160 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



give all the old trees mostly new and vigorous 

 tops. I commenced in 1842, taking off the large 

 and low limbs which were in the way of the team 

 when plowing, and continued the same process 

 yearly until my horses could walk without coming 

 much in contact with any of the limbs. I found 

 that taking off the under limbs (which is too much 

 neglected) increased the growth of what remained, 

 new shoots came forward, which now compose a 

 good part of my trees. Too many large limbs 

 should not be taken from a tree in one season. I 

 have cut off limbs that were six or seven inches in 

 diameter, and have applied cold beef tallow to the 

 trunk where they were cut, and the trees have 

 done well. My pruning is mostly done in Feb. 

 and March, scraping the trees immediately after, 

 which I think well pays for so doing. I keep the 

 land plowed and tilled, where it is not too much sha- 

 ded. Grafting I have done in April and May. There 

 were about forty large New York Greenings, which 

 proved to be almost barren and worthless. I have 

 grafted all of these, and many more which bore in- 

 ferior fruit. I have sold the apples which grew 

 on two of them the past season, for over fifty dol- 

 lars, and the sum total for all the last season will 

 amount to seven hundred dollars. I was informed 

 that sixty-two barrels was the most ever raised 

 in one season previous to my purchasing the 

 farm. 



I state these facts for the encouragement of 

 others, that they may see what can be realized in 

 reclaiming and improving old apple trees. The 

 process in setting scions is very simple, but the 

 number needed, and where to be set, in order to 

 give an even and well balanced top, requires both 

 care and judgment. 



Trees should be thoroughly examined in order 

 to see where, and how many limbs should be graft- 

 ed, to give each an equal division or space to grow 

 in, and make a well shaped top. I generally 

 commence at the highest branches and work down- 

 ward, so as not to interfere with the scions after 

 setting. Do all the grafting to each tree in one 

 season, leaving a few scattering limbs that will 

 not interfere with the scions, for one year, then 

 take off all remaining limbs and leave the sprouts 

 except when near the scions for one year, then cut 

 all, or most of the sprouts, and leave but one sci- 

 on on a stalk, if the growth has been good, if not 

 let the two remain a longer period. Never graft 

 very low limbs, for they always incline downward 

 after bearing fruit. 



Thus, I have given an imperfect sketch of what 

 has come under my observation for a few years 

 past ; my object has been to impart a little prac- 

 tical knowledge to all who feel an interest in ad- 

 vancing the cause of fruit growing. 



I am aware there are some experienced fruit 

 growers who disagree with me in some respects ; 

 all trees should not be treated in the same man- 

 ner. Trees that have a sound trunk and a healthy 

 appearance, pruned and grafted in the manner I 

 have prescribed, will give satisfaction, I think, to 

 all who try the experiments. All I have to say 

 farther on the subject, is, come and examine for 

 yourselves, and, in so doing, will oblige a friend, 

 and one who has labored hard to acquire a little 

 knowledge of one of the most esscntial'arts per- 

 formed in agriculture. n. p. m. 



Somervilk, March 2, 1852. 



N. P. MORRISON'S ORCHARD. 



The evidence of good farming is in a succession 

 of good crops, cultivated in such a manner as to 

 yield a fair profit. Under this test, our friend 

 Morrison, who has a communication in another 

 part of this paper, on "Old Orchards," is a good 

 farmer. We have looked at nearly every tree on 

 his eight acres, and found most of them with well- 

 balanced tops and in a healthy condition. The 

 stems of many of them had been raised from two 

 and three feet in length to four and five by cutting 

 off limbs which were suffered to remain so low 

 down that it was impossible to cultivate, or even 

 walk, under the trees. 



Mr. Morrison is aman "after our own heart." — 

 We not only examined his orchard, but saw his 

 interesting family, and ate salt with him at his ta- 

 ble, and when these were done, had a trial of skill 

 with him in music in the parlor. He had culti- 

 vated the Graces as well as grasses, and with his 

 son and two daughters, piano, and a labarynth of 

 brass tubes in the hands and mouth of the son, 

 there were five of us that made the crotchets and 

 semiquavers fly faster than chaff ever went from a 

 winnowing mill ! Because a man prunes, that is 

 no reason why he shouldn't play the piano, but a 

 good reason why he should — he can afford it ; and 

 because he sows he has a better heart to sing. 

 We always sing when at work in the vicinage of 

 the birds, and if they like our music as well as we 

 do theirs, all we have to say about it is that they 

 are happy birds, even if they can't' sow, and scrape 

 and trim. Farmer Morrison's example, in several 

 things, is worthy of imitation, but especially in 

 music and the renovation of old orchards; go, 

 therefore, and see him, and profit by the lessons he 

 cheerfully gives. 



Profits of Sheep and Wool Growing. — Having 

 read articles concerning the profits of farming, I 

 venture the income of a flock of 24 sheep kept by 

 one of my neighbors the past year, which was the 

 round sum of $74,25, besides 6 lambs that died. 

 He sold his avooI at 38 cents per pound, and his 

 lambs at $2,00 each, with one exception, that for 

 $1,50. They are of a coarsish grade, but not na- 

 tive. I have bought 19 of the above sheep, at 

 $2,25 per head, and will give the income of them 

 the present year, when I sell my wool and lambs. 

 — Granite Farmer. 



New Sugar Plant. — Representations have been 

 made by a cultivator in the Rhine Provinces, that 

 he has in his garden a bulbous plant, called the 

 "Russian Potato," four or five feet in height, and 

 yielding a third more sugar than the beet-root. It 

 is of an inestimable value to a region unfavorable 

 to the growth of the beet, and it is afforded at a 

 much cheaper rate. — English paper. 



Elf" The social feelings have not been unaptly 

 compared to a dark heap of embers, which, when 

 separated, soon languish, darken, and expire ; 

 hut placed together, they glow with a ruddy and 

 intense heat. 



