The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-26


used % Advantage.
What vast revenue might h. haa
In this broad land II farmers would
cloihe all the abrupt side-hills and
rocky places with trees and grass? On
one u my side-hills. which seemingly
Is barren In spots. there are apple
trees which have never had the least
care except trimming. on which good
understandable fruit l. produced. The
<rbsoil Is stiff claycy loan and con-
tsins 50 much potash that il Is natural
" adapted 20 the growth Of the apple.
This discovery led me 10 devote the
whole field. twelve acres. 20 the same
fruit. This land lies high. Il free from.
standing water and with extra care no
doubt the trees will do well.
The land was well seeded last war
and the surface Is smooth 80 that Il
can be mown readily. After the trees
are set this spring the field will be
made pig pasture until the trees are
large enough 10 admit Of sheep being
turned in; then il will b. utilized a.
sheep pasture. The culture for the
trees will be done with spade for two
or three feet around the base. and here
about some fine manure will b. spread
10 give them start. This i nv idea
II tilling an orchard and | do not ex-
poet 70 lose trees and injure all the
rest by bruises. torn-up roots and
wholesale mutilaiion. A tree wants
10 be let alone. except 10 stir the
ground occasionally. but this is not
necessary. and - thin out the top.
Food Is the great lack Of trees. Give
them nouriShmenf, and soil or no soil.
they will thrive The farmer who
nllizes hogs rs factors in an orchard
il on the right way 10 get good trees.
rapid growth and fruit Of the best
quality. and with the least evidences 81
yermin- Orchard grass is best adapted
70 such shady places. doing well under
any kind Of trees. The common blue
grass. whichever kind may b. native,
Is next best. and red-top next in order.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) il
the largest variety and will do well
anywhere on strong land. the smaller
variety Poa comprcsSa) will do best
on thin lands.
Thin lands and apple trees do not
harmonic well. but this Is a kind az
juxtaposition which j. not so unnatural
after all. The surface If the land NAV
be washed or worn so that there il an
appearance 81 complete barrcnncss
and NJ the same time the subsoil be- rich
IN the elements for applr-tree growth.
We can not always tell by the outer
signs The subsoil must always he
FREE from standing water. There j. no
land more naturally adapted 20 apple
trees than sidc-hills If they be free from
springs. or rather II the ground j. not
springy: and il makes no difference
about the rocks if there is room for
the roots 70 get good hold: they viii
find their WAY through any loose or
broken rocks and underneath the big
ones II there are seams or openings.
know All this BY experience. Tho
former barren and rough spots are now
Thu most attractive on my farm. and
are becoming the most productive az
any rate profitable. as they cost moth
ing for care or labor. and each wear
the WELD Of grass increases and the
crop If fruit also. the shading of the
ground will always increase it, fertil-
ity. and the fall Of the leaves and the
presence ~ animals add % It's prodnc-
tlvcncss Two men can plant one hun
dred trees in a day: good apple tree
will produce yearly average 81 ten
bushels. worth at least dollar for
animal food This crop may be
expected for sevenfy-fiyc years. and
under the tree more grass will grow
than would he furnished on the same
surface in open ground for the same
amount Of labor. ID. Curtis. 40 y.
y. Tribune.