The Hickman courier., 1872-11-09
Starting an Orchard

StaFllIS an OGcnaru-
First, be sure you get varieties
suited to your climate many varie-
ties are worthless when removed to
a lower latitude than that in which
they originated. See 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.
Fruit trees do we'll transplanted
any time from the beginning OF
winter to within few days of the
time for the buds to expand in the
spring. Most fruit trees put forth
small tibrous roots in January, which
late transplanting destroys. For
this reason as we'll 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 lard with deep rich soil, but
as this is not always attaina6le, we
have 10 remedy The defective nature
of the land by terracing or hillside
/ ditching and manuring. 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 500 as to retain as
much of the S IL as possible, and to
lay off the rows equidist4nt from
the ditch. On medium land the
peach, pear and cherry should be
plated Is to 20 feet, and apple 20 to
% feet each way. Farther north,
where trees suffer for want of light
and air, they are planted 80 to 40
feet apart but here under our sum
mer sun, the apple suffers from the
intense neat unless the trees stand
thick enough to sRtde the ground
aud check to some extent the evapo-
ration from the soil
After having laid off the rows each
way the desired width, dig 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 IN compost, adding half
peck of lime II there is none In the
land, and mix with soil to fill the
hole. Set the tree about as deep rs
1t ood in the nursery, with its
roots Strengthened out in their natu-
raj position Fill in the compost, and
tread down firmly till even with the
surrounding surface Set n stake
on each side, to hold the tree upright,
and TO protect it from injury il
cultivation. Now tie handful of
split broomsedge or split corn stalks
around each tree, to protect It from
rabbits. 1t IS always beneficial to
mulch fruit trees, and suppose po-
tato vines are an excellent article for
that purpose Almost any kind of
litter will answer.
As general rule, it is best in this
climate TO train all fruit trees with
short bodies and low compact heads,
to protect the bodies from the sun.
This can be done By shortening back
until shoots start where they are de-
sired to grow. All pruning should
toe done IN summer, and while the
branches are small. The wounds
will then heal readily and leave the
tree. Observe carefully the number
and position of the branches, and
remove those at once which viii be
superfluous. or that will cross and
rub each other when the tree has at
tained its full size. A young orchard
needs thorough cultivation Neither
peas nor cotton will injure the trees,
If enough vegetable manure is ap-
piled to keep the soil rich. Neither (
will potatoes injure them, unless, in /
drawing the soil for the hills the /
small fibrous roots which permeate +
the soil are injured or destroyed.
After the trees come into full I
bearing, they viii need no further
cultivation, except to be kept clean
Of weeds and grass, and to have a
top-dressing of manure occasionally.
Most men make the same mistake
Subscriber" proposes to make.
After having brought their orchards
into bearing, with much care and
so'icitude, they SOW in rye. oats or
grass, so as to let the hogs run on
in fruit time and in few years the
stunted appearance of fruit and
foliage convinces them that this is
no fruit country, and they give up
their orchards in despair, not con
siaering that the lree, in fruiting,
needs all the food and moisture In
reach of its roots, while the larger
portion is pumped up and ap-
propriated by the grain or grass.