Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1874 — When to Plow Around Fruit Trees. [ARTICLE]

When to Plow Around Fruit Trees.

It must be remembered that the fibers of trees are like the leaves, annual, and that early in winter most of them die. Plowing at this season is, therefore, no check to the vitality of the tree, as working the cultivator through the ground in the growing season Then this turning down of green material saves the ne’ cessity of top-dressing with manure Some Maryland orchards that have been treated some years on this system lead us to think highly of the plan. Trees that have long stems' opposed to hot suns or drying winds become what gardeners call “ hide-bound’’ —that is, the old bark becomes indurated, cannot expand, and the tree suffers much in consequence. Such an evil is usually indicated by gray lichens which feed on the decaying bark. In these cases a washing of w r eak lye or of lime water is very useful; indeed, where the bark is healthy it is beneficial thus to wash the trees, as many eggs of insects are thereby destroyed. old practice of slitting hide-bound cherry and other trees with a knife had much more sense in it than some of our leading minds are ready to admit.— Neto York Herald.