Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-12-15
FRUIT CULTURE m NORTHERN
so ~ IOWA /. 81 s.


by John G.. Lifts, on "Fruit Gull
ture," and as Mr.. Lifts askcs others
to give their methods, l give you
mine. Though my home is here in
Allamakee county, yet l have visit
ed many orchards in Buchanan
county and from what I saw there,
would think the selection of va:ie-
ties and mode of cultivation that
would be best here would also be
best there. Mr.. L. gives a list Of
varieties he has himself planted.
Though he does not say he recon-
mends them as best, yet l know
many of them as among the best,
while there are few l would not
plant.
As it is all important here that
the planter should plant only varie-
ties that in their nature are adapt
ed to our climate, I will give list,
dealing only with the harder Tor
nearly SOY, that in my own exper-
fence, and much observation, have
found succeeding best.
For an orchard of 200 trees,
would set for Summer: Tetofski,
Red Astrachan, Sops of Wine and
Oldenburg; Fall: Saxton, st. Law
renee, Fall Orange and Gros Po-
mier; Winter: Famcuse, Jonathan,
Perry Russell, Talman Sweeting,
Raules Janet, Golden Russet and
Ben Davis. I give them as ripcn-
ing in succession, the Tetofski first
and Ben Davis last, and am really
believing the last to be our most
profitable winter apple, though ma
ny are rather against it. There
are 10 trees one mile south of me as
| write, set seven years last spring,
that have borne four crops, 40
bushels this year, and the fruit is
liked by all who know it. l would
prefer to dig trees any time in De-
tober and bury through winter;
bury as soon as dug, the whole tree,
being careful to mix fine earth well
among the roots, so there is no open
space, and cover some two feet
deef the roots, tops just covered to
exclude them from the air. But l
want the roots deep enough, so that
the earth will not got dry through
winter, and so injure by the too d.
rect action Of the frost. Trees so
buried come out perfect in the
spring; the ends of the young
shoots have not dried out during
our long, cold, dry winter.
About aspect. l seoula plant my
orchard acHere Z scdnte0 it. If the
land was not quite suitable, would
make it so. l would rather hare
Aiyh, dry, poor land, but would not
stick my orchard back in some back
field to get it. If it is not quite dry,
ridge it up and make it dry; if too
rich, plant not only the hardest,
but the iron-clads; cultivate early
and let grass grow to take the
moisture of the soil late in the sea-
son. In preparing the land, would
pillow it deeper than for any other
crop; one ought to pillow with three
or four horses; turning a backfnr-
row for each row Of trees, twenty
two feet apart, running north and
south; would set the trees in these
rows only fifteen feet apart; thus
close for their mutual protection
If / wanted more protection would
plant another row of apple trees.
Do not plant too early; about
corn planting, or when the buds on
the trees already out are opening
Prepare the tree for planting by
cutting back the ends of any roots
cat or bruised in digging, to ioe
cood. If there is much loss Of
roots, cut back the ends of all the
limbs, one half or two-thirds of the
last seasons growth. If roots are
plenty, l set the tree without thus
cutting back the limbs, and watch
it; if it does not leaf out al soon as
it ought, | then cut back. l would
cut back spring-dug trees at plant
ing, roots or no roots. If the
ground has been properly plowed,
all the hole necessary is to let the
roots have their natural POSITION
BE careful to work the fine earth in
among the roots; cover as deep as
when in the nursery, then pour on
q half pail Of water; not shake the
tree or tramp the ground; let it
stand until the water is settled away;
then fill up two or three inches, and
the thing is "did," only mulch well
soon after with half rotten straw;
enough so the ground cannot dry |
out around the roots, as they must |
have moisture, and it is scarce
sometimes, in this country.
have removed the earth OH top
of the roots and poured in water,
putting back the earth, and mulched
again, and thus saved trees this dry
season that to all appearances would
have died, without water; but wa
tering top of the ground, ! never
do.
think an orchard should have
at least one-half of the ground, &C.
n 4 -