The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-10-18

perature. We should have hardy va
rieties to begin with and grow these
in localities and in a manner that will
develop in the highest degree their
power of endurance. These two
points are so intimately connected
that cannot separate them with any
satisfaction to myself or justice to the
subject. This question of protection
is never ending trouble to all fruit
growers except those who by choice
or necessity plant upon the bleak hill
tops or cool northern slopes. We find
these locations growing varieties with
great success. that on the reverse or in
SUNNY, sheltered locations, are a to-
tai failure. Aud we find the warmer
these locations and soil, the more hope
less the case. This is not accident, but
in conformity TO law, as plain as any
thing in the realm of nature. Vital
force aud the power OF resistance in
all organic life are developed by
healthy exercise. SO hardihood and
health in tree are enhanced by free
circulation of air. The wind is the
great equalizer of temperature. Our
greatest extremes are when no air is
in motion; and the cold autumn winds
are a necessity to prepare our trees
for the inevitable extremes OF winter.
The physical world is made up of
opposing elements, yet these form the
grand harmony of nature, and we are
to solve the problem of adaptation.
Do we need windbreaks Yes,
whole forests of them for general
amelioration of our climate; for the
retention of the rainfall; and as breaks
to the sweeping currents of dry air
which come to US from the vast sultry
plains of the southwest, and the cold
boreas of the northwest. We need
our dwellings and outbuildings shell
tered from the summer heats and win
ter blasts, and no class of trees are so
effective aud economical for this pur-
pose as our hardy evergreens. ! would
have an American arbor vit@ set on
the south side of every apple or pear
tree, and six feet distant, in all situa-
tons not most favorable for the health
of the trees.
Culture-But one general principle
can preveil with thoughtful, progress
sive fruit growers. The tree must be
placed where it can have regular and
abundant nourishment, either from
the native soil or that artiiicially sup
piled by the cultivator; aud the same
careful management will not allow
any other crop to grow, to the detri
ment of the tree and its fruit. In the
best average soil for fruit trees, as in
dictated under that head, for the young
orchard, good culture of tho whole
surface, in early summer with some
heed crop, and little or no culture in
the after part of summer and tall, with
thorough banking of soil, and good
broad winter mulch, retaining frost
in early spring, is the sum and sub
stance of "good culture" Where the
trees in full bearing and occupy
most of the space, the orchard may be
seeded with clover alone, the second
crop of which, turned every two years
viii keep the ground in fair condition,
provided ii has light dressing Of
manure the alternate year when not
plowed. Buckwheat in the orchard
has proved all excellent cultiyator, es
pecially if left to decay on the ground.
If so done, one blowing in May win
suffice for the next season, aud thor
ough dragging and smoothing about
the first of June will complete the
work, as the self-seeding will clothe
the ground very soon after. This
treatment is especially recommended
for old orchards, the culture of the
space between the drip of the tree
tops is of far more Importance than
that Of the soil Immediately about the
tree; in fact the latter is nothing in
comparison with the formes in secur-
ing growth.
My idea Of the coming orchard cul-
ture of the northwest is as follows:
Have the surface of the ground made
smooth aud level, or with gentle undu-
lations only, then with scythe, hand or
pony mower, shave smoothly the grass
or weeds from the entire surface, ev-
cry two weeks or less. The crop thus
shorn should be used as mulch, either
where it falls or nearer the trees. The
roots of vegetation thus cropped will
not run deep nor draw largely from
the soil. This treatment may require
on lean soils an annual top dressing
of fine manure, ashes, lime or compost
to keep up the supply of nutriment,
especially in old orchards. Trees in
excessively rich soils must have some
starving process applied to prevent
excessive and late growth. In such
soils permanent grass will be better
than culture, but frequent moving Of
the crop should be practiced in all cir
cumstances. | think seeding with rye
in August, to be pastured lightly the
next summer, would be good treat
ment for such soils.
Pasturing the orchard, in the ordi-
nary sense, is not good practice, as it
compacts the soil around the trees in
the dryest weather of summer and au-
tumn, preventing absorption and re-
tention of water and leaving the
ground in the most favorable condi-
ton for root killing the following
winter. Plenty of moisture in the soil
when winter sets in is guaranty of
safety to the roots, if retained by
slight mulch.
| have given these questions of spe-
cial location, soil and culture the
greater limit in this paper, because
they lie at the foundation of success
ful fruit growing in the northwest,
and beside which, the variations of
degree or two of latitude in the limits
of our State become a secondary ques-
ton. In all the settled portions of
our Stata south of latitude fOrty-fiyp
are marked instances of success as
well as of failure, in which the lati-