River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-03-07
FOR THE oRcHARDIsT.
A Few Timely Hints About Fruit
Trees.

LuT6ly because LQey are not properly
taken care Of Some fruit growers
get the idea that when they set out a
tree their work is ended, when in
reality it has just commenced. Plant
ing tree and then neglecting it, only
coming around each year to gather
the fruit, may do for a year or two.
but there will soon be no fruit worth
gathering. When trees get In this con-
dition, many farmers will dig them
out and destroy them, but with very
little expense these seemingly worth
less orchards could be transformed
into sources of profit.
Last spring, says correspondent
of Orange Judd Farmer, ] had some
choice peach trees that I had taken
great pride in, but with the excep.
ton of about half dozen, had not
grown a paying crop. They had been
cultivated and fortified every year
and / was at loss to know what to
do with them. However, | went at
them determined either to kill or
cure. l cut off all the limbs to with
in six inches of the bodies, which
were given a good spraying with soap.
The new growth on the stubs the past
summer was simply tremendous.
Many branches were four to six feet
long. / now have fine lot of prac-
tically new trees, which give promise
of paying crop next season. The
best peaches are always grown on
new wood, hence this must be kept in
mind when pruning peach trees.
/ take care of my pear trees on
about the same principle. Every sea-
son there are some trees that have to
be severely pruned. The tops are cut
out and they go through the reno
waiting process of growing new tops.
But in the pear, it takes more time to
get fruit on new growth. The peach
bears on one-year wood, while it takes
the pear two and sometimes three
years before it bears fruit in paying
quantities. In case of only having a
few trees of some choice varieties,
and not wishing to be without fruit
any one season, simply cut out only
one-half of the top, leaving the re-
mainder to be taken out the following
spring. In this way, / get fruit and
grow new top at the same time.
There is one very important point,
however, that must be kept in mind
when renewing fruit trees; the vigor-
Gus growth of new wood is often
twice as much as necessary, and it
must be judiciously pruned Cut out
the smallest branches, leaving only
the largest and best, the idea being
to have an open top so that the sun
light can reach the fruit. Fruit that
reaches perfection is seldom found in
a thick topped tree, but is almost al
ways produced on the outside or top
branches in the sunlight.
The main trouble with standard
pear trees is, that they grow too high.
Intelligent fruit growers are gradual
ly resorting to this heading in process,
as they find it contains many good
points worthy of observation. After
part of the top is cut out, the rest
of the tree gets the whole strength
lIOIu IuG IOOLS, WHICH nave nv OOCAA
disturbed. In this way, higher
grade of fruit is secured and is easy
to sell at paying prices. In my young
pear orchard / have followed this
heading in process from youth UP, as
it were, starting the head of the tree
about three feet from the ground and
cutting back the top every year. thus
getting good, stocky trees which are
capable of sustaining their fruit.
In the case of an old, neglected or
chard, the soil will need a good deal
of attention after the tops have been
taken out. Most likely it is in stiff
sod. A good, steady man, team and
plow are needed to plow in the center
of two rows of trees, tapping the first
two burrows. In this way, you will be
blowing away from the trees, and the
clearing up furrow will come directly
in line with each row of trees. Plow
as closely as possible, taking care not
to bark the trees. What sod is left,
throw away from bases of the trees
with shovel. Noxious insects, mice,
etc., often take refuge in the grass
around trees, and keep the ground
bare next to tree. The depth at
which to pillow will have to be regu-
lated according to the nearness of
the roots to the surface. Plow as
deep as possible without injuring the
roots.
Drill in fertilizer according to the
need of the trees, but not too close to
the trees. The feeding roots are out
from the base, not around close to it..
Harrow the ground frequently with a
wheel or spading harrow. If the soil
is very poor, SOW cowpeas between
the trees in July; pillow these under
and SOW rye in September; plow the
rye under the succeeding April. On
no account, lei rye or grass go to seed
in an orchard Tend a fruit tree as
faithfully as you would a hill of corn,
for the profit is many times greater.
Even very old apple trees may be re-
newed by blowing and manuring.