The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-11-14
Starting an Orchard.

|'NN INN
suited to your climate many varie-
ties are worthless when removed to
u lower latitude than that in which
they originated, Sec that your trees
have young sound vigorous roots.
Plant none but those which have
been dwarfed by too frequent trans
planting this can be told by the
crooked gnarled appearance OF the
roots.
Fsuit trees do well tr%ansplanted
any time from the beginning OF
winter to within a few days Of the
time for the buds to expand in the
spring. Most fruit trees put forth
small tibrous rootsi n January, which
late transplanting destroys. For
this reason as well as to allow the
tree to become well established in
the ground before the growing sea
son commences, | prefer transplant
ing in early winter.
The apple and pear do best on
level land with n deep rich soil, but
rs this is not always attainaole, we
have to remedy the detective nature
of the land by ~terracing or hillside
ditching and %manuriug, When the
ground selected for an orchard is
steep enough for the soil to wash off
and leave the roots exposed, it is
best to commence by cutting hillside
bitches and throwing the dirt on
the upper side so as to retain as
much Of the soil as possible, and to
lay of the rows equidistant from
the ditch. On medium land the
peach, pear and cherry should be
plated Is to 20 feet, and apple 20 to
20 feet each way. Farther north,
where trees suffer for want of light
and air, they are planted 30 to 40
feet apart but here under our sum
mer sun, the apple suffers from The
intense heat unless the trees stand
thick enough to shade the ground
ard check to some extent the eyapo-
ration from the soil.
After having laid off the rows each
way the desired width, dig u hole at
each intersection three feet square
and two feet deep, keeping the soil
and clay separate take half bushel
well rotted) stable manure or its
equivalent i'll compost, adding half a
peck Of lime ii there is none in the
and, and mix with sell to fill the
lole. Set the tree about as deep us
t stood in the nursery, with its
'oots Strengthened out in their natu.
az position Fill in the compost, and
read down firmly till even with the
surrounding surface. Set a stake
N each side, to hold the tree upright,
TO protect it from injury in
ultivation. Now tie y handful of
pitt broomsedge or split corn stalks
round each tree, to protect it from
abbits. 1t is always beneficial to
lulch fruit trees, and L suppose pc.
vines I an excellent article for !
nat purpose Almost any kind Of
tier will answer.
AS a general rule, it is best in this
Innate to train all fruit trees with q
hort bodies and low compact heads, $
protect the bodies from the sun.
his can be done by shortening back /
ntll shoots start where they are de- /
red to grow. All pruning should
o done in summer, and while the {
ranches are small. The wounds :
i'll then heal readily and leave the
zee. Observe carefully the number :
nd position of tho branches, and .
emove those ut once which will be
lperiluous, or that will cross and $
lb each other when the tree has at !
aimed its full size. A young orchard
eeds thorough cultivation. Neither
cas- nor cotton will %injure the trees,
enough vegetable manure is up i
lied to keep the soil rich. Neither
potatoes i%njure them, unless, in
rawing the soil for tho hills the
nall tibrous roots which permeate
lo soil are injured or destroyed.
After the trees come into full
they will need no further
%lItlvatlon, except to be kept clean
weeds and grass, and to have II
addressing of manure occasionally. :
Most men make the same mistake ]
Subscriber" proposes to make. I
fter having brought their orchards \
ITO bearing, with much care and o
'Iicitude, they SOW in rye. oats or v
so as to let the hogs run on re
fruit time, and in a few years the G
united appearance Of fruit and
conyinces them hat this is 4
0 fruit country, and they give up al
lelr orchards in despair, not con IT.
that the tree, in fruiting,
eeds all the food and moisture in
'ach Ct its roots, while the larger
ortioa is pumped up and APP II
'opriated by the grain or grass. O'
The wealth of Na~arro county has .
N,ll..l .., IL 1900 80