The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-03-15
How Far Apart Shall we
Plant Apple Trees.

EDITORS News: The article
which 1 clip from the Western
Rural) I herewith hand you is of
such vast importance, just at this
time, that am constrained to ask it's
in your paper.
do most heartily endorse the
idea of planting apple trees as much |
as forty feet apart, especially in the
where land is so abundant
and cheap. 1 set my first orchard
33 feet apart, and I find by actual
that they are too close
the branches iDterlocking, Cand also
the roofs of course,) and the ground
is too much shaded. We shall be
much more likely TO cultivate our
orchards well if we have room to
cultivate something between them
OF value. find that corn is q good
crop, as it protects the young trees
from the hot summers sun. 1t does
not hinder the growth of the trees
as 1 can see. Soil kept in good con-
dition for corn, is in good condition
to promote the growth of apple
trees.
l know some orchards recently
set out, the owners of which would
find it hundreds of dollars to their
advantage if they would take up 2
out of every 3 trees, and then en-
large the area of ground set. They
perhaps have q theory. By the way,
1 consider the Western Rural, Chi
cago, q very valuable paper on ac-
count of the large number of good,
common sense, practical articles it
contains. Yours truly.
J. NJ. MILLER.
There is q great difference of
opinion en- this subject. When the
land is poor and thin the roots will
be less numerous and must spread
for long distances in every direc-
ton to get the nourishment needed.
On poor soil it is very necessary TO
give the trees plenty of room. Our
densest forests and thickest turf
grow on soil which is very rich.
In planting an apple orchard, as
in most other operations, it gener-
ally pays to do the work well.
When properly taken care of, after
twenty years, many varieties of ap-
pie trees will spread twenty feet in
each direction, and some spread
further, as noticed in the orchard OF
Mr.. BailY, few weeks ago. The
rapidity of growth and the longeVi.
ty of the trees depend much on the
soil and climate as well as on the
variety of fruit. I have several Or
chards in mine in which the trees
were planted closely together with
in fifteen or twenty feet of each 9TH
er. Some of these were SO planted
because the owners had a theory
that the trees would the better stand
the rigors of severe cold winters
and hot summers. One of the or.
chards was set twenty years ago OF
sandy land. The trees grew well
for a few years, till they shaded al
the ground. They were we'll cult.
ter shading the ground they begaI
to run up for more air and more
light. At present the orchard is o
no value and never will be excep
for fire-Wood. 1t was q poor in
Vestment, chiefly because the tree
were planted too near to each other
One of the other orchards wa
planted on good, rich land. Thu
trees behaved much as in the pre-
viOus case, though they bore gooC
fruit in considerable quantity TO
some years, when they crowded
died or split down, and to-day
when only about twenty-eight year
old, the orchard is of little value
T, On q neighboring farm with simila
Z soil, another orchard was set at tn
j same time. The latter has born
: the most fruit and is still apparent
l. ly good for many more years c
r profit to the owner.
In ordinary good loamy soil, or i
: poor light soil, the roots of an ar
pie tree, when fifteen years old, ez
. tend twenty-five or twenty-ei9t
l. feet in all directions. This is not
J. theory but q fact, as have repea
q eddy seen the roots as describe
3, while putting in tile or while dis
y giDg for the purpose of ezamiuin
9 the roots. The feeders of the roo
Is the root-haiPs-are renewed ever
J. few weeks during the grown
e season. The small roots fro
d. which the root-hairs grow are ais
o often renewed. I mean these di
l. and others take their places or otl
rs or places not far away. In tn
i manner roots are all the time feet
ing on new ground. Doubtless, g
20 ter g time, much ground is fed oy,
n search for food as animals search fl
d it, but they grow where they fl
3 the best soil and they will thel
Oh multiply in the greatest abundanc
T. For long-lived trees and the be
r results, am satisfied that laFj
" varieties of apple trees should n
y be planted Nearer than forty fee
d if they are set in sqQares. Th
OF gives not q whit too much air al
IL light for the tops and, as has bet
shown, the roots will soon occupy {
m the ground and make good use of
o. While the apple trees are young, If d
he sired, other crops may occupy the
le tervening spaces. 1 prefer to set tire
ne in squares because it Is the simple
T. RAo1S on0 OCCoASC ~ - CoSlCE u
a. cultivation. A mentioned, the roc
"a will run all through the soil, eY,
IL crossing one ANOTHER at long distanc
between two trees.
IT the trees are of varieties which
not grow fast or become large, thu
20 may be planted nearer together thi
~ forty feet. If, Ike the Wagner, tn
70 begin 70 bear Onng and are allow
g. to bear and get ready to die by G
IL time they are fifteen years old, tn
to may be planted onlytwenty or tWent
Or fiYe feet apart. Trees are often injU
ID ed planting to closely, seldom by ha
a. ing too much room. One tree does q
id protect another by growing very ne
m it. On the contrary, one rObs the OF
"A or. Our strongest, finest ornament
n and forest trees grow In open spac
- where there is plenty OF room a
where the soil and climate are suit
~ TO their natures.-Prof. w. J. Beal,
G Rural New Yorker.
n Ben Wade was buried in jeff
le son Cemetery, Ohio, on the 81