Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-11
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
TIE RECORD UNION"
Distance of Fruit Trees Epart-The Au
tumn spring-A Boom in Hop
Culture-Etc

In our remarks upon the sui jsct OF plant.
ing out fruit orchards we have heretofore
omitted any reference to the important SUBJ
iect of the distance apart they should be
planted. It is evident that some kinds of
trees may be planted much nearer than 9th.
ers. It is also evident that the soil may be
an important factor in deciding the distance
apart trees should be planted. Another con-
sideration may be ths system adopted and
carried ont as to pruning the trees. As to
the kind Of trees, apple trees should be plant
ed further apart than pear trees, for
the reason that apple trees grow
larger than pear trees, and for the
firther reason that the habit of the apple i.
to spread much more than the pear tree. The
roots OF apple trees also run farther, and ex.
tract more moisture from the soil than near
trees do, and require more nourishment.
For these reasons they should be planted
further apart. Both pear and apple trees
should be planted further apart than peach
trees, for the reason that the ars longer.
lived trees and grow to be larger than does
the peach. As to the apricot and nectarine
their habits of growth are similar to those of
the peach, and the rule that applies to the
former may also be properly applied to the
latter. The question of soil is complicated
one as to the distance apart that trees should
be planted. II on a deep, rich soil, it is eyi.
dent that trees Of all kinds will tend Co grow
longer than on shallow, poor soil. And il
is also evident that there is greater fertility
in small space on such rich soil than in
larger space on such poor soil. The one fact.
therefore, should seem to be reason wtv
trees should be planted further apart 80 that
their spreading and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
branches should not intertwine ard shade
each other and the fruit thew bear
The same fact, viz. the richness Of
the soil, would seem on the other hand
20 be reason why they might be planted
nearer together, for the reason that there ia
fertility sufficient In the soil TO support in a
luxuriant state any number Of trees to a given
space. On the other hand, in shallow and
poor soil, trees will remain comparatively
small, and it would seem, therefore, that
they might without ir jury be planted nearer
together. There Is, however, another and
contrary reason in this question, to wit: if
the soil Is shallow and lean it will not give to
trees sufficient nourishment if they be planted
near together, and therefore it would be
policy to plant them Of good distance apart.
Experience has solved these seeming con-
Trajectory propositions by adopting medium
course as to distance, and by adding fertiliz-
ing Ingredients to the poor soil as the trees
become CT age and require artificial assist.
ance. There is generally an inclination to
plant all kinds OF trees too near together, and
hence we feel called upon to caution al
against this inclination. We NAV remark.
however. that in our dry. sunshiuy climate
trees seem to bear closer planting than in a
climate where shady and damp weather pre-
walls during the time of ripeaing of fruit.
providing always that there is sufficient
fertility and moisture in the soil to
give the fruit all the nourishment needed to
complete their full size and bring out their
natural color and favor Practice has shown
that about "A to 80 feet is the proper distance
at which apple trees should be planted
Pear trees will bear to be planted at about
~ to "A feet, and peach. apricot, nectarine
and plum trees may be planted from IS to 20
feet apart. Some very successful orchardists
have sometimes planted peach and nsctsriue
trees alternately with apple trees, planting
the apple trees the above distances. They
have adopted this plan for the reason that
the peach being so much sherter.lived than
the apple, it will have arrived at full size and
at its best bearing stage, and begun on its
decay before the apple will have attained to
Its full size and bearing age. There is no
doubt but this plan will bring Quicker
and better returns from the land provided
that the soil be adapted both to the apple and
the peach. Others adopt the plan Of plant
ing vegetables. as corn or potatoes, between the
rows OF their fruit trees while they are young
say for from four or five years after beirg
hrst set out. In this way the cultivation neces-
sary to keep down the weeds in the orchard.
and to retain the moisture in the soil at the
same time, eultlvates the vegetables, and the
crop OF vegetables may be made to more than
pay for the labor of cultivsting the orchard.
This practice should not be adopted, how.
ever, 1t the vegetables are likely to take so
much moisture from the soil as TO rob the
trees OF any OF the necessary quantity to keep
them In vigorous growing condition. With
plenty of water and means for artificial irri.
CATION, there can be no objection to making
use of the space between the trees for yeeeta. |
bic culture. providing the fertility OF the soil
be kept up to good standard.
1t is very difficult to keep the sap suffi. |
GENTLY plenty and in circulation lively enough |
the hrst summer after transplanting, in the |
items or bodies of fruit trees, to prevent the |
hot afternoon sun from burning the bark on |
the south or southwest side. Mulching, as |
we have before remarked, will help to ward |
~ VIC uohsSf very HluCU, auC so Will plenty |
OF moisture. But even in the most favorable |
circumstances of moisture and mulching, the |
sun Is sometimes too hot for the tender bark !
OF the young tree. When the least scaid or |
checking OF the circulation Of the sap takes |
place, then there is strong Invitation for the |
borer to deposit her eggs there, and the next |
step we find that the little larvs is making |
It's way into tie wood of the tree. leaving a |
dead patch on the surface. The safest plan |
for preventing this trouble is to shade the |
stem of the tree the first season after plant |
Ing with thin board set up so as to shade |
the stem, say from 2 to o'clock P. NJ. In. |
stead OF board, if not handy, then |
the stem may be wound with an
old sack or any old cloth, SO that the sun can |
not hit it fairly. We have heretofore recon. |
mended that the stems of fruit trees he kept |
as short as possible, by inducing Che limbs to
start as near the ground as they can, 1t ia /
sometimes objected to this plan that the low |
nmos prevent cultivatlng near the trees with |
horse and pillow or cultivatoT, We recopnizs |
the fullest force of this objection, but do not |
consider 1t an offset to the advantages it Sc
cures IN the protection of the stems of the |
trees from injury from the sun and borers, |
and IN keeping the fruit near the ground TO |
make handy and economical picking, II |
is too often the case that summer cultivation
OF orchards Is suspended too early in the sea.
son. Cultivation should be continued az long |
as weed seed of any kind continues to ger.
inmate. Weeds growing in youpg orchard in |
the fall iniure and retard the growth Of the |
trees more than they do in the spring OF the |
year. In the latter part of summer and the |
autumn Is the season that young trees ought to |
and will if the soil is properly cultivated and |
kept clean OF weeds, make the best and most /
rapid growth. Especially will they do so the |
hrst season after trausplantiug, or rather the /
same sason OF transplsnting. The spring |
and early summer is occupied in overcoming |
the shock of removing and replantinV. and |
the latter part of summer and fall shonld be |
the season of rapid and healthy growth, and |
If properly cared for will be.
The Administering Reality.
When our first rains came this fall we sug. |
gested the probability that We should have