We hear from many portions of the country a general complaint of the failure of the apple orchards. Apple-trees are not growing and bearing as well as in former times. The climate, or something, has changed. What it is we can not tell, but orchards don't do as well as formerly. There must be a reason for this, and let us look around a little, and perhaps we may find the cause. Has the climate changed in the last century ? Do we not have the same average temperature, and the winds blow from the same direction, only, perhaps, with more violence, from the great destruction of forests ? We can perceive no difference in the elements of the air; but has not the mode of culture changed from what it was ? The country then was new and rich from the decay of wood and leaves for countless ages. The soil abounded in the requisite food for the production of fine apple-trees then, and they grew and bore satisfactorily. Since then, by a long course of cropping, we have exhausted the potash and other elements of fertility to a great extent, and can we expect the trees to grow as formerly ? Is there an instance where an orchard has been planted in virgin soil before it was exhausted by long cropping, and proper care taken after planting, that did not thrive luxuriantly ? It is our opinion, that if we feed the roots of the trees with what they require, they will grow now as well as ever.

But we are too covetous of latter times; too many of us want two crops at the same time, and, of course, one or both will suffer by it. We want a crop of grain or hay and a crop of fruit, but do not give a double amount of manure to produce them. We cheat the trees, and lose by it ourselves in quality and quantity. The most successful orchards we have seen have been cropped with hoed crops, and when young, manure applied sufficiently to produce remuneratively. When the trees became large enough to not require this annual stirring of the soil, they were left for grass to grow till the trees so shaded the ground it was impossible. The period an orchard of apple-trees may be plowed safely will differ according to the rapidity of its growth, say from twelve to fifteen years. It is evident that when trees are of large size, the plow will tear up a large number of surface roots, their most valuable feeders; hence we infer that plowing old orchards must be injurious, and by this destruction of roots which will have to be renewed every year, and if continually broken off, the trees are prematurely exhausted and will be shortlived.

If all the grass or weeds are mowed and allowed to remain, they afford a fine mulch and help enrich the soil; and if in addition a dressing of manure, straw, or stalks is added occasionally, and nothing but the fruit taken from the orchard, we think there is no reason why they will not bear and grow as well as ever. Some varieties of fruit once grown successfully now fail, and we are at a loss to assign a reason. The old Vergalieu or White Doyenne was the best pear we had in our boyhood, and the Bellefleur and Fall Pippin and a few others are poor bearers in many places now. What it is that gives the flavor and makes the same stock, where several sorts are grafted on it, give such entirely distinct fruit, we can not understand, any more than why they yield poorly now. Some small trace of a mineral in the soil has probably since become deficient, and the roots can not substitute any other substance to replace it. But we need not grieve too much that we lost our old favorites, as the soil that refuses to grow them to perfection will yield us plenty as good or better than they ever were, of newer kinds. But when shall we have fruit on our young trees ? is a question often asked by the timid.

It is a difficult question to answer, for trees receive such different treatment, and some bear earlier than others. Too much stimulating is not favorable to early bearing generally; but it is better for us that our trees do not bear early, if we do feel in a hurry. We have had apple-trees bear good crops when eight years of age; but it is safe to estimate that, with good attention and culture, a small crop equal to three or four bushels to a tree will be borne when they have been planted ten years. We know of an orchard of 500 trees, planted about fifteen years, that bore in one year 700 bushels of apples. Other orchards may exceed this, but we think too few have attained to this amount. Some are discouraged from planting by the report of the great increase of insect enemies to the trees and fruit. Even if there are more, fruit sells at a much higher price, and we can afford to take more time and spend more labor than formerly in combating them. The price of apples, as well as other fruit, is greatly enhanced from what it was forty years ago; and from the too apparent neglect in setting out young trees, we believe apples are destined to still higher prices in the future. There are but few pleasanter sights in passing through the country than a handsome, thrifty orchard.

Somehow, we form a higher opinion of the owner's intelligence; we expect to find him in good standing in the community; and the reverse of his next neighbor, whose moss-covered, neglected apple-trees cast a feeling of desolation and sadness on all around. And there are but few trees more beautiful than a nicely grown apple-tree in full bloom, nor a more enjoyable sight than when laden with its crimson or golden fruit in autumn. Therefore we advocate planting the apple-tree. You may plant the grape by the million where the soil suits its growth; strawberries by the acre, or pear-trees, too, if you wish, but don't forget the apple, if you love the enjoyment of your family, your profit, and your health. We like to plant trees pretty close together, for the reason that they will shade the ground more perfectly and prevent the weeds or grass from growing when they have arrived at maturity. Nothing else should be expected of an orchard than to bear fruit for us when large enough, and we should plant accordingly. Some kinds, that are low-spreading growers, like the R. I. Greening and Roxbury Russet, will require more room; but from our observation, twenty-five to thirty feet should be the limit for all varieties.

We do not like long, naked stems to our trees, peering up nine or ten feet without a limb, indicative of long ladders and bruised fruit. Standing on the ground and picking apples is so much easier, or on short fruit ladders, and if they quit their hold before we wish them, they scarcely receive a bruise when fallen. And another advantage to the low heads is, they shade the ground and keep it moist. During that hot spell last summer, our low-growing trees suffered much less than those that grew erect - indeed, they scarcely felt it

Culture Of The Apple #1

Brother Hicks, you are right; the soils of most lands at the East have lost their valuable ingredients for production of healthy trees and abundance of fruit; and the apple-grower must no longer think he can grow crops of apples and three tons of hay to the acre without supplying freely of manure. As yet, the orchards oh the new lands of Indiana, Illinois, and west, produce crops of fine fruit within three or four years from planting out; but their time of failure will soon come, if they do not take heed and learn from the errors, as they are always ready to do from the intelligence, of their Eastern co-laborers in fruit-growing. Reuben.