Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-03-21
(For the Herald ] 8
Oh chaasi Culture.

lists among planters that warm, sheltered
site, to the east or south Of some grove OF
| bill, IS the best; and 50 il may be for some
things, but not so with the Orchard Ex.
lperience has proved that any slope Of
ground from west to north or northeast i
better. Some of the best orchards in Ibis
county are found on western and northern
Iexposes The prairies may possibly be an
/ Perception to this rue, as good current Of
4 ;lir circulates unpJstructed over them the
j year round, and keeps tile atmosphere
about the trees at an even Temperature.
i What theapple tree needs is, 70 be SAVED
] from climatic extremes; consequently, high
grounds, above the level OF late sprpg and
early tai irosts, are best. not only for the
! bsssitli If the tree, but that the fruit buds
1 and blossoms be not destroyed by frosts.
( And il is, finally, Of first importance that
/ the ground chosen he dry, with inclination
! sufficient for surface drainage. High
grounds are sometimes spuutv and reten-
/ tive; no mistake should be made here.
Tops Of ridges would doubtless generally
/ be safest.
SELECTING TREEs.--Pulchase near home
Of some one whose Judgment yon can rel
on IN selection Of hardy, valuable varieties
for this region; unless, which is BETTER you
haze previously acquainted yourself thor
loIahy with the matter. Buy trees YOU
have the assurance are not pisce-root-grats-
led. AS to size, age aud form OF trees, tiie
! following extract from the proceedings of
the .Illinois horticultural Society at its
late meeting, are to the point and correct:
last-t'orm of trees--Every gentle
man present advocated low tops Tor prairie
culture; but it was impossible 20 lay down
| arbitrary rules, for different varieties re-
auire different treatment. Although low
heads were always desirable, they should
not be too low. The importance OF COM
mencing to train the trees properly during
| the first few years of their growth, could
not be overrated. IL was one great reason
for preferring young trees. Care should
| be taken to secure al even distribution of
the limbs, and they should not be too close
together on the trunk. Forks should all
ways beavoidei, and horizontal limbs We're
to lie preferred, and as such limbs Eeyer
split from the trunk by the weight Of the
fruit or from other causes. More care
should be taken by both nurserymen and
| fruit-growers in the training Of trees. i
"Size and age,-There was q full ex-
preston Of opinion on this subject, aud
every member expressed himself infayor OF
Young trees. First, because they were as
GOOD as old trees Second,l because they
we're better Third, because they were IN
every way cheaper
l.sltwsls shown that young trees had more
vitality than old ones; that they bear re-
Imoval better; that in nearly every instance
one, two AM three year old trees, would,
in five years after setting in the orchard, b.
larger and better than older trees set at the
same time. Old trees Were usually plant
cd because the object was to get fruit in
the shortest possible time. But a tar bet
ter way to accomplish that result. WAS 70
set young tres OF varieties known to bear
early. 1923
| .ln regard to the exact age, most of the
members preferred two and three year old
apple trees, though the southern members
thought the one year Odds Of strong grow
ing sorts were large enough.
.sMr. kennicott sand that he decidedly
preferred, in planting an apple orchard, 10
choose young and small trees. For South
ern Illinois he would set out The fiee-graw
in kinds at one year old, those OF slower
growth at two years; for Central and
Northern Illinois, he would take the free
and the SLOW growers of two and thee
wears old respectively. Among the rea-
sons for preferrng small trees he mention
ed these: that the roots can he got SO much
m re perfect. the freight is less. the pEr-
chaser gets more trees for bis money, and
the Young trees can be much more easily
trained into good shape than those OF
larger growth
PREPARATION OF SOIL AND Trans
PLANTING. Every purchaser should pre-.
pare his holes in advance, aha after Obtain
INC his trees pack the roots carefully ~ wet,
ila!frotted straw, or some material that will
Keep them moist till he gets home aI'si SITS
them III their destined pl,ees. Prepare1
the ground previously l,y un.ierdFs'lniag o.
subsoiling if possible; some recommend N
lieu 81 these, to throw the ground into high
ridges, with deep dead f,lrrow between,
md plant on the top of the ridge. Flow
deep and stir often to obviate the effects OF
,lrouth. Trees had better be staked. Place
this on the southwest side Of the tree loot
or more from it. and make a band OF hay
twists, which will need renewing once a
year ill the tree becomes established.
The object Of this is to prevent the trees
swaying 10 the northeast. 1t is well to
set them with little southwest inclination.
Set trees in straight rows, II to 20 feet
apart.
AFTER TREATMENT.--Neyer SOW the
ground with small grain; it is rmnous to
trees. Corn OF some other hoed crop the
first four or five yesrs is best, ana then
| seed down to throw tie trees into bearing.
In pruning, aim simply TO thin out inter
| fArino branches. and give siinetrv to the