The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-03-07
FoR TIE onchARpisr.
A Few Timely Hints About Fruit
Trees.

'UOiy pCN"uSV they are HOJ properly
taken care Of. Some fruit growers
get the idea that when they set out a
tree their work Is ended. when in
reality 1t has just commenced. Plant
ing a 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 eroep.
tion Of about half q dozen, had not
grown a paying crop. They had been
cultivated and fertilized every year
and was at loss to know what to
do with them. However, I went at
them determined either to kill or
cure. 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 we're four to six feet
long. / now have a fine lot OF prac-
tically new trees, which give promise
OF a paying crop next season. The
best peaches are always grown ON
new wood, hence this must be kept in
mind when pruning peach trees.
I 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 60 through the reno
waiting process Of growing new tops.
But in the pear, II takes more time to
get fruit on new growth. The peach
bears on one-year wood. while II takes
the pear two and sometimes three
years before 1t bears fruit in paying
quantities. In case OF only having q
few trees OF some choice varieties.
and not wishing to be without fruit
any one season, ! simply cut out only
to be taken out the following
spring. In this way. get fruit and
grow a new top at the same time
There Is one very important point,
however, that must be kept in mind
when renewing fruit trees; the viEor-
Gus growth of new wood is often
twice as much as necessary. and II
must be judiciously pruned. Cut out
the smallest branches. leaving only
the largest and best, the idea being
to have an open top 80 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 OF top
branches in the sunlight.
The main trouble with standard
pear trees is. that they grow too high.
fruit growers are gradual
ly resorting to this heading in process,
rs they find 1t contains many good
points worthy of observation. After
a part of the top is cut out, the rest
lf the tree gets the whole strength
rom the roots, which have not been
disturbed. In this way, a higher
Grade Of fruit is secured and is easy
% sell at paying prices. In my young
pear orchard have followed this
leading in process from youth up, as
L were. starting the head Of the tree
about three feet from the ground and
,utting back the top every year. thus
yettlng good, stocky trees which are
'apabe of sustaining their fruit.
In the case OF an old, neglected or
,hard, the soil will need good deal
If attention after the tops have been
AIKEN out. Most likely 1t Is in stiff
sod. good, steady man. team and
blow are needed to plow in the center
If two rows Of trees, tapping the first
wo furrows. In this way, you will be
blowing away from the trees, and the
clearing up furrow will come directly
n line with each row of trees. Plow
IS closely as possible, taking care not
o bark the trees. What sod is left,
hrow away from bases of the trees
With a shovel No:ious insects, mice,
'tc., often take refuge in the grass
Iround trees, and keep the ground
,are next to tree. The depth at
which to plow will have to be regu.
ated according to the nearness of
he roots to the surface. Plow as
leep as possible without injuring the
OOts