The record-union., 1893-02-14
FARM And ORCHARD.
Care of 0rchards-The Expert
ence of an 0rchardiSt.
'sThe Care of Orchards for Best Re-
sults'' Is a subject Which Concerns
All of Us-Comforted With Apples
Two Styles of Marketing-Trans-
planting In Gardens.

The following paper was read before
the Grant County (Ind.) Horticultural
Society at its November 1892 meeting,
by j. II. Fishell, President of the society:
"The care of orchards for best results'
is subject which concerns all of US.
There may be other subjects to occupy
the attention of some, but this subject
should occupy the mind of every farmer
IN the land. There is too much lack OF
horticultural knowledge among farmers.
They are not as well posted on horticult-
ure as applied to fruit-growing as they
should be. 1t certainly would be to the
advantage of every wide-awake farmer
ana frult-grower TO join and attend the
interesting meetings of this society and
get practical knowledge of fruit-grow-
ing. Those who make Il success in fruit
growing do so by intelligent industry.
1t has been said: IF man would know
anything he must think. If he would
have anything he must work" Now, ii
lie Will do either, all things are so ar
ranged that he may receive rich rewards.
From the earliest times men have
turned to the soil for their support. The
products were few because their wants
were lew. In process of time agriculture
was divided into departments. The man
VINO cultivated field crops on a large scale
was called husbandman or agricuIturist
Others that cultivated fruits, roots and
vegetables were called horticulturists,
and one branch of the latter is my sub
Ject. Fruit is the poor mans friend. the
rich mans luxury, the laborers' physician
ana the Zoe to patent medicine and Quack
doctors. There is no more royal road to
health than that lined by trees of ripened
Iruit. The growth of trees, whether in
The forest OF in The orchard, takes from
the soil the necessary nutriment, both for
the formation of wood and the develop
ment offruit. To secure the most salts
factory development of fruit requires
health and vigor of wood. But the
growth of trees in a soil continually
cropped is soil exhaustion, and if con-
tinued for number of years, with no
restoration OF tertiliZing material, the
conditions become unfavorable TO any
healthy growth Of wood fiber. 1t is
under such conditions as these that fruit
rapidly deteriorates or fails of pro6uc-
lion.
THE ORCHARD.
The orchards set in young trees should
be cultivated annually, and some fertiliZ-
ing material applied for the benefit of
the trees, as well as the vegetables or
small fruit raised, until the trees come
Into bearing, then the cultivation should
cease for a time. Fruit trees require care
ana nutriment, and without this the re-
suits are not satisfactory. Healthfulness
is indicated by a vigorous growth and a
foliage of dark green, and when these
conditions exist the fruit will be found
smooth and of good size.
Orchards may be fortified by spread
ing manure over the surface, especially
that portion of it through which the roots
OF the trees extend. Potash is a valuable
fertilizer for all kinds of fruit, and can be
applied in the form of unleached wood
ashes, and being largely soluble, are
xr,.l+ 81 H.
diately appropriated to profitable use.
We would lay down these cardinal rules:
IN commencing, select a situation best
adapted for the purpose, taking every
thing into consideration. If not well
drained, see that it is. Scatter well COM
posted manure over the ground, pillow
deep and then, if you can get them scat
ter wood ashes over the plowed ground
and work them well into the soil with a
harrow. Depend upon it, there is no
amount of pains which you can take in
this respect that will not amply repay YOU
IN the end. We look upon it as of the ut
most importance to the future welfare of
the tree that it should have good start in
the beginning and make an early and
rapid growth. This will enable it to re-
sist the attacks of disease and insects the
better.
SETTING THE TREES.
Get good, thrifty two-year-old trees. as
they have better roots than those older
and will be more satisfactory in the end.
set them at least thirty feet apart each
way. Most persons, when planting an
orchard, set their trees too close together,
the roots soon intermingle, and the con-
sequence is they won't bear much fruit
that Is worth gathering. This fall | set
out another young orchard of apple trees,
setting them thirty-three feet apart, and
IN the spring intend to set dwarf pear
trees between the trees. They soon come
into bearing, and by the time thew have
ceased to be profitable they can be dug
out and the apple trees occupy the whole
ground. And in the meantime it is my
custom to plant and cultivate vegetables
and small fruits between the trees, and
annually manure the ground we'll till the
trees commence to bear, then cease Guilt
waiting for few years, and every two or
three years thereafter manure the trees
TIL, in my Judgment, the ground needs
SURFING. Keep the orchard trimmed and
sprayed Tor insects and worms. This is
all the orchard needs to make it profit
able. L might mention here what | do
when receiving trees or vines from dis
tance. On their arrival 1 set the roots in
water for twenty-four hours, then make
thin mortar with fresh COW manure and
soil, dip the roots in it so thew will be
we'll coated, and plant. In this way trees
and vines grow right along from the start
without check. After planting mulch
well for dry weather in summer and
freezing and thawing in winter.
Some people often wonder why it is that
orchards often cease to yield as they once
did. There is no mystery about it, The
soil has been completely exhausted by
constant cropping; every element re-
qulred by the trees has been used up, and
as consequence there is nothing left for
the trees to exist on. There is a dispesi-
ton on the part of some to expect an or
ri n 90 Of 8
were to neglect their crops as they do
their orchards, the road to the poorhouse
would be very short. Some say they
don't pay. To such L would say that they
have neglected to take care of them.
therefore they don't owe you anything.
In conclusion, would say that to sue
coed in this age you must be at the head
of the profession. You must not allow
any one to surpass you in any respect
You must keep posted in your business,
You will find that it requires more BUSH
ness ability to handle fruits than to farm
crops. We must read and think more as
well as work. In this way our abilities
become exercised, so we may become
sharper and shrewder business men. To
all those who plant fruit trees L would
say, treat them well, and then you may
expect a good return and golden har-
vest, and no disappointment.
CONFRONTED WITH APPLES.
L. 81. Bailey, of Ithaca, recently read a
paper before the Agricultural and Ex-
detrimental Union OF ontario upon recent
progress in American Horticulture.
Some of the facts are sufficiently re-
markable. Downing, in 1915, described
the 100 varieties of apples known to be
growing in this country, of which Ameri-
can varieties numbered 100. There are
now more than l,600 American varieties.
1--WE are," said Mr.. Bailey, constantly