THE WISCONSIN FARMER.    33.



   This article has I
 ticular time by a x
 lately examined in
 lific grounds of ou
 W. Hayes, of Palm]
 are only one of a la
 and they receive c
 tion ; and yet the p
 which they yield is
 ing here and there,
 glance, and seeminj
 these trees will yi4
 30 bushels of supei
 the hundred upon t
 were a temptation x
 the mouth water in
 of the ripe fruit, gr
 Among the favorii
 Gage, illustrated on
 liott says:-"As a
 superior to Green G
 by any other plun
 oval: skin at first
 bloom, becoming yell
 ly flavor.   * -Se
 Hooper styles it
 very rich stewed, in
 Wisconsin fruit-gi
 and surely nobody
 tasting such specim
 cent clusters on the

             cultivat
  An Illinois corre:
turn, referring to
number in which tho
that it is injurious I
ground after the try
",This idea is so at v
notions of orchard
some explanation.
put in the plow as d
mind if it did break
trees; they seem to
If it injures trees tc
is it not bad practice
is any crop in the
when the roots inter



)een suggested at this par
magnificent crop of plumi
the well-ordered and pro
r esteemed friend, Mr. H
rra. In his gardens plumi
rge family of fruits grown
comparatively little atten
,rofit in luxury and mone3
really surprising. Stand
scarcely observed at firsi
g to occupy no space at all
ald this year not less than
rior plums. Clustered by
,he slender branches, they
while yet green, and made
rost decidedly in prospect
reen, purple, and gold.
te varieties is the Imperial
a the adjoining page. El-
market variety it is far
age and hardly surpassed
ia. Fruit above medium,
pale green with a white
lowish green, rich, spright-
eson, first September."
"a fine market variety;
pies, or preserved."
rowers speak highly of it,
could speak ill of it after
ens as now lie in magnifi-
table of our sanctum.

bag Orohard.
spondent of the Hortioul-
an article in a previous
e writer takes the ground
to an orchard to plow the
ses are planted, says:-
ariance with our Western
culture that I would like
My own rule has been to
eep as I could, and never
r some of the roots of the
grow all the better for it.
o plow among their roots,
to plow at all when there
ground?   We plow corn
lance across the rows. and



the more we plow it the faster it grows, and
the bigger the ears get. Is it a matter of opin-
ion merely, or a difference of soil and climate,
or what is the matter?"
  To which the editor replies:-" It is true
that a correspondent took the ground you
name.   Old, decaying orchards have been
plowed at our suggestion in' many different
places, and always beneficially; hence we can-
not appreciate the fears of those who argue
that much damage will be the result of plow-
ing an orchard. Like you, we cannot perceive
why it should injure a tree to cultivate it any
more than a crop of corn.  We try to treat
our trees and corn alike, and are benefitted
in both just in proportion as we do it faith-
fully. Others are also, and we think all would
be."
  We (the COR. ED.) have tested this matter
of culture very thoroughly in Wisconsin, and
feel that we can heartily endorse as safe and
profitable practice the above recommendation
of the Horticulturist. Our advice has long
been to keep the soil loose and mellow by free
use of plow and cultivator, ceasing to cultivate
by first of August that the growth may be
checked and the wood ripen up seasonably.
  The cherry and peach, perhaps, should be
excepted in this treatment.
  We have never found any objection to grow-
ing hoed crops in the orchard, but rather bene-
fit, observing to return to the soil an equivalent
eor the crop removed.
We believe vastly more trees have been in-
jured or destroyed by the growing of grams
Lnd grain, and by neglected culture, than by
"high" or "over-culture."
The bark-louse (that pest of the orchardist
in the northwest) is sure to be found on the
stunted, grass-bound, grain-cropved trees.
Under such treatment trees make but fee-
ble, sickly advancement. The new growth is
mone the hardier (as is claimed by some) be-
cause so small. In such starved condition the
tree is not only fit subject to the depredations
of the louse and borer, but also to summer's
Irouth and winter's cold.      A. G. H.
Cor-n. A AU,. MM.



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