Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-09-08
Apple Culture.

VIM. II. Smith in Southern Industries
The proper treatment of the soil of
the orchard will occupy our attention
in this essay.
Our ultimate object is fruit, but our
first thought should be to obtain trees
large enough and strong enough to pro.
duce and sustain crop of fruit. Just
here we remark that the half starved
tree bears very early, but early bearing
as rule means early decay. The well
cared for tree that attains a good size,
comes into bearing at the proper time,
and is never allowed to over bear when
young, is the one that ultimately proves
very valuable, and is apt to live to a
good old age. To insure good growth
on the part of newly set trees, three
things. are necessary - cultivation,
mulchiug, and feeding or top dressing.
Thorough cultivation is absolutely
necessary. This becomes more appa-
rent when we reflect that the trees have
lost portion of their roots by removal
from the nursery. They now have to
make new roots and growth at the
same time. You have placed them
now where they are to remain as long
as they live. 1t is reasonable to con-
clude that the first ten years after
transplanting is the time they need
special attention. During that time
they should become firmly established
in the soil and large enough to bear
ten bushels of apple. To particularize
then, we will suggest mode of treat
ment for the young orchard just set
out, which we regard best for the prac-
teal orchardist. If the trees are in
good, rich soil scatter wood ashes around
each tree. If the land be old and
worn, scatter a mixture of wood ashes
and stable manure about each tree,
and cultivate well in some low.growing
crop. Select them in the order named:
Cornfeld peas are best. Watermelons
or cantelopes are next. Sweet potatoes
or any other root crop, cotton Or to.
bacco. If you deem best to plant in
corn, never let stalk grow in less than
eight or ten feet of the young tree.
Corn is gross feeder, and the roots
ramify every particle of the soil.
Sorghum and broom corn are even
worse than maize, and small grain and
millet for the first two or three years is
out of the question. This course should
be continued for two or three years al
least. Each tree should be kept erect;
stake if necessary. If they lean any
way, let it be to the evening sun.
Scatter ashes and stable manure around
each tree every spring, 1t has two
good effects-stimulates growth and il
an antidote against insects. Rocollec
that young apple tree grows from
early spring until after frost. If yor
cannot cultivate during the entire
growing season, as the nurserymen arr
compelled to do to raise good trees fol
YOU, when you cease TO cultivate abou
mid summer, mulch literally with ole
straw. This protects the roots agains
the extremely hot, dry weather, anc
insures fall growth. Immediatel,
after a rain is the best time to do this
The most important point to be born
in mind now, is not only the preserva
ton, but the Improvement of the sol
of the orchard. The local application
around each tree have been so far sui
fcient, but as the roots reach out fuI
Their every season, the entire suface o
the ground must be built up. If tn
land is rolling, we must run what ar
called hillside bitches, giving them