1862. 



THE ILLUSOIS FARMEK. 



141 



- :. [For the UUnois Fanner.] : 'i ; ; y 



Orcharding at South Rass— Low 

 Headed Trees. > 



DoNGOLA, UDion Oo., April 18, 1862. 



M. L. DuNLAP. Dear Sir : — A recent risit to 

 South Pass in this county, and a view of the 

 various orchards in that place, convinces one 

 Trho have seen the fruit business carried on else- 

 where, that this is destined soon to be one of the 

 most attractive pla.ces to the pomologist in North 

 America. Instead of refering this matter to the 

 future, I might say that the thing is already ac- 

 complisbed, for there are thousands and thous- 

 ands of peach, apple and pear trees in bearing, 

 but for the most part they are young. There 

 are as large orchards in Jersey, Delaware, Mary- 

 land and Virginia. I notice that in the battle 

 now being fought before Yorktown, a part of our 

 troops now occupy one of these orchards — a 

 dreadful blow to the man who took the pains to 

 bring it into successful bearing. But I think 

 that in a few years this section will far surpass 

 anything that can be seen perhaps in the world. 



A Horticultural Society meets every other 

 Saturday to discuss subjects most interesting to 

 fruit growers. G. H. Baker is President and 

 P. Earl the Secretary. A considerable discus- 

 sion is taking place with reference to low headed 

 trees, cutting back early — and also respecting 

 shallow planting. Those best posted, or who 

 claim to be, pronounce the following to be the 

 very best. It is certainly the latest method of 

 planting trees. 



First dig a hole as deep as you please, and then 

 fill it up when you plant your tree on the level 

 of the ground, then throw up a mound around it 

 and let it grow. If the tree is one year from the 

 bud, it is previously cut off eight or ten inches 

 above the bud, no matter whatever, if it have 

 buds or not, it will sprout oat. A peach tree is 

 permitted to send forth four shoots so as to make 

 what is called a distal or inverted umbrella 

 frame; afterwards, late in the winter one-third 

 of the previous years' growth is cut off. Such 

 trees, will bear, it is claimed, three years sooner 

 than by any other treatment, and the center of 

 the tree being kept open, the fruit ripens finely, 

 and is easily picked by one standing on the 

 ground. 



I saw some trees on Mr. Bakers ground which 

 had been treated in a manner somewhat similar, 

 and it does appear to me that this is the right 

 theory, at least I never saw trees bear so young 

 or, look more thrifty, I would remark, by the 



way, of Mr. Baker's farm, that though its aera 

 is not so extensive as many others in the vicinity, 

 yet for picturesque of situation I have seldom 

 seen it equalled. I should have remarked as 

 many are aware, that all their farms are on high 

 hills, and that they are seen from each otheK 

 making a scene not dissimilar to what one fancies' 

 of the robber castles on the Rbine. 



In conclusion I would say that fruit growers 

 are greatly attracted to this region, and there 

 seems to be a promise that, both native trees and 

 jJeople are likely soon to be numbered among 

 things of the past. The manner in which the 

 fruit business is here carried on, is indicative 

 of the greatness of our State, and well compares 

 with the vast grain interests of the prairies. 



— We are having line upon line in regarcf W 

 low headed trees, as one after another falls into 

 the practice. Last week we were setting an 

 orchard of one hundred and fifty of sweet apple 

 trees ; wisliing to set twenty of the Late Goldeh 

 Sweet, we could find none less than four years 

 old, averaging over an inch in diameter, with 

 nice heads three feet from the ground, but in 

 went the shears and the trees were headless, with 

 stumps a foot high. Some of our customers look 

 on these stumps with wonder. "Such nice 

 heads ! what possessed you to cut them off ?" 

 was the question from more than one. Well, 

 friend, can't you see we are growing gray with 

 age — may not be spared a long life to waitjfor 

 fruit on the high headed trees, but will stand a 

 reasonable chance of doing so from the stumps. 

 Come and see them three years hence if your and 

 my life is spared, and you will probably find them 

 in fruit. Yesterday a farmer came after trees, 

 and would like to see those with, low headr. We 

 led him to a lot of five acres that had not been 

 pruned at all, most of them heading at the 

 ground. "Well," says he, "those just suit me. 

 Three years ago, I received a hundred trees from 

 Ohio, or rather brought them with me ; after 

 setting, an ox got into the orchard and broke 

 several of them down near the grown. I tras 

 much vexed at the time, but these trees are 

 double the size of the others, and with such 

 beautiM heads that I now regret the ox had not 

 served the whole lot in the same way. The trees 

 broken down will fruit this year, while -on the 



others there is no sight of fruit. Give me the 

 low heads." 



If low heads are so much more valuable in 

 the timber lands of Egypt, what shall we say of 

 the prairies ? B©. 



