The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17
Something About Planting and Rails
ing Apples.
Springfield Republican.


Springfield Republican.
Whether an apple orchard should
be planted in the autumn or IN the
spring is a matter which each or
chardist must decide for himself.
There are advantages in the fall
planting which that of spring does
not haye and Uice versa. In the fall
trees have a comparative rest from
growth in which wounds of the roots
may heal, and the trees may become
we'll settled In the soil during the
winter. But there are also objections
to this time for planting. The trees
are more liable to be blown oyer by
the severe winds, unless they are
firmly braced, but more especially
the close pruning required, together
with their removal from the shelter
ed nursery rows, exposes them rath-
err too suddenly for their good to
the freezing and thawing of late win
ter and spring. For the latter reas-
ON, mainly, we prefer spring plant
ing and as some of the readers of The
Republican may be planning this
winter to set out young orchards in
the spring, outline of the necessary
work may be of interest.
The first step in the preparation for
the orchard is thorough pulyerization
of the soil. An orchard should never
be set out in sod ground. with only
few feet about the tree broken up.
The roots of the young tree will grow
very rapidly in looee. mellow soil.
but through sod and deep running
roots of various other kinds their pro-
gress in growth will be slow, The
best soil for an orchard is one of clay
and sand, or deep alluvial; trees
cannot grow where the land is con-
tiriually wet, hence it is necessary to
have it we'll drained. A good plan
is to sink tile drain between the
rows of trees. This may seem an UNI
necessary expense to some, but they
will surely be repaid in more and
better fruit in after years. A good
soil for fruit trees must contain GER
tain amount of potash, phosphoric
acid, soda, lime, etc., in the right pro-
portions. Nothing has, as yet, been
said about manuring the orchard, but
unless the soil is already very rich,
this is essential. The manure must
he mixed into the pulverized soil, not
simply spread upon the surface of the
ground, The whole field should be
in as good condition as for a crop of
grain but do not apply manure di-
rectly to the roots of the trees. Good
fertilizers to apply to an orchard are
bones, fish, wood ashes, mari. lime.
and superphosphates. When Or
chards are run down" and bear but
little fruit, the above fertilizers will
be found beneficial.
The best distance apart to plant
must be determined largely by the
sort of trees that are to be set, that IS,
by their habit of growth. In no case
should they be closely set as to have
their branches meet or inter-twine
when they have attained full growth.
Better have plenty of room to go
about between them with the ladder
when time for picking the fruit ar
riyes. And it should also be remem-.
hnt r,f hn
tend as far from the tap root as the
branches or limbs do from the body
and the more room they have to feed
the greater their growth. A distance
of thirty feet Is about the thing for
most orchard trees some people pre-
fer forty or forty five, but perhaps
thirty is good average. 1t setting
the trees be sure to have the rows
straight, nothing mars the appear.
ance of an orchard so much as crook.
ed rows. Then do not set the trees
too deep. Here is a mistake that is
often make. When trees are set too
deep they will send out little sys-
tenn OF rOotletS one or TWO inches be-
low the surface which is not desir-
able. A good rule is to set them as
deep as they previously grew in the
nursery. and give the roots plenty of
mellow soil to work in. filling all the
interstices of the roots and rootlets
with fine earth. Set the trees firmly
and do not mutllate the roots, if pos
sible. If dry weather follows the
planting keep the soil over and
around the roots loose and mellow,
and it may be good idea to throw a
mulch about the body of the tree ).
this is better than to water them con-
tinually. Trees should be set as soon
as possible after leaving the nursery
and all unnecessary limbs and roots
pruned away.
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