Year: 1863




William Bacon of Richmond. Mass
achusetts, furnishes the uorticultur
/ ist the following views upon Or
chard Culture:


Orchard culture, like that of 9th
er crops, must be brought to meet
circumstances Different soils, 10
cations, and climate call for vary.
/ ing processes, so that few general
rules can be adopted, to carry out
with assurances of success. OF
these, we consider a preparation Of
soil before transplanting, as of the
/ greatest Importance. Some soils
are naturally deep and open. Where
this is not the case, they should be
made so before the tree is placed in
them; for no tree viii flourish for
any length Of time in a thin or com
pact soil. 1t is labor lost to place
them there. either in expectation
that they viii flourish in the ground
as it is, or in the hope that after cul-
ture viii remedy the deficiencies
The last cannot be done, for every
inch Of soil needs a thorough pulver-
ization, which can not be effected
under the roots when they have
once been put in place.


In planting trees of any kind, es-
peclalIy fruit trees, we would say,
then, prepare the land beforehand;
that is, if the soil is not naturally
deep, make it so by deep tillage;
if not fine, reduce it, no matter how
fine. Ii not SO dry that water viii
not settle and stand under the trees
drain it; if it requires manure, ap-
ply it according to the necessity Of
the case in previous tillage; in short
bring the land into that high state
Of cultivation, which is necessary
to the successful growth Of any. 9th
er crop. The trees may be put into
1T, if they are healthy trees, well
taken up and well replanted, with
fair prospect Of success.


Where trees are overfed. the
branches too often grow so late in
autumn that it is impossible for
the wood to ripen, and winter cuts
1t down as though it were an her
baceous plant. Not so with the
trees that nature plants and that are
under her maturing and protecting
care. She gives them a needful
supply Of food to answer the pur-
poses Of heaIthful growth, and eau
ses them to ripen their wood in full
preparation for frosts and storms.
Her teachings are worthy Of the
careful consideration of those who
would be seecessfuI like her.


Again, nature, when she plants
trees, does not disturb their roots
with plow or spade. In her for
ests, she keeps the ground around
them in light, porous condition by
the top dressing she gives them. :
In autumn the leaves of forest trees
fall from their branches to cover
and protect the roots from the in
clement season that awaits them,
and in the coming spring these
leaves commence to decay to keep
the earth light beneath them, so
that the tender roots may push
around to gather food and give sta
bility to the tree. They also form
a fine, healthy manure, which Of
itself furnishes the aliment of future
tree growth.


How far If is expedient to follow
nature, others must decide to suit
themselves. We have initiated
her in furnishing the clements of
growth to few fruit trees, and are
so well pleased with the result, that
for our own practice we consider it
the best. In other localities, how
ever, it may not be so. Cultiva-
tors must decide this matter for
themselves. An experiment with
a few trees can do no harm, and it
will settle the question.


So, then, we have come to to the
conclusion that the true way for us
to raise healthy and long lived fruit
trees is first to prepare the land
thoroughly by draining if necessary,
and then by deep and very thor
.ough tillage before the trees are set;
then obtain good trees, and see that
they are well set; and after the
trees are once located in this well
prepared soil, VIC would Keep it in
It's fine, light condition by as fre-
quent top dressings as were neces-
sary to secure the result.


Composts are. better than yard or
stable mnuro's for fruit trees, and
is no decaying substance on the
farm that cannot safely be employ
ed in the compost heap. Leave and
muck may form the basis Of the
heap, and all the odds and ends of
the premises may be thrown in to
hasten their decay and produce
their immediate value. Ashes,
whether leached or not, sIops, brine
every thing almost thrown upon
the heap, prevents waste and make
the compound more valuable.