SG8 



FARMERS' REGISTER— CULTIVATION OF FRUIT TREES. 



shall give place to rich meadows and verdant fields, 

 and all the joys of a highly culliMited and jjlenti- 

 fUl country. I sincerely believe that the formation 

 of this Society is an important era, and I rejoice 

 to see so much interest excited by the subject in 

 the minds of the public. I confidently look for- 

 ward to the lime when its labors shall command 

 the gratitude of every truly patriotic citizen in this 

 country. In the mean time, let us set our faces 

 like flint to the accomplishment of our grand ob- 

 ject, the general advancement of the cause through- 

 out this country. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF FKUIT TREES. 



Mdressed to the .Agricultural Society of Charlotte. 

 For tlie Fanners' Register. 



The subject to which I invite your attention, is 

 the cultivation of fruit trees. Among all the rural 

 pursuits none can be more interesting than this, 

 whether considered as a means of gratifying our 

 ])alatcs, or ornamenting our fiirms. In this branch 

 t.)f economy, we have been left liir behind by some 

 of our sister States. It would doubtless be matter 

 of surprise to some, to see an estimate of the 

 umount of money annually laid out by the people 

 of] Virginia for fruit and cider, in the States north 

 of this, which, we hazard the assertion, can be as 

 well raised here, and at less expense, than they 

 can be in those States, on account of our supera- 

 bundance of land, which enables the planter to 

 spare enough, without curtailing his crops; while 

 they, for the most part, have to appropriate lands 

 to that object, which might be otherwise very pro- 

 fitably cultivated in grain, grass, or root crops. 



I need scarcely urge upon the minds of any pre- 

 sent, the importance of bestov/ing some attention 

 to this subject. JNlany of our best managers, how- 

 ever, regard the subject with so little attention, that 

 it is rare to meet with a good orchard on their 

 farms; and fev/ of our tables are supplied with the 

 choicest varieties of fruit. It has been said that 

 he who makes two blades of grass grow where 

 only one grew before, deserves well of his coun- 

 try. It may be as truly said of him v/ho plants a 

 good orchard, or introduces a new variety of good 

 li-uit — for every such introduction adds" much to 

 our enjoyment. I know in some instances single 

 trees to aflord more good eating than can be pro- 

 cured by ten timt^s the trouble and expense in any 

 other way. A friend of mine has a tree that pro- 

 duces apples of the most delicious flavor, in con- 

 stant succession, from the first of June till August, 

 fiflTording a plentiful supply for a large familv, and 

 frequent treats for his neighbors. The introduc- 

 tion of this tree could not have been attended with 

 much expense, and while affording such an ample 

 supply of Ir-uit, is highly ornamental, and an ex- 

 cellent shade — standing in (he yard, and occupy- 

 ing no more ground than would have been taken 

 up by some useless tree. 



ft would lie difficult to account for the negli- 

 gence of our farmers on this subject. Some im- 

 pute it to the uU-absorbing crop of tobacco, others 

 to the spirit of emigration, but in general, I think 

 it may be imputed to a want of diligence and fore- 

 cnist. None of thesa causes, however, constitute 

 a sufficient excuse for a total neglect of the matter, 

 especially when we consider that a few hours ma- 

 nual labor at the proper season, vvill lay the ground- 

 work of an excellent orchard. I cannot denv, 



however, that a spirit of emigration is the bane of 

 all improvements in rural life; for men are not apt 

 to do much towards such improvenienis when they 

 calculate on abandoning them in a few years. But 

 it is to be hoped that this spirit is subsiding, and a 

 spirit of improvement gaining ground. When we 

 see on every farm fine orchards of the besi fruits, 

 we may conclude that the proprietor loves the soil 

 on which he lives, and the more he does towards 

 such improvements the stronger his attachment 

 becomes. But where this attachment is not che- 

 rished, but little of improvement of any sort can 

 be expected. Everj' man has it in his power 

 to furnish himself with an orchard of the best 

 fruit by a small degree of attention. As I have 

 had some experience in this business, I propose to 

 lay before the Society the results of that expe- 

 rience; hop.ing that if I present nothing new, I 

 may succeed in exciting the interest and drawing 

 out the views of others more able to give us light 

 on this subject. 



I shall, in the first place, invite your attention to 

 the various modes adopted for the propagation of| 

 and raising the trees, and the comparative success 

 attending each mode practised by me. 



The apple tree may be successfully raised by 

 budding or grafting, (teniis I presume well un- 

 derstood) but grafting with me has been far the 

 most successful. Wlien budded, (or as it is fre- 

 quently termed inoculated) the body of the tree 

 below the insertion of the bud, is liable to put out 

 suckers, which become troublesome, and hinder 

 the growth of the tree. The bud is more liable 

 to perish than the graft. In preparing stocks for 

 grafling it is verj' important to provide those naised 

 fi'om the seed, as they are free from suckers, while 

 stocks taken fi^om the roots or sides of old trees are 

 ever sending up shoots from the roots, which are 

 troublesome to destroy, and if not often cut away, 

 seriously impede the growth of the tree. I have 

 found trees grafted on seedling stocks, more cer- 

 tain to live, more vigorous in their growth, and of 

 handsomer shape. When the seedling stocks 

 have been scarce, I have frequently cut the roots 

 in pieces, so as to make every root a stock, with 

 complete success — and this plan is worthy of at- 

 tention, for stocks are frequently very scarce, and 

 in that case five or six stocks may be obtained 

 from the roots of a small tree. 



The peach tree I have raised both by budding, 

 grafting, and planting the stones. When the 

 stones of the best varieties can be readily obtain- 

 ed, I should not hesitate to rely upon them. But all 

 authors on the peach tree concur in the opinion, 

 that there is always uncertainty in getting the ge- 

 nuine kind in this way; and my own experience 

 has taught me that stones from the same tree pro- 

 duce fruit slightl}^ varying fi-om the original in 

 shape, size, and flavor— but I alwaj^a expect to 

 get some as much improved as others are deterio- 

 rated by this plan, But when stones cannot be 

 readily come at, I prefer budding, as more certain 

 as to the kind, more rapid in the growth, and ear- 

 lier in bearing, while grafting has always proved 

 uncertain, especially on the peach stock. I can- 

 not give greater force to this ojnnion than by giv- 

 ing the result of an experiment made by me four 

 or five years ago. I obtained from an orchard 

 some t^venty-five miles distant, slips nicely cut 

 from many different varieties, to the number of 

 one hundred. I had previously raised stocks froiij 



