Year: 1876

TransplantinE Young Apple Trees.

 The chairman of the American farm ers' club, on introducing this topic, re- marked that as the period for planting trees is drawing near, this subject will be as appropriate as any other for the club to discuss.

 MT. Brown said that the rule that the roots will be found as far from the base of the trunk as the entire height of the tree, after many examinations, has in- variably been found within bounds.

 MT. Wheat referred to Professor Beal, of the Michigan agricultural college, who showed last year an orchard on the college grounds with trees from twelve to fourteen feet high, whose roots ex- tended distance of twenty-seven feet. A part of the orchard had been plowed over the whole surface after it had re- mained great many years in grass. The result was very great increase in the vigor of the trees. Another portion was plowed, with the exception of grass circles ten feet in diameter, left at the base of the trunks. There was no ap- parent difference in the vigor of the trees where the whole surface was plowed and where the ten feet circles were left in grass. --..s.-.- -.

 MT. Thomas believed that the true and scientific management of fruit trees of any sort will depend largely on the supply of food to the roots, and to understand the best method of applying this food it is necessary to know the ex- tent, depth and character of the roots; otherwise, it is like attempting to feed an animal in the dark. The food may be all placed where it is inaccessible.

 MT. Carpenter thought, where the sub soil is hard and poor, and nearly all of the fertility of the land lies within few inches of the top, the treatment must be very different from that employed on a deep, rich soil. On such shallow soil the trees are much more susceptible of the influence of surface culture or top dressing with manure. The roots ex- tending very near the surface, it becomes more important to cultivate shallow. It often happens that top dressing of manure on such land is the very best thing for the trees; to allow dense growth of grass without manure may be the worst treatment for their growth and success.

 Mir. Brewer, who had observed that it had been advised that on shallow soils manure may be the most effective, though even then 8 shallow and thor ough cultivation may answer all the de- sired purposes. The addition of moderate top dressing to such culti- vated soil will accomplish more than heavy maturing on 8 sod. The ques- tion will resolve itself into one of econo- my: An equal effect produced by ma- nure would require at least fifteen two horse loads. At $1 per load, and half as much more for drawing ana spreading, these would amount to more than four times as much as keeping the ground clean by cultivation. ---.

 Mir. Henderson believed it is gener- ally admitted throughout the Northern and Eastern States, and in many portions of the Middle States, that very few or chards will possess sufficient vigor un- less cultivation or top dressing is given to the soil. As general rule for guid- snce, in determining what treatment to adopt, the annual shoots may be exam ined; and if in young orchards they are less than two feet in length, or in bear ing orchards much less than one foot in length. they should receive additional stimulus by manure or cultivation.

 The general opinion was that our farmers have plenty of time to set out in the fall and set we'll, while early in the spring they are pressed for time and are liable to neglect the necessary precau- tions. Trees set out in the fall will, for the most part, if properly done, thrive as well or better than those put out in the spring. .--

 In all localities where the autumns are long and mild, it is decidedly better to plant trees, except stone fruits, in the fall. The soil is in better condition, and the work can be more thoroughly done than in the uncertain weather of spring. The trees should be set as soon as the free falling of the leaves shows that their duties are over; if set soon, the trees will become well established, or |" get a good hold of the soil, as gar deners say, before winter sets in. Even if spring planting is preferred, it is bet ter to procure trees now and heel them in, to be in readiness for setting next spring; trans portation is much safer al this season, and this plan will savemuch anxiety and hurry. A mound of earth g foot high, raised around each three be fore the ground iretzes, will serve bet ter than stake, and help protect il from mice. Prepare the land for spring planting.

 KEELING IN.-There is a wrong and 6 right way with this. If bundle ot trees is dumped into hole, with some earth thrown carelessly over the roots probably the majority will be found dead in the spring. The right way is tc open wide trench twelve or eighteen inches deep, place in the trees singly a an angle of forty-five degrees or more and cover the roots of each with mellow soil, taking care to fill in around com pletely, leaving no spaces, and finish by banking up well, and provide channe for the water to run off. The tree' should lean toward the south, so tha the branches will shade the trunks; i mice are troublesome, it is better tt stand the trees upright, and bank thu earth all around them. When heelinl in is well done, the trees will pass the winter as safely as if in the nursery, ant they are at hand whenever planting cal be done.

 SEEDS. Ds.-Prepare beds for sowin, seeds of such fruit and ornamental tree as require to be sown at once, as man, require the action of the frost to insur, their germinating. Seedlings iron seeds sown last spring, may be takel up and heeled in, to prevent injury iron the heaving of the soil, or be vel mulched with leaves.

 Nursery rows may be manured b. opening a furrow between them, int which well rotted manure is put an, covered. Turn light furrows towar' the rows, to throw the water away iron them.

 Harvest the late apples and pears and barrel them, but do not put them il the cellar until the weather become cold. This Year much of the fruit mus be examined and assorted before send inc tn market