crops as soon as they
become large. Large trees, however,
standing in isolated positions in sepa-
rate rows produce good crops, year af-
ter year, Notwithstanding there is q
failure of fruit in orchards that are well
taken care of. He has also observed
that the trees that are scattered about
the premises remain in good condition
after producing twenty crops of fruit,
while those in the interior of large or
chards die or exhibit marks of decline.
The observations of others who are in.
terested in the growing of cherries are
in harmony with his own. One grower
states that fifty trees standing in sepa-
rate rows or scattered about in con-
venient places will produce more fruit
during a series of years than five hun
dred planted in an orchard. Most have
noticed that the fruit on solitary trees is
larger and fairer than that on trees
standing in an orchard and that it
ripens earlier. Beyond question tho
best way to secure q supply of cherries
is to plant the trees in separate rows or
to scatter them about.
The famous old pear trees, planted
by She early French and English settlers,
of which we hear so much, do not stand
in orchards. They generally occupy
solitary positions or are members OF
small groups. In all the seaboard States
vigorous apple trees may be found that
have produced crops for century and
are still productive. They are not in
orchards, however, but along the sides
of roads, in door-yards, or in solitary
positions on old estates. Few trees re-
main in orchards that were planted dur
ing or before the revolution. These few
are in outside rows, where they received
the most benefit from free air and sun
shine. Large orchards of pear trees are
seldom, il ever, profitable. The trees
may be vigorous and apparently hardy
while quite small, at which time they
are tolerably productive. They do not
retain their vigor, however. They are
afflicted with all manner of diseases
about the time they should begin 30 pro-
duce large crops. The most healthy and
productive pear trees stand In gardens
or in places remote from collections OF
similar trees. Persons are often tempted
to set out large orchards of pear trees
because they see trees in village or city
gardens doing so finely. They are gen.
orally unsuccessful in their efforts TO
raise pears, and often fail to raise trees.
A horticultural crank who lived in this
State a long time observing that pear
trees did well in towns and very poorly
in orchards on farms in the same vicini-
ty, attributed the success of the urban
trees to the prevalence of the smoke of
soft coal which pervaded the towns, but
which did not extend to the adjoining
country. Excellent pear trees are found
In village gardens in all the Eastern
States, where the use of soft coal is en-
tirely unknown. There is no evidence
that smoke is beneficial to any kind Of a
tree, but abundant evidence that isola-
ton is highly beneficial in promoting
vigor and productiveness.
There is no good reason for planting
fruit trees in an orchard. 1t may be
more easy to cultivate them there and
to protect them from animals, but the
advantage is slight. Land covered by
trees is Of scarcely any value for any
other purpose. a little grass may be
raised, but it will hardly ever be worth
cutting. A row of fruit trees can be sci
within few feet of fence, and be cul.
tiyated with little difficulty. The trees
will occupy no more land than they will
in any other position. The trees that car
be set on two sides of 160 acre farm
would constitute large orchard if they
were planted out in the usual manner.
If desirable, row of fruit trees can be
planted by the side of a division fence
that is to be permanent. Considerable
has been written on the advisability oi
using living posts for wire fences. i
trees are employed for supporting wire:
they should be of enduring wood. Ap
pie tree wood is very firm and lasting
A staple would not be likely to be drawn
out of it. Fruit trees can be planted tC
excellent advantage between the outer
fence and the public road. That striE
of land belongs to the owner of the ad
jacent farm, and can be used by him fol
any purpose that does not interfere will
travel on the road. He may plant tree!
on it or employ it for raising grass ol
annual crops. The product of whatever
he plants there belongs to him. Thi
strip of ground is admirably adapted fol
raising trees. 1t has a ditch on ont
side which affords good drainage. Th,
trees can be taken to the places where
they are wanted over the road, as cal
fertilizers and water if they are required
II stock do not run at large in the neigh
borhood the trees will reqtiire no pro
lection against them. II they are al
lowed in the streets the trees can b,
easily protected by means of stakes anc
boards. If late varieties of apples ar,
planted the trees will not be in DANCE
of being robbed.
The banks of ravines and the sides o
small streams are excellent places 70
planting fruit trees. The soil is wei
drained and is of very little value TO
raising ordinary crops. 1t can not b
plowed without endangering the banks
and causing them to wash away. TIL
water in the streams will prevent tn
roots of the trees from becoming DIR,
even when drought prevails. All hav
observed how well forest trees thriv
that grow on the banks Of streams, an
it seems strange that frr1it-raisers hav
not generally learned lesson from ns
ture and planted fruit trees in tn
places where forest trees do so well. L
parts of the West the banks of stream
are lined with wild crab-apple trees
though they do not grow on the place
that farmers select for the sites of ol
chards. These trees that nature ha
c crops, and are not snbiacs to disease
THAI cultivated varieties of fruit tire
would do equally well in the same sit
uations seems certain. Trees prefe
broken land, aud the finest specimen
can generally be found in places this
are of no value for producing ordinar
farm crops. Still farmers and horti