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298 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE. 



October 



Priming of Pyramidal Trees. 



Some few years since, being much charmed with 

 the idea of cultivating the peach tree as a pyramid 

 I commenced that des^cription of culture by having 

 some trees potted. I am delighted with my per- 

 fect success in both modes of culture. 



I found pinching in the young shoots of my pyr- 

 amids in the first year of culture to answer per- 

 fectly. The second year it was equally so with the 

 trees in pots — in short it continues so with them 

 to this day. This is the fifth year of their culture, 

 and I can see no reason why it should not go on 

 for many years, for no method can be more beau- 

 tiful and satisfactory. With my pyramids planted 

 iu the borders of my orchard house, I have had 

 some little trouble, owing to their vigorous growth 

 (in spite of occasional root pruning) and constant 

 inclination of sap to the head. 



When pruning them to-day, I found their stems 

 pretty well furnished with branches full of blos- 

 som buds : but they are weekly and very unlike 

 the crowns of the trees, which from being pinched 

 in all the summer, are masses of well-ripened, ro- 

 bust, blossom- bearing shoots, by far too much 

 crowded. I have, therefore, felt called upon to 

 make some desperate amputations with my strong, 

 sharp pruning knife, done in this way : I have cut 

 out the central or crown branches of every tree, 

 so as to leave it almost a flat head. This will tend 

 to give the lower branches more strength, and the 

 sun will have more access to the fruit. I have in- 

 deed, reason to believe that with trees planted out 

 in orchard houses, either half standards or stand- 

 ards, this open flat-headed style of pruning will be 

 found the most eligible. 



I have tried another way, besides summer- 

 pinching, to restrain the too vigorous growth of 

 peach trees planted out. This is described in the 

 'Orchard-House, 11th edition, p. 82: — "In 1862, 

 and again the past season, 1863, buds of some 

 kinds of peaches and nectarines were much wanted 

 for propagation. I therefore allowed some of the 

 trees to make their first growth without being 

 pinched. The shoots they made were most vigo- 

 rous, many of them from 4 to 5 feet in length. — 

 About the middle of July these were all cut ofi" to 

 within 4 inches of their base. The trees were 

 loaded with fruit, and I thought that this sudden 

 decapitation would put the crop in peril, and cause 

 it either to cease to grow or drop off in its then 

 immature statp. To my surprise, the fruit has 

 grown to its full size, ^rtid ri' ened well. The de- 

 capitated shoots have put forth numerous young 

 shoots, which this day (Aug. 30) have been pinch- 

 ed to within 3 or 4 leaves of their base, and the 

 trees look as they did last autumn — healthy, prom- 

 ising, and capable of bearing a good crop next 

 year. I observe that their growth seems much 

 more under control than those planted in the same 

 border that have been under pinching all the sum- 

 mer." I have slightly deviated from this method, 

 and have pinched all but 6 or 7 of these strong 

 shoots, leaving them to grow without control. — 

 Their vigor is most remarkable, and they exhaust 

 the tree of much superabundant sap. About the 

 third week in July they are cut down 5 or 6 inch- 

 es ; the buds at the base of each shoot break im- 

 mediately, arid form short spurs which ripen well 

 during the autumn. 



By this method, my planted out pyramidal 



peaches and nectarines have formed themselves in- 

 to flat-headed half-standards, slightly feathered 

 down their stems, with branches rather weakly, 

 still fruitful. These will in the end die off, and 

 leave the trees half-standards, with open heads in- 

 clined to horizontitl growth. As far as I can see, 

 this is a most excellent mode of cultivating peach- 

 es and nectarines under glass. Among these tiees, 

 if there be sufficient room, trees in pots may be 

 placed ; and these, if pyramids, mny be formed in- 

 to perfect fruitful 'cordons' by summer pinching. 



I have to add something rather curious, and 

 which I confess is at present a mystery. In 1860 

 and '61 the fruit from the trees in pots in the 

 same house was much superior in flavor to that 

 from the trees in pots being in a warmer medium 

 surrounded by the heated airof the house. In '62 

 the fruit from the trees planted out was decidedly 

 superior to that from the potted trees ; but to my 

 surprise in 1863, although we had a bright, warm 

 summer, it was just the reverse, for the fruit from 

 the potted trees was infinitely richer than any 

 gathered from the trees growing in the borders — 

 I), in Jour. Horticulture, 



Sow Rye. — Farmers would find it greatly to 

 their interests to sow more rye. For winter and 

 early sprmg pasturage, it is very valuable. All 

 kinds of stock like to get a green nibble whenever 

 it can be obtained in winter — and in spring it will 

 furnish good pasturage before it can be obtained 

 elsewhere. 



It is not only as food for stock that we urge its 

 cultivation, but it is of great value to the soil as a 

 preparation for some other crop. It is almost 

 equal to a coat of manure if tlie gieen crop is 

 plowed in, in the spring. The soil is full of the 

 roots of the pl^it, and there is also the coat which 

 covers the surfite- — and if these are turned in, they 

 ferment and decay\and consequently enrich the 



land. The coaling 

 tent the wa^^hing of th€ 

 winter. The <rop, if not 

 one. If our readers will 

 they will not fail to sow 

 should be sown at the s 

 ner as fall sown wheat 



also prevent to a great ex- 

 nd by the severe rains of 

 lowed in, is a paying 

 t in a few acres of rye, 

 every fall here.ifter. It 

 B time and in like man- 

 It is not necessary to be- 



stow the same prepa^Stion of the soil as for wheat, 

 unless one feels disposed to do so. 



Oil Springs in Missouri. — The Carrolton (Mo.) 

 Democrat mentions the existence of indications of 

 oil springs in Carroll county which mav ultimately 

 become valuable. For many years past, petrole- 

 um has been observed on the water of the springs 

 in the county, and it was sometimes used with 

 good effect in certain diseases. In some of these 

 springs the petroleum was so plentiful that they 

 were called Tar springs ; but the existence of oil 

 reservoirs in the earth was never suspected until a 

 short time ago, when some Penrisylvauians visiting 

 the county, having been attracted by the signs, 

 examined them and came to the conclusion that 

 the petrohum existed in sufficient abundance to 

 justify boring for it. They therefore leased a track 

 of land eight or ten miles square, and are prepar- 

 ing to bring forward machinery for vigorous opera- 

 tions. Should they be successful in opening oil 

 reservoirs, Ciirrol county will become the seat of 

 a trade of no little value. 



