Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-26
FARM AND ORCHARD.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN REGARD
TO PLANTING TREES
Misapplied Labor-How to Grow Sugar
Beets-Hints to Dairymen-Gen-
eral Farm Notes.

81. NJ. w." writing to the Raral Cali
forniaa, says: "Recent numbers of The
Rural have contained some good articles
relative to laying off ground for an or
chard. but it seems to the writer that not
enough has been said about the manner OF
setting the trees, and especially the trans
planting of those of the citrus family.
Some act as if they thought it matter
of little consequence how the trees were
set, as regards pressing the dirt to the
roots, and consequently they put tree in
the desired position. and shovel the dirt
in hastily, thinking, doubtless, that an
irrigation soon after the setting will settle
the dirt firmly enough around the roots.
1t may sometimes do this in some kinds of
soil and under certain conditions, but
oftentimes trees are lost or their future
growth is retarded very materially by this
Kind of setting. Care should be exercised
to pack the dirt firmly about the roots of
all trees or plants, particularly those that
are not wholly dormant during the winter.
Again, some think that because it is the
nature of citrus tree to send tap root
deep into the earth, the more they get Of
this root the better it will be for the
future growth of the tree. This idea is
erroneous, for the reason that when a tree
is loose in the ground the lower part of a
long tap root would be likely to die ere
the tree would grow enough to nourish it.
This root should not be more than foot
to two feet long, the length depending on
the weather and the soil, the warmer the
weather and the more sandy, and conse-
auently the warmer, the soil the longer
the root.
'Some nurserymen whose love for the
almighty dollar is the ruling passion will
dig citrus trees whenever called for, re-
gardless of their condition. 1t is a fact
well known to horticulturists that citrus
trees make several growths in year also,
that some may be dormant, while others
in the immediate vicinity and on similar
soil, and having similar treatment, will be
growing more or less 1t is best to cut the
trees back, if they need any cutting, when
they are dormant; or if in nursery, and
it be desired to dig all of the trees, cut
them back when the greater part of them
are dormant; then irrigate, unless rain
shall have soaked the ground thoroughly,
and dig them as soon as they begin to
make new growth. Trees treated in this
manner, then set properly, and irrigated
Immediately after having been set, and ir-
rigated again three or four days later,
ought not 10 suffer much on account of the
transplanting. But if they be dug while
growing vigorously the young growth will
wilt almost as soon as the tap root is cut,
especially when the sun shines hot. Trees
dug under these conditions, and carelessly
set, the dirt being left loose about the
roots generally make feeble and sickly
growth for months, if they do not die.
'fSome dig them when the ground is
cold. This is wrong, because they cannot
grow then, and hence the tree can receive
nothing from the ground to support it
To illustrate this point, would anyone ex-
pect a young and growing animal tc
flourish under such conditions that il
could get but little nourishment, if any
for weeks or months? 1t is true some ami
mails remain dormant during cold weather;
so, too, deciduous trees, and these may anG
should be transplanted early in the win
ter. Where the winters are cold, anC
where there is danger of hard frosts il
April, do not transplant citrus trees before
May.
''The demand has been greater than tbs
supply, and thousands of inferior tree
have been set, and many more poor tree
are now being set. A scrub orange tree
the bud only two or three feet high, anC
that with low and bushy top with n,
stocky leader, is dear at any price; so, too
is tree as tall as Goliath and slender as
ramrod.
THE effect of not packing the dirt frml.
about the roots may sometimes be seen II
sDme OF the tree yards IN Los Angeles ant
elsewhere. Oftentimes when the dealer il
crAmped for room, dozen or more de
ciluous trees are put in bunch and heelet
III together Very little dirt, if any
comes in contact with the roots inside o
the bunch Though they may be watere'
every day, or oftener, if allowed to remain
there long, the tops shrivel and also tn
roots PERMITS me 10 say to would-be pur
chasers, do not buy such trees at any price
Some of them may grow, but one Nigh
almost as well buy broken-down hors,
and expect it to work as well as one il
good condition"
MIsAPPLIED LABOR.
The waste of labor in improper manage
ment is enormous. When it is considere,
that thousands Of farmers are annual,
busy at work in the production of crops
the saving of only per cent. in the COS
of production amounts 20 large sum.
is safe to claim, however, that the annua
loss to the farmers from rlisapplied labo
is much greater than can be estimated
Not only is too much labor applied i,
some directions, and an Insignificant pro
portion given in another, but the times o
SO doing are not appropriate, to say moth
ing of the ultimate results upon the crops
Successes and failures have occurred no
altogether from the abundance or insult
fciency of labor applied, but according Il
the skill and Judgment exercised in per
forming the work at the proper period snt
In the right manner.
The waste Of labor may occur in man,
ways. The cultivation Of large fields tina
cannot be MANFRED or fertiIized except al
great expense entails on the farmer tn
wear and depreciation Of implements
which are put TO more use than should b.
necessary, as well as the loss of travel Il
and fro in reaching distant points of
field, and also at the expense of additional
energy Of working stock and loss of time
only to secure but a partial crop, ant
which may cause neglect of some othe
crop that demands the attention whicI
could be given it but for the waste of tim
and labor fruitlessly. To economic tn
work it becomes necessary to hurry an,
finish the field in time for planting, the re
suit being that such work may be impro
perly performed It's the additional COS
Of labor that lessons the profit, and success
can only be obtained 10y applying the labo
in an economical manner.
A waste OF labor causes waste of cror
but this waste sometimes occurs in the be
ginning and not when the crop is har
vested If the labor that is expende
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