The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-06
A Business Orchard.

There is a right way, and a good
many wrong ways, of establishing
commercial orchard. As to whether
the proposing orchardist should grow
his own trees, that will depend upon
his conditions. If it will take him two
or three years TO prepare his orchard
ground, and if he knows how, he might
as well raise his own trees; for it is a
growing conviction with men of expe-
rience that it is better not to have the
young trees, -root-grafted or budded,-
of more than two years growth when
transferred to their permanent position
in the orchard. Whether they are root
grated, or budded, is matter of minor
Importance, other things being equal.
Good trees are grown in both ways; but
in the cold North, where there is danger
from tender stocks, the root.grafting of
long cions upon short roots ST ems TO be
preferable. With stocks surely iron
clad, budding has some advantages; but
is not without its disadvantages. Atany
rate, we should select the very best
location, and the very best soil, for the
nursery. 1t cannot be too well Sc
lected, or too carefully prepared; and
it must be as near level as is consistent
with thorough surface drainage. In
very heavy soil it must also be thor
oughly underdrained. A very slight
slope, to the east or south, with an
even grade and surface, is important
in any nursery. Stocks may be home
grown; but they can usually be bought
cheaper, where irod-c clad stocks are not
needed For iron-clad stocks, plant
Duchess of Oldenburgh seeds, in rich,
deep, well worked, garden soil.
AS to the ground for the orchard s.
if the soil is strong and well suited to
apples, the planter need not be very
particular about any other point than
good drainage; though smooth site,
free from surface impediments, is al
ways to be preferred, for very obvious
reasons connected with setting, Guilt
walton, and other essential work in
connection with the culture of the
trees and the handling of the fruit.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that
much good fruit has been and can be
grown upon pretty rough land, and
pretty steep hillsides. But il is always
done at disadvantage in various ways
and with increased expense.
When the orchard has been CAREFUL,
set with good trees, on good location
accessible TO market, great and i'm
portant part of the work is accom-
plished; yet it is but beginning. l.
the site allows, there should be constan
and clean culture. If this cannot bt
given, then the alternative is heav,
and often renewed mulching of thu
trees; and this means a contest will
mice. Common strip laths, cut il
half, and bound about the trunks O
the trees with single turn of cotton
Irvine, each autumn, has always PROVED
a perfect protection, in my orchards
against mice. Use as many strips a
are needed 10 cover the trunk. 1t i
not great job. Two smart boys cal
protect two or three hundred in day
Soon after the snow is gone, remov
the strips, and rub them and the trees
to kill all insects harboring there.
The best crop to grow in youn
orchard is bush beans. They can b
grown continuously, for as many year
as required, without any rotation, up t.
the time when the trees are bearin,
well. The bean straw makes an excel
lent mulch for the trees, as mice do no
nest in it. The bean crop will pay TO
both the cultivation and the manurin!