Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-02-06
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE APPLE
ORCHARD.
PLANTING AND CULTIvATING

PLANTING AND CULTlvATING.
In the setting ont, cultivation and
general management of the orchard,
it is impossible to adopt one system
for all orchards, since orchards in diff
terent sections require different treat
ment.
The obstacles We have to contend
with: First, the drouth; second, the
borer; aud third the codling moth.
think the following is the best course:
Ii possible, plow the ground deep in
the fall, and dig the holes in the fall,
if the ground is not too wet The
holes should not be less than two feet
in diameter, the lowest point being
two feet from the level of the ground.
The action OF the frost during the
winter will tend to loosen the subsoil
and any water that settles in the hole
will readily pass through the loose
subsoil, and the following summer the
tree is not apt to suffer from drouth.
When the time 10 plant arrives, cut
down the sides of the hole with the
spade, which will fill the bottom with
surface soil, and make d fine bed ior
the roots to reach the damp earth in
summer. After planting SOW strip
of oats along the tree row, and hoe
around the trees a space as large as the
hole dug, keep this space free from
weeds, and when me oats are headed
ont, and before they are ripe, NOW
them and throw them around the trees
as a mulch, letting them almost touch
the trees. About the first of Septe,n-
ber cut the weeds and grass and put
around as before. The second and
succeeding years continue the same
treatment. Mulching should be more
generally practiced in fruit producing
districts, for it is the least expensive
and most effective method of protect
ing the fruit trees against the bad re-
suits often folio wing the frequent and
sudden changes OF temperature during
the summer and fall months, when the
surface Of the ground is left exposed to
the direct rays of the sun. Again,
when the mulch is put on two or three
inches i'll thickness, the soil is constant
ly moist and loose, even when no rain
falls for term of several weeks, the
trees or fruit receive no check for want
of moisture and food under such cir
cumStances.
To prescribe one rule for all orchards
is like one medicine for all diseases. IL
is absolutely necessary TOR each grower
o...,hN f,n l.
his trees if he desires the best results to
reward his labor. Not unfrequentiy
do we see barnyard manure recon-
mended for orchards to make them
fruitful. and in many cases if put on
in small quantities it is beneficial but in
large quantities where the soil is rich
it is not only unnecessary, but is posi-
lively injurious, as it causes large
growth of wood, thus increasing the
evil rather than diminishing it, for
whatever tends TO make trees produce
| An extra luXuriant growth diminishes
! their tendency to bear fruit. Wood
ashes il undoubtedly one of the best
fertilizers il spread over the entire
surface of the ground, and not applied,
| as some do only 4 few feet from the
tree. The feeding roots are at the
small ends of the roots, more that at
the large ends near the tree, and are
| always near the surface: therefore
whatever fertilizer Is applied should
be spread evenly over the surface, and
left but few inches under it. then the
feeding roots will easily reach it.
An uuproductive orchard NAV be
made fruitful by making one clean cut
through the bark once around each
tree, when III blossom; or by wrapping
the trunk of the tree with WIRE, letting
it cut through the bark: this course
will not injure thee trees, but will
check the growth, 30 tina: the tree will
perfect the fruit buds for the next wear:
the operation may need to be repeated,
il the soil is rich and the trees thrifty,
every TWO or three years until fruit
full habit is formed. By this process
the growth of the tree will bs reduced
to the fruit standard, snd all the roots
will remain in healthy condition 10
perfect any crop OF fruit SET
In pruning il is better to cut only
small limbs, and if it is done regularly
1t VIII not he hard to keep the tree in
good shape. Cut ont the water sprouts
and scrape the trunk with three cor
nered scraper, using The point TO get
all the Old bark out Of the forks of the
main branches. In some of the rapid
growing varieties the wood grows over
the old bark and the tree does not
make perfect joint, and when heavily
loaded with fruit, it is apt TO split of
and thus ruin the tree. The trees should
be washed III the spring with thin
wash made Of soft soap and lime, and
il 4 piece of rusty iron is left in the
wash for few days it will be better
for the tree. and also make the borer
hunt another tree, as iron is distasteful
to him.
The codling moth is one OF the great
est enemies OF the apple orchard, Ey
hanging basin filled with a little
sWeetened wafer IN the trees about