Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-05-11
East View Fruit Farm.
NAY 6. 1899.


AS stated in my last propose to take
each species of fruit trees separately, ana
now I take will the apple-the noblest OF
all our fruits-and as | have stated the
farmer should propagate his own fruIt
trees | shall commence with the SEED.
Although it is not always necessary TO
plant seed, as there ore many farms
where there are plenty of seedlings
growing about old fence rows ana IN
wood lots. but to start with the seed,
they should be selected Trom good,
sound apples, packed in sand and kept
from freezing during the winter ana
planted early in spring In rlch, mellow
soil SANDY lOme) and kept free Iroin
weeds When stock is one to two inches
in diameter they are ready Tor the graft
and may be grated III the row, but
prefer to set out i'll orchard III February
or March, and graft when the proper
time comes, the same spring as set out.
Now some one will say why pot root
craft as is done in nurseries. First, be
conse il is very seldom that the cion
and old stock will unite so perfectly,
but there will be some spot or blemish
between the inside woods, although the
san wood may unite perfectly. If there
Is anv blemish at the point of union and
il is placed in the soil it will be contlnu-
ously subject to dampness and cause
the tree to decay at the stump. When
cutting stock to graft cut one foot OF
more from the ground. Whyl Be
cause the seeding is harder than our
improyed fruit and will not be subject
to ravage from those insects that work
about the crown of the tree, and will
-. 10 or a
OF hard freezing of the soil about the
butt of the tree than would the wood of
our improved fruits. Is there any diff
ference in what stock we graft? Yes,
| have two Falwater trees the cions tor
grafts) of which were taken from the
same parent tree, the trees planted IN
tie same orchard, same soil, in fact the
conditions as near alike as could be and
vet the fruit of those two trees differ IN
looks, in taste, in time of ripening and
in keeping quality; which must be on ac-
count the difference in the stock which
was grated. In selecting stock to graft
upon never select young trees that shoot
out out their limbs too close together
up the main stock, or those that nave
short spurs something like crab-apple,
but select those with few limbs, yellow
ish green bark and which show open
grain wood. ! said that | grated the
same spring that l set out my tree.
WHY? Because the tree, having been
lately set out, has not got many feeding
rootlets to provide food for the tree and
consequently do not require many
leaves. In planting do not plant too
deep. A tree should be planted a little
deeper than il stood in the nursery row
but too deep planting is not good, as we
ALWAYS find the feeding rootlets near
| ;Ae surface of the soil, and the tree Will
send its large roots down in the soil to
n sufficient depth to hold the tree; DO
not permit sward TO remain long about
| the crown of the tree, but dig 1t away
| for at least one foot all around the tree
If sward is allowed to re
main long about an apple tree it Will
bind the tree so that ii will not devel-
ope properly, and it also makes good
harboring place for the borer.,
The apple tree should be planted on
high ground if possible, and II tney
must be planted on low fiat situation
! it should be well drained. otherwise the
trees will be short lived Trees planted
on n hillside facing the south Will bear
| fruit from five to six years sooner than
those planted on hillside facing north.
The fruit on a southern exposure will
not be as large as those facing north,
but thev will be of better color and bet
ter flavor Trees facing south will bud
sooner in the spring and consequently
will be more liable to be killed by late
frosts in spring. bat this may be over
come in the same manner as we treat
the peach. WIN J' fACoE.