Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-11
THE FARM.
CULTIVATION OF ORCHARDS AND
BEST TOOLS THEREFOR.
Effects OF Errigation-truit W. "rain
The Vine HoppeI's-some
General Notes.
OF TREES AND VINES.

CULTIVATION Oh 1hEEG AM NAA'A"-'
At the recent meeting Of the State Horti- |
cultural Society, held in San Francisco, the
tonic 1.-THE Cultivation of Orchards and
The Tools Used Therefor was discussed,
and while much in the line of experimental
reports was brought out, it was disclosed
that very divergent views were held upon
this as well as most other subjects pertain
ing to horticulture. The subject was
opened by Robert Williamson, of Sac
ramento, who held that the style of culti-
walton must differ somewhat with different
trees and soils His ideas and method had
changed from the method he at first adopt
ed He used te plow the soil away from
the trees at the first blowing, and then
work it back at the second blowing. Now
he pIowed FIRST throwing the dirt toward
the trees, thereby covering up and smother
ing the weeds and saving much hoeing.
By subsequent blowing and cultivation the
soil was worked back again to the level.
Some time ago his main idea with! refer
ence to cultivating orchards was to get per-
feet puIyeriZation of the soil on the surface
now his main idea is to get depth in stir
ring the soil. Cultivation cannot be too
deep. providing the roots OF the trees are
not injured He used the ploW but once in
the season and used cultivators afterward,
but pig-weed coming in 50 clogged the
cultiYators that he used plows oftener an6
cultivator less. He plows both ways #
the slope of the surface allows crosS-ploT
ing. He leaves about ten days between the
first and second blowing. Last year he
plowed his orchard four times and celt-
waited once, and the trees did better than
ever He uses a movable beam plow to
work close to the trees.
James Shim1, Of Niles, was the next
speaker and said his way was to tarn two
burrows against each other midway be-
tween the rows Of trees and then pillow
away from the trees on each side, using
one horse pillow to finish near the trees.
He plOws thus early in the season, and
when the weeds have got a gOodsgrOwth he
turns the soil back away from the trees
and leaves q shallow dead-fRTrow in the
center He believed in deep cultivation,
and cited the case of a neighbor who had
trusted to a complete pulverizatiOn of the
surface. He used a cultivator necessarily
and brought the surface OF the soil to
fineness like an ash-heap. He never saw a
finer cultivated orchard. That season,
however, his neighbours ap-ic0ts were very
small, so small that he had to dry them, as
they wogld not suit the Gamers. 1t was
discovered that the 1ineness on top would
not do without deep stirring, because the
soil beneath the powdered surface was hard
and dry as floor.
Senator De Long said he plowS ten inches
deep between the rows and near the trees
-Four to six weeks afterwards he would
crOss-plOW; then harrow and crOss-haTrow
and rub down the surface with cloG
crusher made Of plank. In both plowings
they plOw away from the trees, and the
next year they plow toward the trees.
Tie manner which Mr.. Williamson
stated that he had abandoned, A. I. Hatch,
of Solano, says he follows. He ploWed first
them. He had adopted the practice of
blowing away from the trees at the first
blowing because ne had an idea il let the
water run toward the tree. where the roots
would get il, but it may be that with old
trees il would be better to drax the water
toward the space between the rows than to
draw it toward the trunks. He never
cross-plows, as he thinks il has a tendency
10 work the soil away from the trees and
leave them standing on little mounds. He
aims to keep the surface as level as pos
sibie. He cultivates all the summer as
his land is very foul.
W w Smith also Of Solan0, plows first
in December or January. turning the soil
from the trees, finishing near the trees with
a one-hOrse pillow. After the first blowing
he let the land lie rough. and thinks this
is a good way on land that is apt to bake
In 4 month or six weeks he plows again
and turns the land toward the trees. Late
blowing away from the trees IS apt 10 ex-
pose large roots, to be scalded by the sun
while exposing the roots early in the
season, when the sun has less heating
power, does not DO this injury. After the
last blowing he gets the surface as fine rs
possible He finishes up with a harrow
because he thinks the reflection of the sun
light Is less than than from a surface left
by roller or clOd crusher. Reflection from
a smooth surface Is apt to burn the trunks
of the trees III the hotter parts OF the State
He insists on deep and thorough blowing
close blowing. not leaving an inch OF
ground untouched
Judge BiaCkw0Od, OfIIaywards, said he
used to piCw The first time in December or
January, a Mr.. Smith advised, but now he
did not pl0w until ,hc heritage in the
orchard had reached hight Of two feet
If he wishes 10 keep the surface OF the
ground loose and Kill weeds he uses the
cuitEyat0r and a rubber OF ciod-cTusher
made of plank, with teeth incliniug back
ward. If the soil j. likely 10 be too solid
he pLows again. II the ground is moist
beneath and dry on to-. he does not want
10 bring that moisture 20 the surface TO be
81 '
soil near the roots. Vixen there is danger
of short rain aiterward he would not pillow
but would cultivate and keep the lower soil
where i IS
Thus il VIII be seen that the views OF the
various fruit-grOWeT> are not N all alike
II is ,rae, also, that their experiences are
under quite different conditions. What
would be advisable methods at Haywards,
in the moist atmosphere about the bay
irl le 20 ,l~ia
in the interior of the State. And even at
Hayvard>, the proposition laid down by
Judge BIacSwood. npU % cultivate deep Il
the grpund IS dry on top and moist be-
meath. thus L. retain the moisture better, is
faulty IN principle, and VIII be found 50 10y
intelligent experiment and practice If the
weather or ground is dry, the deeper and
more frequent the cultivation. The greater
viii toe The moisture This Is not mere
theory but fact established by experience,
and one which every farmer and orcAaTdist
can fully rely upon.
tEsIGATIos, FRO sd cox.
The Florida Disoatcl says Josiah
HOPES, speaking OF irrigation. mentions
some drawbacks, saying that Although
a necessity IN localities where rains only
occur 1t stated seasons. irrigation has its
drawback in eXerting deprecatiug influ-
cnce upon the fruit itself. Many eff the
finest specimens Of apples on the Pacific
coast are defective in this way and from
this cause. The color is also less bright
and attractive when taken from irrigated
trees. so that II has become almost a by
word that these fine. smooth fruits are
comparatively worthless in the Eastern
markets, save for decorative purposes.
And yet, thousands Of acres or the side
hills, formerly the home of the manzanita
exclusively, have been patiently grubbed
up and planted with the apple, pear and