68 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



The removal of trees, causes necessarily, to a 

 greater or less extent, the injury and loss of part 

 of the roots — which, with the check by moving, 

 renders necessary the reductioa of the branches 

 so as to diminish the amount of leaf surface, and, 

 consequently the evaporation — which, until the 

 roots have regained their balance with the top, the 

 tree is unable to bear. 



Neglect of annually pruning dwarf pear trees, 

 causes them to make long, weak and disproportion- 

 ate branches ; and often in this state, while quite 

 young, they produce a heavy crop of fruit, alto- 

 gether too much for their age — resulting in a per- 

 manent injury to the trees. 



Grass and grain crops are often grown in orch- 

 ards until the trees are starved to death. This is 

 indeed one of the most common, as it is one of the 

 most pernicious, of errors, and is to be met with 

 m almost every neighborhood. Not only are old 

 orchards seeded down, but this is often the next 

 step after planting; and not unfrequently, even, 

 the trees are planted in meadows, without any care 

 being taken for them. 



Various other forms of neglect which young 

 trees receive might be mentioned— such as improp- 

 er planting, want of manuring, inattention to in- 

 sects, and many others, which it is not necessary 

 to specify. 



The best treatment for a neglected orchard of 

 dwarf pear trees, nmst depend somewhat on the 

 circumstances of the particular case. If the trees 

 are much stunted, distorted or diseased, it would 

 wndoubtedly be the Avise course to dig them up at 

 once, and commit them to the brush-heap. 



Should the orchard, however, have been neg- 

 lected but a short time, and the trees appear to be 

 comparatively healthy, look tirst to the drainage ; 

 if this is wanting or is insufficient, set to work 

 «ntil every inch of the soil is effectually drained — 

 not with open ditches, to carry off suface water 

 merely, but with good, substantial stone, or what 

 is better, tile drains, from three to four feet deep. 

 Then put in the plows one after the other, two or 

 three, or by going two or three times in each fur- 

 row, with a strong team, and break up the soil at 

 least eighteen inches deep ; you need not be afraid 

 of plowing at least within a few feet of the trees, 

 for dwarf pear trees, in the condition we are as- 

 suming, will not have extended their roots far. 

 How close, however, the plow may come, is to be 

 determined by observation ; the digging fork will 

 do what is left by the plow. These operations be- 

 ing completed, let a good coat of well-rotted stable 

 manure be spread upon the surface and lightly 

 plowed in. 



The pruning-knife is next called into requisition ; 

 but it is impossible to give any but the most gene- 

 ral directions for its use in this case ; the experi- 

 enced hand would undoubtedly cut much closer 

 than the novice. The form and habit of each tree 

 must be considered— the weak and ill-shaped must 

 be pruned close and severely, while the stronger 

 may be formed into good shape, and allowed to 

 carry more wood. 



The cropping of the orchard ground should be 

 confined to beans, peas, and such other crops as 

 draw lightly on the soil, or be entirely dispensed 

 with— in which case the ground should be culti- 

 vated regularly every two or three weeks during 



the summer season. Too much labor or care can 

 scarcely be expended on a fruit which is so gener- 

 ous and grateful for fiivors, and whose pecuniary 

 value is so great. * Jj 



BEST METHOD OF RENOVATING OLD ORCHARDS. 



An orchard that has been rightly managed and 

 is termed old from age of trees, might better be 

 replaced by young ones ; but there are many or- 

 chards that have the appearance of age— a conse- 

 quence arising from mismanagement; such trees 

 can be renovated. Often, there are trees in the 

 same plot, and side by side — the one healthy and 

 strong, the other its opposite. On exammation, 

 we find a sad bruise, of the plow or otherwise, in 

 cultivating ; just above the ground a perfect nest 

 of grubs ; a thousand and one ant-hills, and many 

 other sources of decay. Ask the owner Avhy his 

 trees look so yellow, or the fruit so knotty, and he 

 tells you he knows not — merely because he has not 

 examined. A tree that is not worth some attention, 

 soon will show it is not worth picking. There are 

 many methods of renewing a tree or trees, causing 

 them to produce, and even bring lite and vigor 

 anew to a tree in rapid decay. I remember one 

 tree in father's orchard, that was grulhed full two- 

 thirds around ; a boy's weiglit in the top would 

 sway it to and fro as he willed. We grafted it to 

 Baldtcins, and in four years after it was, and still 

 is, as firm, as productive and healthy, as any tree. 

 This may be an isolated case, but I believe grafting 

 a great benefit. 



My method of renovation would be to plow the 

 ground — not so deep as to cut too many fibrous 

 roots, nor so near as to bruise the body. Then, 

 with a grub-hoe clean away everything from the 

 body, and examine minutely for worms, and kill 

 everyone; manuring heavy Avith good materials; 

 trim thoroughly all decaying and unsightly branch- 

 es; graft, if necessary. Continue this course for 

 two or three seasons, and the moss will have no 

 place to cling. You can point a tree grub-eaten, 

 or grass-bound, by the appearance of its ler.ves — 

 yellow and small. Hogs are profitable laborers in 

 an orchard (except in wet weather); thpy will des- 

 troy myriads of unborn pests — all fruits that fall 

 prematurely are full of them. Every orchard 

 should be' the range of the hog, and no other ani- 

 mal, in my opinion. An orchard is far better to 

 be cultivated, cropped or not. I am aware of ad- 

 vocates for non-cultivation ; I can not make it pay. 



AVe seeded with Timothy^ and it. laid three years. 

 The third year's produce was yellow leaves and 

 wormy fruit. I w^ould not seed with anything but 

 clover, if at all, and let it lie but a year or two at 

 most. Spare your trees if possible; it is often eas- 

 ier to save a tree than grow one. Save what you 

 have, and plant more; others planted for you— 

 serve them likewise. 



Frequent stirring the soil — liberal use of good 

 manures — obtaining the choicest varieties — frequent 

 use of the saw (not your axo,) and knife — great 

 care in gathering, as to time, manner and storing — 

 and your long winter evenings will have one guest 

 in constant attendance ; the basket of fruit is ever 

 there, a temptation not to be resisted by any, even 

 your most obliging reader of the Genesee Farmer^ 



