The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-11-10
Preparing the Soil for an Orchard.

Many people do not think TINT 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
AMI never has any care afterward. II
is true that an apple orchard will often
do well even under such neglect, but
care In the preparation OF the soil and
good caro- alterward will pay n line per
cent. Of profit for all the time aud labor
that is expended. The subject Of drain.
age will bo the very first 10 present IT,
self In tho consideration If a site for an
orchard. Everybody knows that wet
land will not answer; and nobody would
select n low wet field for an orchard
site. Many times, however. u portion
VI a field which elsewhere Is all right
for nm orchard. Is too wet for trees, and
II Is folly to plant trees on that portion
unless IL Is drained. II Is Of no uso to
think that, perhaps, they will amount
10 something, oven ifsthcy arc not rs
good rs the balance of1ho field will pup.
ducc, Either drain or do not plant the
trees; and whenever drainage Is at
tempted for an orchard, or Tor other
purposes, II should be thorough and
systematic. No fruit grower should 10
content with surface drainage. Under
draining Is expensive, and much more
80 than II ought to be. hut rs we have
said 50 many times, Il will pay TO under
drain. On u level prairics wo can
hope for success In apple culture only
by thoroughly draining. In many por-
lions Of tho West, ~ we all know, the
soil Is often too wet to grow anything.
Millions Of dollars are lost every year
because drainage has NOD yet been rs
cStcns ycly adopted rs its merits would
warrant.
Having selected the site with n view
to dryness. put thu sol In good condi.
ton, remembering that when the soil i
not too thin, II may M plowed deep
with good results. The orchard should
never be set on uncnltiiatcd land; and
shat 50 many orchards have done rca-
sonably well by setting the trees In a
space dug IN a pasture, Is no argument
that tbs Is the way 10 set tcos. Thor
oughly cultivate the soil, aud when Il
can he done Just rs well ~ not, cult.
waite II deeply. rs WI said before, al
though we do not attach 50 much i'm.
portancc To trench blowing or subsoil.
Ing rs some do. The roots will pcne-
tratc anyhow, aud will ut least In n
measure prepare the soil for the use Of
the tree. II there Is In the ground In
available shape what the tree wants. tho
roots will find Il.
Whether or not TO apply manu,cs win
depend upon the condition Of the soil,
and no inllcSible rule can be- laid down.
II must bc remembered that trees ara
great Feeders. II the soil i worn out.
lime with clover rs n 2rcen manure. will
prove very valuahlcp II on such soils
nom twenty-five to fifty bushels of
Stacked iinic are applied to the clover.
Il will both improve the clover. and act
drcctly upon the soil itself. No one
III ng viii do rs much TO prepare q field
OF comparatively poor land for an or.
ehard A. clover. Its roots penetrate deep
into the earth. and disintegrate the soh
besides drawing up n vast o of
hidden treasure. Wood ashes will hc
found valuable either when the soil h
being prepared or a~fterwani. Besides
these. composis aud stable NATURES am
valuable at least In bringing up soIl.
that arr comparatively poor. N there
Is necessity for planting such soil i'm.
mediately. thoroughly dccomposrd com.
post, miSed with tho soil. should BE- an.
piled about the trees, but the cntirr slr.
face OF the field will also have 10 \.
MANFRED a~fterwsri several times. Frcsh
stable manure should never be placed
about the young trees.
Now we come TO digging the holes for
The trees. II The ground l. we'll prs-
pared. A. We have Indicated. the holes
need not b very large either In width
or depth. Some lay great strrss uron
wide aud deep holes. but such holes nr
q matter of great expense, and when
they are not needed. the expense should
not be incurred. II the field 4, In srazs
the hole should BE- wide. about a. wide
a. The field. We think. And WHERE /.
few irees are 10 BE- -ct In grass. WHY a
course. make the holes larrp. The
holes prepared. take the trce, and e.r.-
FULLY examine the rpotz. cutting aw.x
mats Of ibss and any roots that -
bruised OF ragged Now sss them ouL
spreading out The roots carefully. ssi
packing tho coll about theu irnIv.
Then cultivate fer several sssF&-Hsst