746 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



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Cultivation. It is quite as essential that fruit trees should receive cultivation as any 

 other crop grown upon the farm. It is too frequently the case that after planting the trees 

 they are left to care for themselves almost wholly. Frequent cultivation will add much to 

 the growth of a young orchard, while the fruit, when old enough for bearing, will not only 

 be more abundant, but of better quality. The cultivation should, however, be shallow in 

 order not to injure the roots that lie near the surface of the soil. Col. &quot;Wilder maintains that 

 ordinary farm culture will not produce the highest class of fruit, and says, &quot; they must have 

 garden culture, and with this they never fail. After thorough preparation, the cleaner the cul 

 ture the better, and this should be shallow, so as not to injure the roots, but to preserve them 

 near the surface.&quot; 



It has been estimated that one plowing and five harrowings in a single season are equal, 

 in their effects upon an orchard, to from ten to fifteen loads of barnyard manure. A shal 

 low plowing in spring may be sufficient, and cultivators and harrows do all the work for the 

 rest of the season. Seeding an orchard down to grass is not to be recommended, except it 

 may sometimes be done, when necessary, in case of apple and cherry trees after they com 

 mence bearing, to check the growth of other fruit trees, and to secure productiveness after a 

 too vigorous growth. Very good crops of plums, pears, and quinces may, however, be 

 obtained when the fruiting trees are grown in grass, provided a good top-dressing of manure 

 or other suitable fertilizers be applied each year. 



Mulching. This consists of covering the ground around the trunk of the tree with 

 coarse material, such as straw, leaves, or litter from the barn-yard, which, by preventing 

 evaporation, keeps the earth moist, and also the elements of growth in the soil in a soluble 

 state; besides, the soil is also kept at a uniform temperature, all of which conditions are 

 favorable to the growth of young roots and the production of good fruit. Mulching is an 

 excellent practice for all transplanted trees, and especially for those planted in the fall or late 

 spring, the roots thus being kept warm in winter, and secure from drouth in summer. It is 

 also especially beneficial to young trees in the Southern States, where the hot sun in summer 

 might cause them to fail after having made a fine start earlier in the season. 



How to Promote Fruitfulness. When it is desired to have fruit trees commence 

 bearing sooner than they otherwise would, certain methods, more or less effectual, may be 

 resorted to in securing this object. Mr. R. H. Haines, a nurseryman of extensive experience, 

 gives the following directions as the result of his experiments in this direction: &quot; The pinch 

 ing in of side shoots is one of the best ways of causing fruit buds to form. Another method 

 is to fasten a ligature tightly around some of the branches. Another plan is to bend the 

 branches, keeping the tops fastened down with weights lower than the bases of the branches. 

 Another way is to make a circle of a branch, fastening in that way for a while. By partially 

 breaking or twisting young shoots, the sap may also be retarded from fruit buds. 



If many trees are to be treated, then the more common way is to cease cultivation, and 

 to sow the ground with clover or grass seed, allowing it to remain in sod for two or three 

 years. Any of the above plans will cause the trees or branches treated to produce fruit 

 while younger than they otherwise would, if fruit buds or spurs had previously been absent. 

 Pruning the roots in the fall or winter by digging a trench half way around or entirely round 

 the tree, is an excellent way for treating entire trees or orchards. The trench may be made 

 from three to six feet out, according to the size of the tree, and leaf-mould, rich soil, or some 

 compost may be thrown in before filling up. One pruning of the roots is usually sufficient, 

 though in succeeding years it may also be performed if desired. A top-dressing of two 

 bushels of salt per acre every year or two, or of lime, often seems to have a good effect in 

 promoting fruitfulness, though less speedy and less certain than some of the above-mentioned 

 methods.&quot; 



