Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1869 — Selecting Trees. [ARTICLE]

Selecting Trees.

Self.ct low trained, stocky trees, even if you decide to remove the lower branches after they are in place. I hnv-e found, from experience, that such trees are better rooted, and they will, fn nine cases out of ten, succerii best in the orchard. But, strange as it mayappenr, font persons out of six will choose a tall spindling tree in preference to a stocky one, aijd, therefore, nurserymen are compelled to train trees to suit the market, instead-of what their experience and judgment would dictate. Trees that have been forced too mufch in the niu-sery row, as a general thing, 1 do not succeed as well as trees grown on land of medium strength. As a case in point, we imported from France, six years ago! one thousand Bartletts, two : years from the bud. Everybody who saw them, said they were, without doubt, the finest 1 lot they had seen. The secopd year’s growth averaged four fbet'long, and the young wood looked as if It might be made info serviceable Wftjklqtf ctfnfes, ;These trees were planted bn a clay sou, well prepared and in good copdkiort . It •weuJtjUwve produced three tons of timothy hay to the acre, or fifty bushels of shelled corn.' 1

After planting, the trees ‘wero cut back and great care taken of them. In two years from the time of planting, three hundred and twenty-four died. The only solution that I can give, is, that they were stimulated to such an extent in the nursery, that when transplanted in an ordinary soil, the roots did mot Supply thq amount necessary to keep the top in its unnatural condition. On close examination of the young wood, 1 found it to lie soft and spongy. Jhave no doubt that forcing trees with putrescent manures is the cause-, of. the numerous cases from which young trees suffer for two or three years after being .Set out. Ido pot urnfiu to say that you should .select stunted trees* but such as have a healthy appearance, with a moderate growth of young Wood, if, on examination, you fipd it hard to the extreme cncfcof the branches. You Will often find, oA cutting the young-.wood of trees that have been forced too rapidly, a dark brown spot in tffa centre or Uefirt Of the twig; this is a sure indication oFan unnatural growth, art<J great care'Wiflh'ftve to be given, of utany 6T ttartgsefc will not survive more than Out df Wd yeaJSr best remedy for this is to cut off at 'least two-thirds ofthe prevlous year’S'grdwtb, and mujeh the. ground for a space of three feet around -the body Of the trees.— Pear Culture for Profit.