17G 



We will be content at the present time to meet about, half way, and will agree if 

 you do not like our practice after trying it, to submit to the practice of the old 

 way without grumbling. Now, to our practice. Let the young trees have their 

 own way after being well set; they will throw out branches near the ground to 

 furnish them elaborated juices for the formation of new wood and roots prepara- 

 tory to making a free growth. The lea\es performing the same office for the 

 tree that lungs do in the animal economy; and as the animal cannot flourish 

 without healthy strong lungs, neither can the tree. The young tree will throw 

 out these new branches, covered with lungs, just where they are needed to shade 

 the trunk from the burning rays of our summer sun. Crop them off, and the 

 vital energy of the tree is weakened ; continue the operation, it becomes sickly, 

 and if death does not ensue, the ti-unk does not grow for want of nourishment; 

 a disproportionate quantity of leaves will gather in the top, overloading that 

 part, the trunk becomes j^ermanently bent, and the symmetry of your tree is 

 destroyed. A multitude of facts, bearing upon this theory, may be gleaned in 

 almost any part of our country where the planting of young orchards has been 

 commenced. 



Two trees can be shown in our grounds of the same variety, and of the same 

 size when set in the spring of 1847; one, allowed to have its own way, formed 

 its head two or two and a-half feet from the ground, and has borne two crops of 

 apples, and has at this time enough of branches, and of a proper size, to support a 

 bushel of fruit. The other, set in the same row, only eighteen feet distant, topped 

 at six feet from the ground, has had the same cultui-e and attention, but has 

 not yet borne an apple, and has not more than half the top to support a crop 

 as the other. The low-headed tree has decidedly the advantage in contests with 

 our strong winds, and comes off unscathed, while the high-topped one is swayed 

 about, bent, and has its I'oots loosened, if not broken, by the increased lever- 

 power given to the wind by its long trunk. Young trees in my nursery generally 

 make a stronger growth, and invariably have more I'oots, when allowed to have 

 nearly their own way, than when the old system of trimming up is applied to 

 them. 



The ol>ject of having the ground mellow and loose at the surface around 

 young orchard trees, is mainly to prevent the e\"aporation of moisture. A still 

 greater benefit may be conferred by keeping around them straw manure and 

 other litter during the summer; and even in winter if a small mound or hillock 

 of earth was thrown around the stem in November, it would prevent the attacks 

 of mice, and support the tree during winter storms. 



The spring after setting out, in May or June, those trees which have made a 

 good growth may be trimmed some within a foot of the ground; and within 

 two or three yeai-s, if good cultivation is kept up, the reijuired heiirht may be 



