The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-09
Preparing the Soil for an Orchard.

Many people do not think that an
orchard needs any special care. They
do not grow fruit as they grow other
crops, for which they carefully prepare
the soil and carefully cultivate for the
purpose of making the crop better and
more abundant. The orchard, in too
many instances, is set out without care
and never has any care afterward. 1t
is true that an apple orchard will often
do well even under such neglect, but
care in the preparation of the soil and
good care afterward will pay fine per
cent. of profit for all the time and labor
that is expended. The subject of drain
age will be the very first to present it.
self in the consideration of a site for an
orchard. Everybody knows that wet
land will not answer; and nobody would
select low wet field for an orchard
site. Many times, however. portion
Of field which elsewhere is all right
for an orchard, is too wet for trees, and
it is folly to plant trees on that portion
unless it is drained. 1t is of no use to
think that, perhaps, they will amount
TO something, even if they are not as
good as the balance of the field will pro-
iuce. Either drain or do not plant the
trees; and whenever drainage is at
tempted for an orchard, or for other
purposes. it saould be thorough and
systematic. No fruit grower should be
content with surface drainage. Under
draining is expensive, and much more
so than it ought to be, but as we have
said so many times, it will pay TO under
drain. On our level prairies We can
hope for success in apple culture only
by thoroughly draining. In many por-
tions of the West, as we all know. the
soil is often too wet to grow anything.
Millions of dollars are lost every year
because drainage has not yet been as
extensively adopted as its merits would
warrant.
Having selected the site with view
to dryness, put the soil in good condi-
ton, remembering that when the soil is
not too thin, it may be plowed deer
with good results. The orchard should
never be set on uncultivated land; and
that so many orchards have done rea-
sonably well by setting the trees in a
space dug in a pasture, is no argument
that this is the way to set trees. Thor
oughly cultivate the soil, and when il
can be done Just as well as not, cult
waite it deeply, as. we said before, al.
though We do not attach so much i'm
portance to trench blowing or subsoil.
inc as some do. The roots will pene.
trate anyhow, and will at least in
prepare the soil for the use OF
the tree. If there is in the ground in
available shape what the tree wants, the
roots will find it.
Whether or not to apply manu,es viii
depend upon the condition of the soil,
and no intlexible rule can be laid down.
1t must be remembered that trees are
great feeders. If the soil is worn out,
lime with clover as green manure, will
prove very valuable? If on such soils
from twenty-five to fifty bushels OF
Stacked lime are applied to the clover,
it will both improve the clover, and act
directly upon the soil itself No one
IN NC will do as much to prepare field
Of comparatively poor land for an or
,hard Is clover. Its roots penetrate deep
INTO the earth, and disintegrate the soil
besides drawing up vast amount of
hidden treasure. Wood ashes will be |
ound valuable either when the soil is
,eing prepared or afterward. Besides
hese, conposts and stable manures are !
at least in bringing up soils |
hat are comparatively poor. If there
5 Il necessity for planting such soil i'm
thoroughly decomposed CON-
post, mixed with the soil, should be ap-
,lied about the trees, but tie entire sur
ace of the field will also have to be
MANFRED afterwar,l several times. Fresh
table manure should never be placef
bout the young trees.
Now we come TO digging the holes for
he trees. Ii the ground is well pre-
pared. as we have indicated, the hole;
iced not be very large either in width
n depth. Some lay great stress upon
vide and deep holes, but such holes are
matter of great, expense, and when
hey are not needed, the expense should
lot be incurred. If the field is in grass
he holes should be wide, about as wide
S the field, we think And where a
ew trees are to be set in grass, why of
curse, make the holes large. The
oles prepared, take the tree, and care
lilly examine the roots, cutting away
hats of fibers and any roots that are
ruised or ragged. Now set them out.
oreading out the roots carefully, and
acking the soil about them firmly.
hen cultivate for several years.-West.
"a hurdL.