The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-02-27
Planting and Trimming of Fruit Trees
RY sALuEL D. IRWIN.

MdNhlnu iTOul lne ulOSI TeHnOte dutlQ'
uity have gradually improved the fruit
bearing trees, and by close observation
studied their habits, and the kind of soil
to which each particular tree is best
adapted. This being so. tree-p!anting
and culture is an established science.
Soil should be considered, and after
this the management and culture be-
comes of the highest importance. Man,
in many ways, changes the face of the
earth; so sls) he may improve or iniure
tree for productiveness. Plenty of cul-
ture produces good fruit; neglect, leads
to ruin and disappointment. An apple
tree, for instance, neglected, the sod
growing thick around it, and the field in
which it stands turned into a sheep pas
ture, will go back 10 its wild state and
produce thorns.
Trees may be propsgated in various
ways,-from the seed, or by cuttings,
slips or suckers, or by budding or graft
ing.
Cuttings are short pieces cut in the
spring from shoots of the last year. These
cuttings should have six joints or buds,
and three of these should be under
ground when planted. The time is when
the frost is over, and they should he
planted in a shady place and well wstered
Slips differ from cuttings in this par
ticular: They are not cut but bulled from
the body Of the tree or limbs. You take
shoot of last years growth and pull it
downwsrds and thus slip it off; then trim
the ragged bark off and shorten the shoot
so as to have six buds left, then plant it
in the same way you do cuttings. The
season for doing this is the same.
Suckers are in general poor things,
whether in the forest or fruit garden.
They are the shoots that come up from
the roots, at distance from the stem of
the tree. The vice of a tree that is raised
from suckers is that they run TO wood
more than trees do that are raised in any
other way. Fruit trees raised from suck
ers do not bear as sbundantly. or as good
fruit as those raised from cuttings or
slips. This has been we'll tested.
Budding and grating is another mode,
but is too technical to consider here.
Both of these systems are understood and
much practiced all over the country. Per-
haps the best way after all is to go
to good reliable nurseryman for your
fruit trees. Then comes the planting.
The tree to be planted should not as a
rule be over 8 or years old. The time
and season is just when the leaves be-
come yellow in the fall, or as early as
possible In the spring. Dig the hole to
plant the trees three times as wide and
six inches deeper than actually appear
to be needed as mere room. To dig a
hole like fence post hole, and put tree
in 1t is great error, for it must be re-
membered that the earth like the rocks
have strata, and this should be broken
up to let in the moisture and give ample
room for expansion, Correct planting
will cause it to take deep and firm root,
so as to weather the storm and bear up
its fruit.
"rhe tree of deepest root is found
Most hrmly seated in the ground"
as the poet says. And now besides this,
remember to put the surface or rich top
earth to one side, to be put in next to the
roots, and the poorer earth towards the
top of the ground. Every root should be
touched with the rich earth, and it will
be benefit fyou add little lime, ashes
or manure or muck with the poor soil.
When you have covered the lower roots,
and the hole is about half full of earth,
tread the earth you have put in but not
very hard. Put in the rest of the earth,
then tread down lightly again and leave
the earth perfectly smooth; that is, do not
hill up, as is the practice of some. AS to
putting water in when planting trees,
which is the old practice. there is quite
diversity of opinion, but the later ap-
proved way is not to use water. Down.
ing says avoid it, but it is well enough to
dip the roots in water before planting,
which is quite sufficient. Goodrich says
water poured in sinks rapidly down
among the roots, lets in air, mold and
canker follow, and great injury is the re-
suit Trees being planted in the spring
or fall the ground is naturally full of
water
The cultivation of fruit trees divides
itself into two parts; first, the manage
ment Of the tree itself, and, second, the
management of the ground. The ground
around all fruit trees should be worked,
and as far as possible weeds not to be let
grow. nor grass be permitted to choke
around the roots. Fruit trees may be
grown successfully in meadows or even
lands occasionally pastured, but in such
cases the sod should be turned down
and salted quite literally so as to look like
a heavy frost, which process keeps down
weeds, kills briers and aids the tree. At
the same time cut off every dead limb,
and destroy every worms nest in sight,
by torch ON the end of long pole. All
this was the practice of Seldom Whitman
of Tionesta township, who was the best
apple raiser that the county ever pro-
duced. Ifthis course was pursued by all
farmers the caterpillar would disappear
from the land in short time.
Forest county is justly celebrated for
the excellence of its apple orchards. The
farmers haye taken great care to obtain
the best varieties; so to speak 1t is on
'the apple belt"