The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-10-15
SETTING OUT TREES.

The following practical directions fol
transplanting fruit trees are furnished by
i Barry, of the Mount Hope Nurseries, t
the Rochester Democrat:
The SOIL FOR FRUIT TREEs.-The aver
age soil to be found in the garden of any
part Of our city is good enough in its natu
raj state All it needs is a good deep plow
ing or sPading, to fit it for the trees. i
must be free from stagnant water. No one
would think of permitting the garden which
surrounds his dwelling to remain a swamp.
For health's sake the drainage must be
perfect. The health of fruit trees eQuires
this too.
How TO NT.-Inexperienced persons
are very apt to make a great fuss over the
planting Of tree, or they will run to the
other extreme and cram it into the ground
a they would a bean pole. Very common
errors are planting too deeply and applying
manure around the roots. No manure Is
needed ut time of plantiug-wait till the
tree gets to growing and then apply the
manure, if needed, on the surface of the
ground over the roots.
Dig a hole large enough and deep enough
TO receive the roots, spread out in their
natural way, and so that the tree will stand
no deeper in the ground than it did in the
nursery then fill in good surface earth
among the roots carefully, filling every
the roots covered, then begin to pack the
earth as it goes in, and keep packing firmly
till the work IS complete. To the errors |
have already mentioned-deep planting and
manure at the roots-I will add the other
loose planting, which is very general and
very fatal Don't be afraid of making the
earth too firm about the roots.
THE USE OF WATER PLANTING.-It is
very common to pour water around the
roots of a tree at planting, without stop
ping to inquire why. Unless the soil is ex-
tremely dry, in the spring, and the tree has
already commenced to grow, water does
more harm than good. Aud right here it
may well be said, if dry weather ensues
after planting so as to affect the tree, do not
sprinkle every day, but remove two inches
of the surface over the roots and pour water
enough to go clear down to the lowest roots
replace the earth and mulch with little
hay, or grass, or straw, or tan bark, or
something to prevent rapid evaporation.
Seldom will any more water be needed.
WHAT KIND OF TREES TO PLANT-Most
people want large trees, must have large
trees; when the planting humor comes
patience seems to be lost-must have trees
that will bear right away. Looking at
trees Just of the proper size they will ex-
claim "WhO could wait for such whips to
bear Y' eve may all be in our caves be-
fore that time. True enough, there may
be exceptional cases when a few large trees,
removed and planted with extraordinary
care, may be success, but in general way
the trees that plant most successfully and
thrive best after planting, and ultimately
make the most healthy, productive and
long-lived trees, are those transplanted
young-say apples three to four years, pears
and plums two to four years, cherries two
years, peaches one year. The age means
L II 1 1.
reference to the age of the stock grated or
budded upon. The older the tree the
greater the check in transplanting, and
this is why the young trees will overtake
and pass the older and larger tree in the
race of growth.
But whatever may be the age, size or
character of your tree look well to its roots.
Have them all, or as many of them as may
be possible, preserved from mutilatiOn or
injury of any kind and protect them from
the air, so that they will not be dried to
death before you get them in the ground.
/ see people every year handling trees as If
they We're dry brush, and it should be an
indictable offence.
WHAT ABOUT PRUNING AT THE TINE
OF TRANsPLANTING ?-This is a mooted
question, but long experience shows that
whatever theory may teach, it is safe to
shorten back the branches at time of plant
ing; this by reducing the number of leaf
buds. and consequently leaves, reduce their
evaporating power while the tree is forming
new roots and getting used to its new home.
a good rule, as far we can make rule,
is TO cut back the young shoots to two or
three buds at the base, and where shoots
are too close cut out some of them alto
gether.
How FAR APART SHOULD TREES Pc
PLANTED?-The average distances may be
given as follows; Standard trees-Apples
80 feet, pears and cherries 20 feet, the small
er class of cherries will do very well at -
10 Is feet; plums, peaches, apricots and
nectarines, 10 to Is feet, ounces 10 to II
feet Dwarf trees - Apples on paradise
stock six feet apart, and nothing in the
whole range of fruit culture is more inter-
esting than these miniature apple trees,
three or four feet in height and the same in
diameter, whether in blossom or fruit. Pears,
cherries and plums, ten to twelve feet
Currants. gooseberries, and raspberries,
three four, feet. These distances can of
course be varied to suit circumstances
How TO LIVE CHEAPLY-''I find"
says female writer in the Golden Rule,
|'by reference to my family expense
book, that for the past nine months the
whole cost Of the cooked provisions for
each member of my family AVERAGED