Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-15
AGRICULTURAL.
Fruit Culture
twrntcn for thc Free Press ami Tlmcs.l !

FrUit SuItuTc'
Written for the Free Press AMI Tlmc4.l
With tho many natural advantage
possessed by the Champlain Valley MS a
fruit growing section, there is no reason
why it should not become much more
important fruit centre than it already is.
Although our valley is situated i'll North
ern New England it is sheltered by the
mountains on the east and west and is
open at the south to the genial influences
Of the Gulf stream: consequently our
location for growing the harder fruits is |
unsurpassed in the eastern states, with |
the exception of central New York. In |
view of the fact that the rapidly opening
fields Of the west are extending such COM
petition that the prices of some farm
products are SO low that farmers must
turn their attention to some other source,
the culture of fruit especially commends
| itself.
True, the fruit, especially apples from
Michigan and other western points, is as
plenty in the eastern markets as other
products from that region, but there is
one notable fact in this connection, and
that is that western fruit under any cir
cumstances is far inferior in its keeping
qualities to that of eastern growth. Con
|
affairs exists, growers NAV rest assured
that their products will meet with a
ready demand, both for home consump-
ton and the foreign trade which is rapid
ly developing.
The orchardi t Of to-day has many OBJ
staclcs to contend with that were I'M
known to his forefathers. who had no diff
ficuity in growing trees wherever they
chose to set them. The cutting away OF
our native forests has placed quite for
midable barrier in the way of the sturdy
growth Of young orchards from the fact
that they are now subject TO the cold,
bleak winds of winter and the hot. dry
ing ones of summer TO n much greater eX-
tent than formerly. The borcr, curculio
and caterpillar are also to be contcnded
! with.
Perhaps the most important step in the
: setting of an orchard is the selection of
trees, but We will first speak OF location
and exposure. A slope facing the north
or west, if otherwise well adapted, is the
l most preferable, as i'll such n location the
buds do not start so early in the season
e and consequently there is not 80 much
S danger of frost. The soil for an orchard
4 should be well drained, either artiicially
1 or naturally. A sandy or grayelly loan
c should perhaps he chosen for apples,
p while for pears a heavier soil is better,
i that containing clay being ofteu the best
S The plum requires about the same soil rs
t the pear. Clay, however, should not pre-
II dominate in either case. Cherries vii
II thrive in variety of soils. For any
y kind of fruit and in any case there shoul,
Il not be a superabundant supply of mois
;. ture, as it will ruin the orchardists hopes
= Although wet land can often be draine,
e artiiicially 50 us to be fit for an orchard
Is land that is naturally dry is much PIE
Il ferable. There are several reasons 10
Ii this, the principal one being that ON som
i lands, especially those with subsoil q
l. quicksand, the drains are liable to he
Il come stopped up, and ms it would be dii
p, icult to lay new drain or dig mp an oil
ie one among trees, it is much better t
IL have the orchard located on high ground
y The selection of trees for an orchard
S, of great Importance. Where it is pract
e, cable the orchardist should go 20 til
nursery, select his own trees and supel
intend their digging. OF course in man
os cases this Is altogether impracticablc, 4
', the grower Of the trees may be and oite
III is at distance. In the latter case cai
= should be taken to select n reliable dca
!
III for honest and careful dealing. Do nt
be afraid of high-priced trees, provide
e. you know they are iirstclass i'll ever
n respect, MS such cannot be grown al Il
ut prices the ordinary tree pcddler' ca
Ill furnish culled trees at. ! say ordlnar,
hg because some travelling dealers hay
til good trees, but TO sell them Mt the pric,
til some ''scamps' quote their worlhle
nd stock at would be ruinous. Some of the'
ur fellows have fair trees at II reasonab
II, price, which turn out to be some wort
1t. less variety. In this case the olchardist
nj hopes are about us badly blighted rs
M the trees had died ut first The best vi
8h is to order trees of some first class tirl
ng where you will he sure of getting VIII
es, you order.
;h, As to the time of setting the tree
mt spring is no doubt to be chosen. \
les though great care should be used in 81
he ting, but few directions are necessar,
to The hole in which the tree is to be plac,
nd should be sufficiently large TO allow
I'd. the roots being placed i'll their natul
alf position. 1t should be dug several inc
HE es deeper than the tree is to stand al
lite should be fitted up SO as to allow their
to stand little lower than it did in t
is nursery row. The roots should also
in covered with surface SOIL Inc ulstan
be- apart may be varied somewhat accordil
'or to circumstances. Some growers follC
e n the plan of setting twenty feet apart a
ng. letting them fruit in this way for
7 it first few years and then removing eve
ips other tree as soon as they come in &C
md tact with each other. The usual pla
eat however, is to set at the distance they t
tile to stand-from twenty-five to forty feet.
ing The orchard should be cultivated I
it'll the first few years after setting-at LEI
us none but hoed crops should be allowt
, of Care should be taken not to injure
ieg roots by deep plowing or the bodies
eep the trees by cultivation or otherwi
ing Some contend that an orchard shor
ust never be seeded down. Whether this
low so or not l am not able to say from
'ust perieuce. but judging from observati
ted l should say that after the trees are W
o,r aata hliahal aay from five tn six We