PREFACE. 



5 



BRIEF DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF 



FRUIT TREES, &c. 



We will commence by stating that all afFectation of mystery by Horticulturalists is mere chicanery. The 

 operations of nature are uniform in the vegetable kingdom as in all her other works, and it only requires the 

 exercise of a moderate portion of common sense to comprehend her course. 



Transplantin^.—Sprmg is the season when we enjoy the most pleasure in rural pursuits, and it therefore 

 has been adopted as the most general for transplantation. The fall, is nevertheless much to be preferred, as 

 it allows the ground to become settled during winter, and the roots start afresh at the first openmg of spring. 

 In regard hovvever to those Fruits obtained from warmer latitudes, ii is necessary for us to consult chmate,' 

 and vve have therefore come to the following conclusion. In locahties south of New-York, the fall is prefer- 

 able for aZHrees— north of New-York, the fall is preferable only for the Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, and 

 other trees of northern latitudes, and the spring is to be preferred for the Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, and 

 Almond. 



In planting, make the holes large, say 2i feet square, and ihe same m depth ; place the surface mould 

 aside by itseff, and cast away the poisonous bottom mould as useless ; mix witti the surface mould a 

 portion of other rich mould, and about four shovels full of well rotted manure to each tree; then spread 

 a few inches of this compost at the bottom — place the tree — fill in till the roots are covered, and tread 

 it well ; then fill up the rest without treading, as it must be left loose to receive the rains ; after thus planted, 

 water each tree well, and occasionally afterwards if the weather proves dry. 



In regard to distance Apples should be planted in orchards at a distance of 30 feet; Pears and Cherries, 20 

 to 25 feet; Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Almonds, and Plums, 10 to 12 feet. 



Culture. As a general rule, orchards should he. kept in a cultivated state, and receive occasional manur- 

 ings, and their produce will always be in proportion to such attention. That manure which is decomposed 

 an'd has lost its heat is to be preferred, and this should be most plentifully distributed in the immediate vici- 

 nity of each tree. 



Tfie pruning of trees in open culture is necessary to a certain extent, but far less so than often practised. 

 Nature, as a general rule, produces no greater development than she is capable of sustaining. All that is 

 really called for, therefore, is the occasional thinning out of those branches which are so close as to prevent 

 the sun from penetrating, or that might by friction injure each other. 



SOIL, &c. 



The Apple. This fruit is one to the culture and improvement of which, the soil and climate of our coun- 

 try seem particularly congenial. A very large number of native varieties have been produced rivalling those 

 of the Eastern Hemisphere, and the Nurseries and Gardens of Europe send annually to this country for 

 ereat numbers of trees of our esteemed varieties, whicii are there classed in the first rank. For this fruit, 

 rich strong loamy lands are the most appropriate, and as the roots are more horizontal than perpendicular, 

 it does not require so deep a soil as the Pear. In fact the Apple will succeed in any soil except a quick- 

 sand or a cold clay, if the ground is kept under cultivation and manured. Those soils that possess a very 

 considerable decree of humidity, but are not absolutely wet, suit the Apple very well, whereas they would be 

 destructive to the Pear. 



Tke Pear flourishes most on a deep rich soil that is comparatively light and porous, so as to allow a free 

 filtration, and through which its perpendicular roots can easily penetrate. Cold, compact clay, and wet soils, 

 do not suit, and in such the growth is feeble and the trees short lived. In this vicinity the Pear trees are al- 

 most universally trained as high standards. At Boston and other New England localities, they generally 

 adopt the culture on trellices, or dwarf trees, en quenouille, &c., which seems better suited to the old varie- 

 ties, but the new Flemish, English, and American varieties, being exceedmgly robust, flourish in all exposures 

 as standards. The cultivation of this Fruit is rapidly extending, as it is becoming an important article of ex- 

 portation packed in ice. Pear trees ingrafted on the Quince are thereby rendered o:" dwarf stature, and produce 

 crops of fruit at an earlier period, but they are less hardy and shorter lived iSian those propagated on the 

 pear stock. 



The Peach succeeds best in a rich light sandy loam, but will conform itself to almost any soil that is fria- 

 ble and kept in a cultivated state. The crops of fruit will be always in ratiu to the attention given to culture 

 and to the appropriate manurings, which shoiiild on no account be neglected. In this vicinity, and in most 

 other localities, the trees do best that are not trimmed, but allowed to grow in their natural way, branching a 

 short distance I'rom the ground, and we recommend this course for general adoption wherever there are not 

 circumstances that render high training necessary. 



The JSedarine, Apricot, and Almond, require a precisely similar soil and culture as prescribed for the 

 Peach. The Nectarine is equally hardy, and the two latter nearly as much so. In this latitude the Apricot 

 is most productive when planted in a location somewhat sheltered from the North and West, but many of the 

 robust varieties exact no such precaution. 



The culture of the Almond could be successfully extended in the States south of the Potomac, and or- 

 chards planted there would require no more care than the Peach, and would soon by their abundant crops 

 supersede the necessity of importations of this fruit, which are made to a very large amount. Pure American- 

 ism will always aim at the production of every article requisite to our comfort within our own national limits. 



The Plum adapts itself readily to almost any soil arid situation, and will flourish any where except in a 

 clay, marshy, or very sandy location. A rich friable soil is however to be preferred, and where not so, it should 

 be made so by culture. The Plum, Nectarine, and Apricot, being smooth skinned fruit, are subject to the 

 attacks of the curculio. But if the trees are paved round as far as the branches extend, or are planted in ground 

 that is much trodden, and thus rendered hard and impervious to the insect, or if the ground around the trees 

 is strewed with gravel, the insect will not be able to find shelter there, and consequently the trees will be free 

 from its depredations. The different varieties of Plums used in Germany, France, and Italy for prunes are 

 very productive, and there would be no difficulty, if a proper locality were selected, in establishing extensive 

 and profitable orchards for this object. The plum being exceedingly hardy would command a preference 

 over many other fruits, which will not flourish in an equally northern climate. 



The Cherries which comprise the cultivated varieties claim a two fold parentage, and there is a difference 

 in habit connected therewith. Those of the Heart and Bigarreau classes have perpendicular roots and require 

 a deep soil, whereas the Duke and JVIorello classes have horizontal roots and require a soil of but moderate 

 depth. With this distinction both divisions readily accommodate themselves to a variety of soils, and will 



