Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-11-26
GRANGE DIRECTORY.
Starting Apple Orchards

| PNhooi AouSe. III CRY lOWubuip, Oh TUESDAY
: f. LITTLE Sec.
Starting Apple Orchards
The value of a generous supply of
good apples in the family is begin
ming to be under TODD by almos,
every one; yet there are many farmers
and rural residents sti | without an
orchard. The securing of other nee
essities has caused delay in plant
ing fruit trees. With thousands
every year the period arrives to make
the beginning; and until then but
little thought is given to the location
of an orchard or to the varieties best
adapted to the climate. Generally
the first question to be considered is
the selection of the location. With
many there is but Ii tie choice in the
situation. If the chief object is the
supply of fruit tor the family the con.
venience of access will constitute an
important eliment in the solution of
the question. All such persons will
desire to have the planting done near
the dwelling-housc. But even here
the most elevated site should be pre-
felred. as elevation is often a condi-
ton that secures crop against the
effects of late spring trosts, and be-
sides trees will aid in protecting the
building from rude blasts, and the
foliage will al afford a pleasing
background to the rural landscape.
Where more extensive orcharding is
contemplated, with view to send
Tie fruit to market, if 4 more elevat-
ed and favorable location can be
made, more remote from the dwell
ing, convenience must often yield
to considerations of profit. For it is
well known that valleys are colder
than hills, and Il few feet elevation
will sometimes secure a crop when
in the valleys it would be entirely
cut off. As you approach the more
southern ATTITUDES this danger from
frost increases. Another important
consideration in favor of more ele-
waited situation for an orchard is, par
ticularly where Il rich soil prevails,
that on the elevated grounds, beside
having the advantage of throwing off
the excess Of water from the surface,
the soil is generally more porous and
dry and tavors a more healthy
growth than the valleys or flat lands.
If the soil is not naturally porous and
dry undertaking is indespensably
necessary to insure profitable crops.
After the most favorable location
has been chosen the next most i'm
portant step to be taken is in the
preparation Of the soil for apple
trees.
IT the ground is sufficiently dry
without undertaking it should be
deeply trench-plowed and the soil
thoroughly puJverized. If the land
is not rich it should be MANFRED and
the manure thoroughly incorporated
with the soil; as fresh manure should
never come in contact, i'll any con-
siderable quantity, with the roots OF
newl y-planted trees. Rich earth
from the woods or from the fence
corners, where the ground requires
enriching, is best to be placed around
the roots of trees, Large holes
should be dug and filed in with the
rich earth some time before planting
SO that the rains may settle it, and
that the trees when established shall
stand no deeper in the ground than
they did in the nursery.
Great injury is often done by plant
ing trees too deep. The roots require
certain degree OF heat and air to
thrive well, and too deep planting
deprives them of these essentials. If
All orchard is to be planted i'll the
spring it is best to put the ground in
order in the fall, because the soil will
be improved by the action Of the
frost, and there is no time to be lost
when the planting is deferred till
spring. But the work should be done
the first favorable weather and before
the circulation Of sap begins. There
are several considerations in favor of
spring planting, and generally it may
be regarded as the best season. 1t
the soil selected for the orchard is of
a dry, porous character, and the sea-
son has been favorable for the ripen-
ing of the wood of the young trees
in the nursery, trees may be planted
in the fall. At that season there is
generally more leisure to do the work
well, and if properly done and the
trees properly supported with stakes,
or if cone of earth is thrown up
around the base of the trees to give
them support, no injury would be
sustained. When the painting is put
off till spring it is too frequently done
in hurry or deferred until too late
after the circulation of the sap has
commenced and the young rootlets
have put out. Then the trees often
sustain serious check in their growth
from the loss of these young roots
and from the dry weather that fire.
quently ensues before the rams have
thoroughly settled the earth about the
roots.
Where the subsoil is SO compact
that is difficult for the roots of trees
to stick downward, our practice has
been to mark out land, say twelve
feet, where row Of trees is to be
planted, and pillow this land three or
four times, throwing the furrow
slices outward. In this way broad
midale furrow may be worked open
two feet in depth. Then reverse the
blowing SO as to level off the ground,
and plant the trees on the surface OF
deeply-pulverized seed-bed.-A. Y.
Herald.
If the stable is comfortable, no
horse should be blanketed at night.
Much mischief is done by keeping
animals too warm. The coat is great
ly thickened as cold weather ap-
proaches, and provision is made by
nature for the change of season.
Good ventilation is absolutely neces-
Sarv and q tamparature Of 40 > in