Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-16
Cultivating Orchards.

A great difference Of opinion seems to
exist among well informed horticulturists.
as to the culture an orchard should re-
ccive.
1t seems to ME that there are some gene
raj principles of tree culture, that might
be definitely settled, SO that there need be
no conflicting theories First, it may be
considered an axiom in vegetable physi-
ology that the roots of all trees and
plants flourish best in the surface soil
where vegetable mold abounds, where
they may be reached by the atmosphere
with its nutritious gases, the heat of the
sun, light. rains and dcws, in the space
included between three inches and ten
inches in depth. The truth of this po
sition being granted, it then follows that
our culture should be such as to encourage
the roots in this surface soil, though the
earth should not be stirred to greater
depth than three inches above the roots.
The first year after planting, the roots
of an apple tree extend but few feet
from its base, beyond which the soil may
be plowed. and hoed crops raised, pro
vided the fertility is kept up by liberal
manuing.
The trees should he cultivated and
hoed, as well as the crops, but no plow
should be allowed to tear through the
delicate net work of roots forming around
the tree.
The next year greater space must be
exempt from the pillow, around the trees.
1t is estimated that, as rule, the roots
of tree extend about twice rs far from
the tree as do its branches, and if we
would avoid tearing them, we must keep
that distance from the tree with the plow.
We could pass over the spaces allotted
to the roots of the trees with the harrow,
the cultivator, Or the hoe, but with the
pillow, never.
So year after year, the spaces between
the trees which it is proper to pillow, be-
comes less and less, until after the lapse
of ten or fifteen years, Il thrifty orchard
with trees from "a to 30 feet apart, will
extend their roots all over its surface
when the growing of other crops and the
use of the plow should cease.
Then the entire energies of the soil
should be devoted to the production of
fruit, but its cultivation should continue.
The weeds and grass should be kept down,
and the surface kept mellow. | know of
no better implement for this purpose than
the two horse wheel cultivator with a
harrow. Passing over the SUFFICE re
peatcdly has a tendency to pack the
earth, but the teeth of the cultivator lift
ing it, throws it up loose and mellow.
No worse treatment can be given an
orchard than to NOW it for succession
of years 1t is robbing the trees Of their
proper alimcnt for the benefit of the hay
crop.
l have given above, the method in
which should cultivate Young orchard,
from planting until it comes into full
bearing. But suppose we have an old
orchard that has been in sod a number
of years, what shall be done with it?
We might do worse than to let it re-
main in sod, either pasturing it with |
sheep or swine, or moving it and allow
ing the grass to rot on the ground Some
of the best bearing orchards ever knew
had been in sod twenty or more years
But if were 10 break up such sod, it
would be with Il very shallow f,rrow, not
to exceed three inches in depth.
would like to say something about
pruning fruit trees, but have already made
this article too long-P g. Reynolds,
Rochester, ". r., IN Countrymaa.