190 MISSOURI STATE HORTICTLTURAL SOCIETY. 



Especially do we feel disappointment when we realize that the sever- 

 ity of the winter has impaired the vitality of the fruit buds of our 

 choicest trees, so much so that it is impossible for them to bring forth 

 fruit. In passing over the country, I have observed many orchards 

 set on low damp ground, and sometimes on seepy hillsides no better 

 than the low damp ground. Such situations are only fit for the growth 

 of willows, Cottonwood or low swamp brush, altogether an unfit situa- 

 tion for an orchard. Late rains have a tendency to stimulate a late 

 growth of trees planted on low situations, and thus the trees are not in 

 that matured condition to pass through a severe winter without being 

 seriously damaged or killed outright. The winter of 185i3-4 was very 

 damaging to young orchards set on damp ground. I noticed a thrifty 

 young orchard that was planted on high ground, many of the trees 

 were badly damaged, the bark split from the ground twelve to fifteen 

 inches up on the body, also the bark was loosened one half round from 

 the body of the tree, and notwithstanding the high situation was too 

 damp; a similar damage will occur to orchards on high or low ground 

 if the situation needs underdraining, and if during the mild winters 

 the trees on such locations come out without damage in the spring, 

 the fruit is not) to be compared with the finely developed, rich flavored 

 fruit grown on trees planted on high, dry land. I invariably recom- 

 mend planting an orchard on the best high dry ground, so that the 

 best results may be obtained. Orchards planted on high, dry situa- 

 tions mature their fruit buds and produce abundant crops. 1 never 

 heard of any orchard planted on blulFland that ever sustained any in- 

 jury by the winter, lam satisfied that the tender varieties injure almost 

 every winter ; that in the alternate thawing and freezing the sap ves- 

 sels are often damaged, and thus the flow of sap is retarded in its cir- 

 culation throughout the tree, hence the tree becomes prematurely old 

 and stunted; as a result, the Iruitis very inferior, not fit either fo? table 

 or market, running down to small scabby fruit such as the White 

 Pearmain, Early Harvest, Carolina June, and others. On the other 

 hand, the varieties Astrachan, Oldenburg, Northern Spy, Willow Twig, 

 Domine, and others, appear to withstand the severest of our winters, 

 and bring forth fruit to perfection, the old trees producing as large^ 

 fine fruit as when they were young. Nearly all the orchards need a 

 very thorough underdraining at a depth of about five feet, using tiles 

 of four inch inside diameter. 



The drains should be dug between each row of trees two rods 

 apart. This will relieve the whole situation at once, and prevent all 

 future damage of our orchards by the winter, in that the word 

 will mature well which will enable the tree to resist the action of the 



