118 Care o/ Toung J^^rnit Trees. 



Care of Young Fruit Trees. 



BY WILLIAM H. YEOMANS, COLUMBIA, CT. 



ED. Western Horticulturist: — The great complaint of want of success in the 

 cultivation of fruit trees, can in a great majority of cases be attributed to a 

 lack of proper care. Not only after they are set, but at the time of setting ; there 

 is no doubt but that a tree may be so set as to disastrously affect the whole of ita 

 future growth ; in fact the very life of the tree depends upon its setting. It is re- 

 lated, that a man having purchased one hundred apple trees, set a man at work 

 setting the same, and having labored all day, reported having set ten trees. This so 

 provoked the proprietor, that the man was discharged, and the next day another set 

 to work. At night this man reported the remaining ninety trees all set. Now for the 

 result. Of the one hundred trees set, every one of the ninety, set on the second day 

 by the raipid workman died, while the ten set by the careful workman, every one 

 lived. This case is undoubtedly very similar to many others, and ought to furnish 

 a striking lesson of the necessity of all reasonable care. If the excavation is niade 

 of good size, the soil left loose and convex, to conform to the concave form of the 

 roots, and the fine loose soil properly deposited upon the roots, and then compacted 

 so as to be firm about them, it is believed that the tree will be almost sure of life, 

 and upon the future care which it receives, depends its successful growth and fruitage. 

 In an apple orchard there should be cultivation of the soil for at least eight or ten 

 continuous years. While an orchard may be set in greensward and make a 

 successful struggle for existence, and in process of time may come to bearing, the 

 trees ever present a stunted appearance which time never overcomes. Such an 

 orchard, however, by proper mulcliiug, which serves a double purpose of cultivation 

 and fertilizing, may be carried on so as to present a good appearance. But in the 

 growth of trees, the main object is to obtain a good healthy body and head, which 

 can be accomplished in no way better than by general cultivation of such crops as 

 will afford least obstacle to the growth of the trees. It is far better, too, Cb remem- 

 ber the old maxim that, "just as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined," and so let 

 the pruning be carefully and judiciously made, for the reason that it can be done 

 with far less injury to the tree, and also the top of the tree more properly shaped. 

 There is no doubt but that it is much better to train the trees with the tops as near 

 the ground as possible, for the ease of picking the fruit. It is also questionable, 

 whether it is not better to so arrange the trees by varieties, at such distances apart, 

 that when arrived at full growth, they shall come very nearly together in their 

 branches. This will very much affect vegetation, tending to keep the soil loose and 

 moist as well as serving as a protection against winds, which otherwise would cause 

 the fruit to fall. This, however, may be obviated by setting the trees at a greater 

 distance apart, and planting alternate rows of evergreens. There is no doubt of the 

 very great benefits of pursuing such a course. In every case, howeverj whatever 

 system be pursued, let proper care be exercised. 



