The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-03
Kanuring Fruit Trees.

One or the leading contributors 70 tn,
I London Garden makes the following goo
practical remarks ia favor Of a prsctic,
which fruit growers in this country are
[ finding Of great importance.
Z 1t is singular how long some fallacie.
retain their hold, even after they have
been disproyed By facts, and Of thess
one Of the most mischieyous is the be
lief that fruit trees and bushes are liable
70 injury rather than benefit from the
application Of manure. All sorts Of dis
eases, such a. eanker and other ailment.
10 which fruit trees are liable, are sci
down as the result Of applying manure
I % the roots; whereas in nine cases out
Of ten, It arises from poverty Of the soil
causing the roots TO run down into the
bad suhsoil. | am continually hearing
complaints from owners Of fruit tres
a. 10 their unsatisfactory condition, and
on examination have invariably found
I scarcely any surface roots or fibres Of
any kind, nothing but large, thong like
roots. that run right down into the sub
soil. On inquiry have usually found
that manuriDg or top dressing had not
been practised for many years, their
I owners having come to the conclusion
that such practices are dangerous. do
not say that manure will prove to be a
cure for fruit tree ailments Of all kinds
but | will briefly detail few facts that
have come under my observation at va
riOus times to prove. that starvation Of the
roots is far more prolific source Of in
jury than abundant feeding Of the sur
face roots, both with solid and liquid
manures, and growers must form their
own conclusions as 10 the best course to
pursue. The frditful or unfruitful
state Of orchard trees in nine cases out
ten is entirely dependent on the atten-
tiou which they receive as regards ma
nuring. In the fruit growing parts of
Kent, where large orchards of standard
trees planted on grass land is the rule,
IL il a well-established fact that if the
grass is cut for hay and carried away, the
trees soon become unfruitful and die out,
while, on the contrary, if the grass is
fed of, so that the uutriment is return
ed to the roots in the shape of manure,
the trees keep fruitful and healthy. l
have seen some Of the most moss grown,
miserable specimens of starved orchard
trees restored to fruitful condition by
making the ground beneath them the
winter quarters Of sheep and pigs, feed
ing them the same time as if they were
in the farm-yard with roots and corn.
The finest old specimens of apple and
pear trees are generally those in an
orchard next to the homestead that is
used as a run for calves, sheep, pigs, and
poultry the whole year round. In these
orchards the turf is short, and being full
Of nutriment the trees keep healthy and
prolific for an indefinite period.
Ashes, garden refuse, or any kind of
road scrapings, or even scavengers' rub
bish may be utilized for increasing our
supply of orchard fruits. They should
be spread roughly on the surface in win
ter, and in spring narrowed and rolled
down firmly. The result will soon be a
marked improvement in the size and
quantity of the crop. Difference of
opinion prevails as to pruning or non
pruning trees, some adopting one sys-
tenn and some another; but, be that as ii
may, / never knew fruit trees continue
to yield good crops for any length of
time unless the roots were supplied with
manure in some form or another.