A New Orchard

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 16, 17 July 1884, Page 3

A New Orchard

There is no more profitable use to which a farmer can devote a share of his land than to orchard If he injftnfti the. fruit for his Wn tise •! only, it will be in the. best sense oi the profitable, as it will bring health, comfort, and enjoyment. Mahj plant, trees without properly"! considering tbr varieties, and then, grudging the land thus occupied, ask of r it, what k is : required' of no other field' ifpon the farm, vis., that it shall annually . support two crops, the Wees' and grass, frrainTor something; elee >( wb,ich.U3u i alij( has the land all to itself,'.. This treatment is mainly the cause of the " giving 4>ut" ot t fruit. While we advocate the planting of orchards, we have too much regard for trees to wish then to be submitted to such treatment . Unless one can be con*teut with one crop from his.land, and be willing. to give it. up to the trees be .had .better not .plant them. Of course, while the trees are young 1 , a wida strip between the rows may bo properly occupied by a- crop, but when they come into bearing-; the trees , should have the whole land, and all crops, such as clover, and other pasturage for pigs, should be. grown for the benefit, of the trees. An orchard, properly treated-, m»y be made, profitable if the fruit ;iji sold, dried or' '• evaporated," or converted into cider nnd viaegar. .T^bere is no better time to prepare an orchard than during this and the next .month, whether the planting' is to bo done this fall or spring The most important work, of preparation is drainage. Trees are sometime" planted upon soil that is too wet, witb the intention of lying drain* aftenyards. Jt is much better

to drain before planting 1 , as the convenient time lor laying the drains may not occur for ypars and the trees, having" made their eariy growth in an unsuitable soil, cau never be completely restored. Very poor land may require ni;inuring, but if sufficiently fertile for the ordinary crops of the farm, it is neb. enough. I hormigh plowing, with a breaking up of tho subsoil, is of more importance riiau manure. Even if the trees are to be planted in spring, much time may.be saved by laying: our thn ■ground, placing a saiall stTke to, indicate the place for each .tree. — American AgricuHrti-ist.