Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-09
THE GARDEN AND THE ORCHARD
A CONCISE STATEMENT OF THE ART or
CuLTIyAIING oRcHATDs.

Prof. Bailey has written for the Cor
nell station bulletin - on the cultivation
of orchards. The bulletin Is worthy oil
place In the library OF our fruit grow
ers. Ii Is illustrated by cut OF an
ideally cultivated peach orchard show
ing a clean, level, smooth ground Tree
from the presence OF any other crop
Trees are headed low and pruned APP
parently for the admission OF sunlight
The pickers were shown standing on the
ground gathering the fruit, while step
ladders of the old pattern are SHOWN AZ
hand reaching the top boughs. Inc
seventeen pages Of this bulletin are
abridged nv Prof. Bailey into three other
pages' The recognized authority of
Prof. Bailey on horticultural topics
makes him worthy OF quotation as All
exponent of the science OF fruit growing
We give the following abridgment OF MS
abridgment:
III orchards are TO be made profitable,
they must receive as good care as other
crops. ;.
Good drainage, natural or artificial, Is
essential TO success.
We'll drained lands are drier IN wei
SMELLS and mois,er in dry spells than
other lands. They can be worked earlier
In spring.
Trees should be made TO send their
roots deep into the soil, in order 10 iorti-
~ themselves against drouth. This l.
done by draining the soil and by plowing
the orchard rather deep.
This deep plowing should begin tne
very wear the trees are set ana IL shou'o
be continued every spring until the
habit of the tree is established. =,
Moisture Is retained In the upper sou
by very frequent but shallow tiilsge, oy
means of which the surface OF the iano
becomes A mulch for the soil beneath.
Tillage should be begun just as soon
as the ground is dry enough in 'he
spring.
This ,illage should be repeated as
often as once in ten days throughout the
growing season, which extends from
spring until July or August.
Late cultivation may be Injurious oy
inducing A late growth. At all events II
can be OF small utility when the tree be-
gins 10 mature and rains become IRE
quent. .. o..
Fall blowing may be advisable Ior
farm crops. but it should generally, De
discouraged in orchards. Inc ianu
In orchards should be left compact IN the
fall. and IL is advisable 10 cover with
.ome close herbage.
Only cultivated crops should oe AT
lowed In orchards early In the season.
Grain and hay should never be grown.
Nursery stock should not be grown In
orchards.
Even hoed or cultivated crops may
roh the trees OF moisture and fertility II
thew are allowed TO stand above the tree
roots.
Cultivators are the best crop to raise
in Al orchard.
Sod il sometimes allowable In apple
and standard pear orchards, but never In
other fruit plantations; but even theh II
should be pastured closely with sheep OF
hogs. IL the stock Is fed st the same
time the land will fare better.
Watch n sod orchard. IL will begin 10
fail before you know il.
Probably nine-tenths OF the apple or
chards OF New York state are IN sou.
and many of them are meadows. VI
course they are failing.
The remedy for these apple failures l.
10 cut down many Of the orchards. FOR
the remainder the treatment Is eul'iva-
tion. fertilizing, spraying-the trinity OF
orthodox apple growing.
In general level culture Is best.
Trees, especially apples, are ofteh
trained too high, because Of the difficulty
Of working close to them. Modern TOOLS
Nill bring the heads within reach.
Harnesses with no projecting names
nor metal turrets should be useful III
hearing orchards. Those requiring no
whifletrees are also useful.-Mirror ana
Farmer.