Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-26
SPRING AND SUMMER CARE OF FRUIT
TREES

oAlOru Dtttl
ocrat. Paris, Me.
SPRING AND SUMNER CARE OF FRUIT
TREES.
Fruit growers are asking many anC
varied questions at the present time
some of them impossible to answer in 6
satisfactory manner. One of the ques.
tionS most commonly asked is "How car
we make our orchards more fruitful?''
Now | question somewhat if we reallN
wish TO raise a larger amount of fruit
Is it not without exception the wish Oi
fruit growers not to grow much great.
er number of fruits on each tree, but
rather TO raise fruits of larger size, more
highly colOred, more free from blemish
eS, of better quality and free from raw,
ages of the cOdling moth and the tripeta
pomonella? In order to accomplish
these things what steps must we take:
We have all noticed that thrifty, vigor.
Gus trees generally bore large, well
colored fruit of good quality, and on the
other hand that poor, worthless, i'll.
shaped fruit was generally TO be found
on old, decayed, neglected, half starved
trees. Therefore, then, we lay down
fine fruit we must give our trees greater
care and that we cannot expect some
thing from nothing.
Our older fruit growers will, think,
agree with me that we once produced
without much care, apples OF as fine
quality and as abundantly as we could
desire, while today we are able TO find in
the State scarcely an apple lit TO be plac-
ed on the table for eating. What is the
cause and the remedy? Our fathers
were favored with a soil rich in every ele-
ment which trees require for the success
full production of fruit. They were accus-
toned 70 expect crop of fruit with no
labor on their part excepting that OF
gathering the fruit at harvest time, but
the conditions have changed and We
find ourselves today confronted with the
problem of securing fruit from orchards,
lousy with peSterous insects, innOculated
with contagious fungus diseases and
bliStered and scalded with scab and
blight. There are pests that prey upon
the roots, that bore the trunks, that con-
sumo the foliage, that attack the bios
som ends, that sting the young fruit and
that dispute with us successfully for the
possession of the ripening crops.
Our trees are very susceptible to the
attack of disease germs from the fact
that they are generally in condition OF
weakness from impaired vitality. What
we wish then to do is TO restore them 10
health.
We have made rapid progress in ac-
quiring knowledge of the mysteries of
fruit growing in the last twenty years,
yet there are many things TO learn. 1t is
largely question of the survival OF the
titteSt among fruit growers, and one of
the most encouraging features OF the
times is that the careless and slOvenly
growers are being surely weeded out of
the business, for they are learning that
there is no money in trying 70 grow
fruits cheaply asking nature TO do all and
the man nothing. They naturally be-
come tired, and drop out, leaving the
field 10 those who are able and willing
to work with nature, fighting disease
and insects and as a result succeeding in
raising fruits of such quality that they
,an readily be sold at good prices while
poor fruit can hardly be given away.
But perhaps all of us are not yet ready
20 give up our orchards to the possession
IF the enemies of the fruit growees.
Can we do anything to improve their
condition? Let us see if the orchards
ire worth renovating or will pay for the
necessary labor. Now l think that an
orchard composed of half dead, illshap-
,d. scraggly, moss grown trees is not
worth the time, trouble and worry which
would be necessary for fair trial of re-
lewing its vigor and do not believe it
:ould ever be restored to full measure
IF fruitfulneSs, but many of our orchards
IRE well worth restoration.
Let us examine our trees and dag
nose their condition, as our physician
would if called upon to perscribe for our
ailments. Look closely at the
bark. twigs, limbs and the base of the
rec. If we find that our trees through
neglect for many years, have become
,crubby, moss grown, unhealthy and al
most fruitless, we may often renovate
hem and cause them TO produce good
,rops. All the dead wood must be re-
moved, and if needful, some pruning,
,ther than this, be done, then, if possi-
Die, plOw and cultivate thoroughly and
ertiliZe in some manner If the condition
If the trees seems to indicate lack OF
plant food. Many orchards undoubtedly
70 into premature decay simply from
starvation, hence il is of the utmost i'm
,ortance that the orchard be well fertil-
zed. We are not likely to overdo in
his matter, and yet, sometimes fertilizer
5 wasted from its application when not
leedful. If an orchard has been long
ime seeded down and the ground be-
.ome hardened and the soil tough and
yet the plant food may be
here in amply sufficient quantity, but
and cultivation may release
Z and enable the trees TO take it up from
he soil for their use and in that case
no fertilizer is needed. If a
ertilizer is called for apply it with care
md Judgment. Stable manure is ex-
client for trees but few of us can spare
I for our orchards as we need it all for
,ther crops. Various methods are
.dopted in enrichiug our trees. Some
.pply unleeched wood ashes, and we use
hem largely and find nothing better as
ar as they go, but they do not furnish
my nitrogen, and someis needed. This
nay be furnished in nitrate of soda, sui
,hate of ammonia, or in ground bone.
\ good formula, if you do not have
lShes sufficient, is 600 pounds bone, 200
pounds muriate of potash and 100 pounds
nitrate of soda per acre, sown broadcast.
The best time to apply barn dressing
md ashes is in the fall, as by the action
# the weather they become available in
he spring for che use of the trees NJ,
n Turf, Farm and Home.
WELL BROKEN HORSES
Has any one ever noticed that a silent
non hos nsuallv tha hest hrokeD hOrsas9