The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-23
From the Soil of the South.
HOW AND WHEN TO PLANT AN oRcHa,

1 ~ w H"'S oNi SJOICC Ill IIl0 SelSC-
t'on OF piece Of ground for an orchard,
we should select high locality, at n good
distance from streams of water, with a soil
'lch IN alluvlal deposits, and good substa-
tum of clay. With such a soil and local
lty' the apple, pear, peach, and plum, may
be grown in perfection. But as every man
may not have the soil lie wants, lie must
DO the best he can at limitations. From the
early blooming Of the peach, it is very liza
ole to be cut of by lato spring frosts, con-
sequenlly, should not be planted near
streams or sheets of water, for we have OH
served for many years, that those peach
trees planted near the influence of water
were more frequently injured by frosts than
those planted in higher and drer localities.
The apple and pear blooming later, are not
as liable to injury. We read in directions
for Northern orchard planting, about .South-
ern slopes. If we have any slopes here, let
them DO Northern slopes, that the fruit
buds may bc retarded as much as possible
III tho spring. For tho Southern frpit crop
is more liable to injury from the frosts of
April, than from any other casualty
Those who intend to plant an orchard,
should now prepare. If the soil is poor
and gr"velly, sub-soil it deeply, and when
the ground is perfectly light and mellow,
lay 1t off Tor as many trees as in tho judg-
ment OF the planter the soil can sustain.
1t the soil is very rich, the trees may stand
ten to fifteen feet apart but if poor, twenty
feet is near enough. Dig the holes three
times as large as the roots will fi!l. If The
soil is rich, first fill in with surface mold
and shake it we'll among the rootlets, being
careful that the tree is planted no deeper
than it originally stood in the ground. Let
each minute rootlet spread as it originally
did Ill the ground, and if there arc anv
mutilated roots, cut them clean with a sl,arp
knife, before planting. If the soil for the
orchard lacks humus and lime, 60 into tho
swamps and lagoons and haul out the veo-
etable deposits that have been accumulatino.
and mix with it one-third lime, fill this COM
post in around the roots, and for some feet
around the tree on tile surface, after tile tree
is planted. If the soil should be very SAN
dy, it will be well to add clay to the COM
post; plant the tree firmly at once, and not
rely on ramming the earth afterwards. A
hill may be planted in an orchard and Weld
fine fruit, that will produce nothin. else, by
mulching the ground between the trees
with straw, or any coarse litter that will
keep the son from the ground and protect
it from Wishing
To succeed with the plum, ncctariue and
apricot, it is absolutely necessary that the
soil should be stiff, and the sut-soi clay.
AS it is well known, the great enemy of
these thin skin fruits, the curculio, cannot
burrow in stiff soils, consequently on eating
their way from the fallen fruit, they perish
on the surface of the ground. AS soon in
the fall or winter as the ground is wet
enough, the orchard should be planted. In
the meantime, before spring, the wounded
roots are healing, new fibrcs are shooting,
and when the spring moves the sap, the
tree bursts Immediately into growth and
beauty Spring planting may be preferable
for the North, where the winter frosts are
liable to throw out the fresh planted trees.
but here, where we have no frosts of that
severity, fall and winter planting is decided.
ly preferable.
Grain crops should never be cultivated.
among the trees Of an orchard. If fina
fruit be the object Of the orchard, no other
crop should be cultivated in it. The sur
face soil should he frequently stirred around
and among the trees, for which we would
recommend horse hoe. not plow, as the
plow will break the surface roots, those that
are mainly instrumental in forming and.
nourishing the fruit. 80 ~. 4;
We are great advocate for mllcl,sap
the orchard. After the trees begin to,besr.
mellow the soil and cover the whole ausfase
with leaves from the woods, .deen snoa4i.
to prevent the growth of grass, and ratain
moisture. The roots Of trees 5r,in a,lonr
ways in search of moisture, 4therefots tEs
sub-soil should be mellowed deeply, 10 pes.
NIT the young rootlets 10 penetfate Heat
ing msnures should never be applied To-
young trees. And yet there is notlinr
yields greater return tlIan fruit trees, ,ayhSR
properly manured coippests Of sspis,isl
manures, with vegetable matter md liss,
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