, 1882-01-28
New Orchards.

planting is now close at hand. Fore
handed farmers have sent their orders to
the nursery, and the nnrserymen are only
waiting for another soaking rain to Dig
the trees and ship them. Early planting
throughout most Of the Territory is the
rule worth following. If one waits too
late, or until February, the soil is ap. to
be too wet, and difficult To handle prop
erlv Wet soil should never be touched
with spade or plow-as all practical agri-
culturists know Then, if late rains
come, planting may be delayed until The
leaves have started on the trees, and the
risk of them failing to grow is increased.
The careful farmer will therefore de-
eide that it is hette1to plant five acres of
orchard We'll and rightly, than 10 plant
fifty acres earelessIy, aid he will begin
his preparations in due season. The plot
Of land chosen for an orchard should be
plcwed twice, narrowed and rolled. The
soil cannot be made too mellow and leyei-
1t is often profitable to grow apples and
pears Oh rich bottom lands, of heavy
nature, that need drainage. Pears thriY
On somewhat alkaline soils. The oideS
and mos, lucrative apple and pear orchards
may eventually be located on soils wheut
peaches, aprlcots, etc, would entirely
fail. Some authorities have said that
fruit trees will thrive on heavy clay lands
if pit is dug where each tree is to stand,
and filled with rich, hight loan. But this
is mistake A few trees in garden
may be made to exist on such a system,
but there is no profit in 1T for practical
purposes
\ good many planters, though often
warned against 1t, viii set tree IN The
ground Just as it comes from the nursery
with all its branches on. This is him
der that is fatal to the trees chances of
rapid growth. Nature strives to keel AN
equilibrium between the roots and fthe
top. If anything destroys it, pruning
must be resorted to 50 as to effect a ne
storatiOn. But the digging of the young
trees, 10 matter how carefully done, de
siroys large proportion of the root.
Some are cut off, others are bruised or
broken, or dried up and destroyed daring
transportation Apple, pear, plum, cherry,
and other two-year-old nursery trees
were shortened in at rpe years age, ito a
height of from two to four feet. Then,
the second year, they throw cut side
branches several feet long and make quite
a distinct head The nur5eryman cannot
prune this back to its proper Dimensions
for he does not know what the ideas of
his customer are; he must leave the
pruning To the man who buys the trees.
The latter, ii he is wise, will cut back
each branch to within SIX inches or foot
af the previous seasons growth. H. will
also smooth of the cut aud jagged places
| On the roots.
When planting a fruit tree the fine,
fbrous roots should be spread out evenly
! on all sides, and moist mellow earth filled
in carefully about them, furnishing an
Immediate an available supply of food
when the buds begin to start and the sap
to flow, in spring. This firm, rich soil, if
possible taken from the surface, should
he pressed and shaker. down firmly about
the roots OF course young trees require
stalking If there is danger Of winds TO
disturb the carefully placed roots before
they can anchor themselves in the soil
The question Of growing another crop
such as <hay, beets, corn, beans, etc, in
the space between the trees viii always
be disputed one Theoretically it
should not be done practically it must
often be tried for sake OF economy and of
making the orchard land pay part of The
expense necessarily heavy of buying and
caring for trees. There seems 10 doubt
of the Incidental benefi's Of a crop which
requires cultivation, and So keeps the sur
face loose all summer Any other crop
for young orchard is not advisable
But there certainly must be some cx-
haustlon of the sol, and som e;hins taken
from the growth Of the trees. THIS mUst
be restored 10y the use Of fertilizers. Put
manure on the young orchard and grow
your green crops, corn, potatoes, beans
aud cabbage as you will The trees de
rive positive benefit from this treatment.
Lastly, bnt of primal importance, is
the needed caution to each and every man
who plants all orchard this year, :hat his
vigilance against scale-buS and Other pests
Of the orchard must begin the day after
his !rerS arrive They must be examined
for signs of the insects, and If necessary
disinfeCted- The orchard must he k,p1
clean trsm the beginning.