FRUIT TREES AMONG PINE STUMPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8273, 19 October 1915, Page 7

FRUIT TREES AMONG PINE STUMPS.

To TflK EIKTOR " GUAUUIAN."' Sir, —I had occasion, just recently, to visit an orchard in the Maylield district, and was there shown somethiug that perhaps will interest some of your readers. The owner pointed out to me a small, old, orchard, that had been ' enclosed on three sides' by a wide belt of punis insignis trees. Finding that the orchard was too much enclosed by these trees, he cut down the belt on ono side and took up a large piece of ground out of a small paddock adjoining; this piece, of course, included the poition on which the belt of trees grew. The new piece outside the belt was well cultivated and planted with' a good selection of fruit trees, but the portion on which the pine trees had grown, nothing could .bo done with on account of the stumps and roots; he therefore let it remain idle for two years. The trees on the new piece had by this time got a good hold and were doing well. At the end of two year's ho secured some trees of good varieties of apples, pears, and plums, and planted them among the pine stumps. I Considerable difficulty was experienced, | ;<;■! no"f>:i:i: 'if t.lic roots, in digging the holes for the new trees, but in a short time they had taken to their new abode with wonderful activity and they are now fivo years old. The owner now wished me to note the very great difference between the ;hoight and quality of the trees among ■the stumps compared with those on the new ground. Tho difference was wonderfully apparent. They Mere fuller in foliage' and better fruited; they had completely outgrown those on the new r.rround. 'Another thing noticeable was the cleanliness of tho bark ; he had never sprayed them, but they showed a cleaner and more silky bark than those those'that bad been regularly sprayed.

Now, Mr "Editor, it wa« certainly an ohieet-losson that T would have gone miles- to .sec, and I have brought this under your notice through the medium of your valuable paper that some in the AshVmvton County may be induced to t-v the experiment. There are in this County many plantations completely rlostrovod by that memorable, nor'wester some time ago. I should be glad if some fiblo pen would take u» the matter of turning waste ground < containing pine stumps into good fni'tliisirjnjx orehnrds. and also toll us why fruit trees should do well .'irnong pine stumns. C. W. W7THELL.