Sharp County record., 1880-09-09
When to Plant Fruit Trees.

| fcient number of trees to constitute a
large orchard. They defer the time
when they can enjoy grapes and wine
till they are so situated that they can
plant and tend a good sized vineyard.
Some do not plant vines and fruit trees
when they commence to improve farm,
because they have not the spare means
with which to procure necessary stock,
while others wait till they have con-
siderable body of land in good condition
for an orchard and vineyard. They are
desirous of commencing Embarrassing on
a large scale.
The best time to prepare for raising
fruit is when one commences to improve
farm. If he has only sufficient means
to purchase one apple, pear and cherry
tree, and single grapevine, let these
be procured, set out in good locations,
and properly taken care of. They will
begin to bear in a few years, and long
before the owner is prepared to plant
his extensive orchard and vineyard, he
will have a considerable amount of fruit
Of his own raising. There are few farm
ers so poor that they can not purchase
half dozen trees each year, and if these
are well cultivated they will soon sup
ply family with fruit. By roofing the
cuttings taken from single grapevine
one may soon have large number of
vines and good supply of grapes al
most without cost.
By planting few trees, vines and
bushes each year farmer gradually be-
comes accustomed to their care, and
learns much from experience which he
can not derive from books. By manag-
ing few trees and vines he will learn
how to take proper care of a large
orchard and vineyard. There are many
other advantages in commencing fruit
raising on limited scale. A few trees,
vines and bushes are likely to receive
very good attention, as they require but
comparatively little cultivation. With
a large orchard, vineyard or garden OF
small fruit, the case is different. They
demand constant labor, often for week
at time, and this amount of labor can
not well be spared from the cultivation
of annual crops. As consequence, the
fruit trees and vines are neglected.
1t is by no means necessary to wait
till one has large plOtof land prepared
for an orchard or vineyard before COM
mencing to set out trees and vines.
There is economy in the labor required
in cultivation to have trees and vines
arranged in long rows, but the best re-
suits are not generally obtained when
the planting is done iii that way. Not
only the largest, but the most vigorous,
long-lived, and productive fruit trees
and vines are generally found standing
alone. Their roots extend q long dis
tance and obtain a sufficient supply of
nourishment. Their growth is not re-
tarded by want of air or sunlight. Every
portion of them being visible, they are
likely to be kept well pruned and free
from insects. When tree or vine
stands in an isolated position the sun
strikes the soil Immediately upon the
roots and causes it to put out leaves and
! blossoms early in the spring. A perfect
ripening of the fruit is also insured.
There. are generally hooks, corners,
and small spaces about the farm build
ings, which are not cultivated, on which
trees and vines can be planted to excel
lent advantage. A grape vine set out
where the wash water can be poured
about it will make very vigorous
growth and be very productive. A tree
planted near the termination of the
drain from the sinks or cellar will rarely
fail to attain a very large size and to be
very productive. There are often un-
slightly holes near the farm buildings
| that might be filled with manure, bones,
and rubbish, and converted into admira-
BILE places for producing grapes. Peach
trees will often do we'll when planted in
places sheltered by buildings, though
the climate may be too severe for them
to endure when planted on portions of
the farm which are exposed to the cold
winds.
The banks of ravines and streams are
excellent locations for planting fruit
trees, which very rarely fail to do well.
The drainage is always excellent, and in
the case of banks of streams there is
water within easy reach Of the roots.
Trees planted on the banks of streams
are not liable to suffer from either an eX-
cess or scarcity of moisture. Streams
from whatever source derived carry
along considerable amount of fertiliz-
ing material that trees on their banks
appropriate. Trees growing on the
banks of streams are almost invariably
thrifty and productive. They benefit
the streams themselves by preventing
the washing of the banks and retarding
the evaporation of the water. As the
land on the banks of streams and ra-
vines is yalueless for purposes Of culti-
vation, the growth of trees upon them
is an absolute gain.
A stream or ravine skirted by fruit
trees or grapevines presents a very beau
tiful appearance, and does much to i'm
prove the looks of farm. Apple trees
of the more stately varieties afford very
good shade for stock, especially for
sheep. Apple trees will do well when
planted on ground that is too broken or
rocky to be plowed. 1t may be neces-
sary to be at considerable pains in max
ing hole in which to place the roots,
but as the land is nearly valueless for
other purposes the production of valua.
BILE trees will more than compensate for
the labor required. In the Eastern
States large proportion of the best