The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-01-11
for the farmer.
ORCHARDS.

The following is an extract from an excellent
paper, read by j. II. Funk, at n recent meeting
of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers Society. As
the practical experience of n successful fruit
grower, il is of value:
1--WE now come TO n question that has caused
more contention than any other In the man
agement of an Observation-Disclosures, or non-cul-
tivation- | adopted the following plan, and
have been so well pleased with the result, that
we're to plant another orchard, would follow
the same cnurse. planted my young orchard
the first year with potatoes and corn. The trees
made a good growth except fourteen cherry
and fifteen peach, apple, pear, &c. The second
year applied good strong manure, twenty tons
to the acre, aud again planted corn and pota-
toes, adding superphosphate of lime TO the hill.
The result was good crop Of potatoes and corn,
and an enormous growth in the trees, except
three acres, which ran into sod. These trees
made a very meagre growth, although they re-
ceiyed the same application of fertilizer. The
third year plowed the fallow ground again,
applied 500 pounds of phosphate Of lime to the
acre, and planted corn and potatoes. The result
this year was very marked. The trees occupy
ing the cultivated ground made a strong, heal
thy growth, while those standing in sod made a
very small growth. The contrast between the
two was marked as to be seen at distance.
This was the year the committee visited the or
chard. They all noticed the marked contrast
between them. Fourth year, plowed under
heavy coat of manure, also turned under the sod
snlt, fine crop of potatoes, q great many APP
Piles and pears, and strong growth from the
trees under cultivation; none from those in sod.
But the two rows which had the sod turned un-
der made an enormous growth, leaving those con-
tinuing IN sod far behind. Fifth year ran the
cherry block in sod, cultivated peach, apple and
pear without crops Result, the apple and pear
continued their strong growth under cultiya-
tion, and bore heavily, some as much as half
bushel per tree. The peach, also, grew finely,
but bore no fruit, owing to the buds being win
TERRIFIED. This year the trees in the sod made
u better growth thas any year since planting,
and they averaged four to five inches in diane
ter, are fifteen TO sixteen feet high, and have
spread ten or twelve feet, with heads nearly to
the ground.
"My plan would he to cultivate u young or
chari eight or ten years, then into sod and
top-dress, moving the grass and leaving it de-
cay on tine ground. But this is not all. Eter
nal vigilance is the watchword of the successful
orehardist. wash my trees every spring with
a wash of one pound caustic potash to five gal
Ions of water, washing with stiff hand scrub.
This keeps the bark clean, smooth and healthy,
destroying thousands of insects. At the same
time, potash is a very necessary ingredient to
all vegetable matter. 1t is also necessary to ex-
anime for the bOrer at least twice a year. Dur
ing the winter is good time to destroy thons-
ands of eggs of such insects As infest the tops.
They can then be readily seen. gathered and
DESTROYED