The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-03-15

The meeting or the county hOrt1cu1-
tural society at Col. David Tay1or's
Office in the Opera House block on
Wednesday was one of considerable
interest. The subject of planting of
trees was handled by those in attend
ance in a very thorough manner. AS
might naturally be supposed, the dis
cussion widened out and embraced the
selection and handling of the trees
before consigning them to the ground,
as well as the care of them after
planting and the proper pruning of the
trees, and after care of the ground
so as to keep them in healthy condi-
ton.
Upon the question of preparing holes
for the trees their was somedive rsity
of opinion, some recommending dig
ging deep and wide holes, others
putting stones for IL or Is inches
in depth in the bottom of the holes, but
the most satisfactory plan that was
suggested was to be sure and have the
field wherein the orchard was to be
planted well and thoroughly prepared,
and after spacing off on two opposite
sides of the field the proper distance for
the rows to draw light burrows from
stake to stake along the proposed line
of rows. Then after spacing as be-
fore on the two opposite sides to take
by going two rounds throw out broad
and deep dead furrow, having the
center in the line where the trees are to
be set. In this way the hole for the
trees is made the entire length of the
field. and should run up and down the
slope of the land if there is any fall to
the land.
Some of the merits of this plan as
given are that the holes being the en-
| tire length of the field and continuous,
do not allow water to collect and stand
| below the tree in wet time in the hot
summer weather, to scald the roots and
| kill them. 1t is much the cheapest
method, as it compels the horses to do
large part of the hardest of the work.
The men can pass along and at the
crossing of the deep with the light fur
rows, which are easily seen, one can
| set down tree and the other with one
or two shovels full of dirt can secure
it in an upright position and pass on to
the next. A single horse to the plow
will soon replace all the earth again,
and the harrow passed over will leave
the field in nice condition for the corn
crop which should follow the first and
two or three subsequent years.
After the ground has been leveled of
| with the harrow a man should &c
around to each tree and put it in the
proper position, leaning about fifteen
degrees to tire south and little west
and with the feet firm the soil care
fully about the tree to keep it in pO-
sitiOn and prevent it being blown
about by the wind The folly of haul
ing in ton or more of frozen earth
enveloping few of the stumps of the
roots of trees considerable size, under
the impression that the trees are more
likely to grow thereby, came in for a
share of consideration. People who de
this foolish kind of business imagine
that because the trees so treated chance
to live and are apt to attribute the fac
to the ball of earth they have secured
at so great an outlay of time and money
They entirely ignore the fact that al
the fibrous feeding roots are many feet
farther away from the tree, that they
have dug, and that the only possible
benefit the huge ball of frozen earth
can possibly be is to retain the tree il
its position better so that it will not b
, shaken about by the wind. One hal
the labor expended in securing more O
: the larger roots in the spring when thu
ground is easily worked. would insur
, a much better tree. Even the sam
roots that are saved at cost of ter
dollars in ball of frozen soil, woult
: be just as good if got in March or Apr
at cost of two dollars, but these pee
.. pie who have lots of money like t
{ spend it.
t The next meeting March 21st, bein
the regular day for the exhibition O
winter apples for the purpos
of testing the comparative merits @
e the different kinds for keeping unit
= spring, no subject was assigned fo
q discussion, the question of varietie
being considered sufficient for tina
meeting.
i The premium is so cents for bes
l. and 25 cents for second best display {
apples.
- It is especially urged that all havin
= apples put them on exhibition.
s Mr.. Suddock was on hand to-day t
# defend the credit of the Missouri Pippil
% which he thinks did not receive the col
sideration it deserves at the last NEE
i ing.
n We will look for fine display {
p this variety from the orchard Of NJ
Suddock.
Adjourned to meet at the Office
Col. D. Taylor, March 21st, at 1:30
m. ROBERT MILEIKEN,