The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-03
For the Democratic Advocate.
FRUIT FOR CARROLL.

MEssRs. EDITORS Il read an article
in YOUR paper of February 18th entitled
"Fruit of Carroll" While it was good
article, and was full of truth, it hardly went
far enough. will, therefore, give you my
views under the caption of "Fruit for Car
roll" Your correspondent evidently makes
a good point in his allusion to bud and
root grated fruit. As this is something
that is not generally understood, l will en-
deavor to explain the difference. Where
fruit is root-grafted the Seeding stock is
cut off about two inches above ground; the
root divided into five or six pieces, on each
of which a graft three or four inches in
length is inserted. When planted in a
nursery row about one inch of the graft is
above ground, while two or three inches
are under ground, and are out OF their
proper element. These gratis resemble
cuttings more than natures plants. In
root-grafting the graft has but the one
fourth. or it may be one-sixth, of the root
to sustain it. The result is that the root,
a portion of it, may not be sufficiently
strong to develop the graft. 1t may not
knit well together, and storm may break
the tree off or the bark crack and blacken,
and the tree die prematurely. The budded
tree is very different By this process we
plant the whole stock with its crown at the
surface, with the bud inserted several
inches above. This leaves the natural
Seeding stock near the ground. 1t is more
hardy and better able TO resist severe
changes, wet, dry, &c. In this the bud is
at its proper place, above ground. The
root-graft at its improper place, below
ground. The budded fruit has the whole
root to sustain and perfect it, and is much
better for the orchardist. The root-grafting
is done in the winter, when wages are low.
The scion is pulled up and The gratis tied,
and they are buried in the cellar in the
sand until spring. This is inexpensive.
The budding is on the whole stock out of
doors, and costs much more to haveit done.
Nine-tenths of the apples sold are root
grated. Your correspondent states "that
as a rule we buy our fruit from New York
or Northern Pennsylvania nurserymen,
tested by them for their climate" This
is true, and while it continues we must
expect such results. Why is it people
complain that their fruit does not come to
perfection | will endeavor to answer
this. How do you know potato to be
ripe? When the skin is tight. When
does the skin become tight? When it
gets its growth. Nature makes the same
provision for apples to grow and ripen.
When an apple gets done growing itripens;
that is, if in its native climate. 1t is ripe
or ripens just at the point that 1T gets its
growth. Northern apple trees are brought
south, and as this climate is a little in adj
vance of the northern, they grow too fast,
and get their growth before we have the
right temperature, the right dews, sunshine,
&C., to ripen them. During that interval
between growth and ripening they become
diseased and drop from the tree. 1t re-
quires certain temperature, with peculiar
sunshine, &C., to ripen different varieties of
fruit. May Gews and sunshine would ripen
May cherries, but would have no effect
upon August peaches. But little attention
is paid to the cultivation of fruit adapted
to this locality. 1t has been the general
rule, also, to select on, kind of fruit, and
get another. In apples, Northern Spy,
Rhode Island Greening, King Of Thomp-
kins county, Duchess of Oldenburg, and
some other good northern varieties, are not
worth planting here. Asa summer or early
apple you cannot go amiss with Early Ripe,
Benoni, Summer Hagloe, Red Astrachan,
Bough and Early Harvest, the last named
the best for culinary purposes. For little
later Baltzley, Summer Rambo, Craven
stein and Smokehouse For early winter,
Bonum, Bellhower, Golden Russet, Falla-
water, Buncombe, Baldwin and Loudoun
Pippin. For keepers, Home Beauty,
Smiths Cider, Ben Davis, Albemarle Pip
pin, American Pippin, York Imperial, Linn
bertwig, Lady Apple, Nansemond Beauty,
Pilot, Romantic, Rawles Janet, Wealthy,
Winesap, White Pippin and Winter Blush,
withmany others. 1t is high time that the
people of this state were fully aroused to
the importance of fruit culture. IF you
are in doubt as to the varieties to select
in planting out an orchard, leave it to your
nurseryman, when you have selected one
YOU can trust. Select from men who grow
fruit in your own state, and you will not
be as apt to miss it. There are number
of nurseries in Maryland. They grow the
fruit YOU need. Apples, properly cult
waited. Weld from $3.50 to $3.50 per acre.
Two years is the proper age at which apple
trees should be planted. The average time
for standard apples to fruit is four to FIVE
years. When you plant apple trees, re-
move all the bruised or wounded roots.
MORE ANON.