The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-05-24
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.
The Orchard.

There lie no danger. at least for many years
to come, that people will give their Oh chards
more care than they require. or more than
will be profitable. With some exceptions
here and there. and the number is In creas-
ing, the orchards of the country are neglect
ed sadly. Line upon line and precept upon
preeept seem to be needed to convince peo-
pie that trees require attention and good
culture. The following from venerable
horticulturist of the West, DR.. KENNICoTT,
the r'old Doctor"
How TO PLANT.-If you get nearly all
the roots of tree in good condition, you
need remove very little if any top. If short
of root, then shorten in or cut back the new
growth, to compensate for loss of root; and
do the same if the head of your tree needs
forming, shaping--ememberin always
that af-producing branches. or top, is as
essential to growth as roots.
1 will now suppose that your trees are
nicely heeled in-and you should heel them
in when you get them, even If to be planted
10 half an hour-and that your well-prepar-
ed ground has been measured and staked off.
at proper distances apart for the trees; the
next work is to plant them right and be in
no hurry about the work.
But am forgetting the distances. And
this is really question I would gladly ig-
nore-my own ideas and practice being so
much at variance with others, and especially
eastern orcbardists. There is wide differ
ence in the growth of varieties of the same
species of fruit tree; and there should be a
difference in the space given them. Take
the apple for example: yellow Bellhower
will soon occupy, and really needs, double
the space ever required by HaWthornden,
Lady Apple, or Duchess of Oldenburg; and,
to greater or less extent, this holds good
all through the list. Yet, eastern men tell
you to plant apple trees forty to fifty feet
apart and. some few western men follow
suit while others say sixteen to thirty two
feet only. Both are, in part right enough.
At the east, the large spaces are needed for
other crops; and dense plantations are not
demanded, as here, by the climate and me-
teorology, and especially high winds sweep
ing over tIeeless plains. I am, therefore,
one of those advocating close planting in
the pra;ries. would rather plant close,
and cut away half when too thick, than not
to have the protection of close plantation for
the first twenty years.
For apples that attain the largest size,
thirty-two feet is none too great space af-
ter twenty or twenty five years; for those of
small growth it is more than will ever be
needed. But in small orchards, of mixed
sorts-unless you are determined to devote
your orchard to fruit aloue-it is we'll enough
to give all your trees all the space they will
occupy when thirty or forty years old, or
else plant with the intention of cutting out
half when crowed; for it is announcement to
plant and cultivate at different distances in
the same plat. Perhaps we may say, the
extremes for apple trees should be sixteen
to twenty feet when in squares, and half
intended to be sacrificed; thirty to forty fest
where all are to remain, and all, or nearly
all, are of large-growing sorts. In quin-
cunx, or diagonal plantations, less space
will do; for you will have broad diagonal
spaces for the wagon and pillow, and the trees
better chance to expand, in proportion to
measurement by acre.
CULTIvATIoN.-Fruit trees need as much
cultivation as corn and potatoes, and should
have it-not for one year or FIVE, but forever
or as long as they pay for it IN fruit. But
the cultivation should not be continued too
late in the summer, lest late and conse-
quently immature wood growth should en-
in relation to all tender wooded sorts, like
the peach and pear. You can raise any kind
of hoed crop you please among fruit trees.
Beans. potatoes, vines, roots, DC, best; and
corn is good when not shading the young
trees too much.
Never "seed doacn" young orchard
Never let one of the forage grasses get a
foothold in it. It is next to impossible to
L. 90 4 al
when once established in an old orchard.
Red clover is sometimes. admissible, to check
too luxuriant wood-growth, in deep, rich
loan. "Small grains" neUer. A crop of
rye, barley, oats, or wheat, is worse than
fire blight" and caterpillars among fruit
trees.
A shallow-running corn plow, ''cultiva-
tor" and four tined fork, or pronged hoe,
and common hoe, are the implements of cul.
tivatiou. Keep the spade out of the or
chard, and the large pillow. too, after the trees
begin to bear.
MANURING ORcHARps.-I have left this
till the last, because it is the last thing to
practice, except in rare instances; as driving
sand, which may be helped by clay, leached
ashes, and cow manure, and barren clay
seldom found-which, after thorough drain
age aud exposure to winter frosts, by au-
tumn blowing, may be made good by early
applications of coarse stable or horee ma
nure, peaty earth, and like matters. Mapur-
ing. to sustain fruitfulness, is another thing,
aud is not much needed in most orchards
west, till the trees have been years in bear
ing: and, as often given at planting. it is a
great damage, and sometimes death to fruit
trees. When you manure bearing orchards,
let it be in autumn: spread evenly, and pillow
under lightly in spring, but be careful to