The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-11-20
ORCHARD CULTIVATION

ma Intelligent efehardist Of today
eseeets t6 raise crop OF ffuit
without giving the orchard more Or
less tillage. Yet, even with the
best of cultivation, haught VIII
avail Unless the soil Is Of the best.
Trees may be made to grow on
poor. thin, loose soil, but to insure
success they should be planted ON.
~ on one that ID deep, rich and
tenacious. A deep, strong wheat
soil, with Il gluish subsoil, capable
of retaining sufficient moisture Tor
a vigorous tree. growth, is the best
for general orcharding. A soil
with dry, open, gravelly subsoil is
to be avoided. Such soils are not
lasting either with reference to
moisture or fertility. With the
ordinary farm and garden crops
the matter of soil selection is not
of so much Importance, as crops
may be changed every year or
two or the fields may even be
abandoned, so far as the cultiva-
ton of these certain crops are con-
cerned; but in the care of an Or
| chard it is quite different. When
once planted it can be changed Or
abandoned only at great loss;
hence the Importance OF care In
the selection of an orchard site.
For the cultivation of the peach,
choose location OH the foothills,
rather high than low. A westerly
aspect is to be preferred, as trees
so exposed are less susceptible to
the cold, late frosts than when
having ali easterly or southerly
exposure; however, these latter
aspects will do, but i'll no case
should the peach be SO placed as
/ to be exposed to draughts OF ali
from the north. These are detri-
mental to its growth in the spring
and are to be studiously avoided
Apples, pears, cherries, plums and
prunes are not so eXacting as to
soil, location and aspect; yet the
best success with these, as with
, the peach, is to be expected only
on a deep, loamy soil with a glu
, ish, permeable subsoil through
which water may readily perco
, late and yet be retained in suffi
cient quantity for the most raple
growth of trees.
The preparation of the soil a
: the time of planting is of first i'm
, portance. If this is done thor
oughly it will be a good beginning
, but if specifically done much fu
> ture effort will be required to over
/ come it's evil effects. Make th'
, first blowing at least eighteel
, inches deep. This should be done
| by simply stirring the subsoil, no
: turning it up, with subsoil plov
t of the modern pattern. Then Civ
a good, deep cross-plowing ant
thorough narrowing. This shoul'
. leave the soil in good condition TO
planting and no trouble ought t
be encountered in making nearl.
3 every tree live and flourish from
the start. Peaches and prune
: should not be set nearer togethe
e than eighteen to twenty four fee
e while apples or pears should no
}. be set nearer together than TWEEN
: twy-eight to thirty-four feet apar
i Sun and air being of course esser
n tials in the development of bot
n trees and fruits, nothing is game
in planting trees too close togethe
but rather, much is lost in tn
e failure of fruit to properly matur
n especially in the matter of colo
j. Air and sunlight i'll abundanc
n give high colored fruit. Fa
k planting is to be advised in a
It cases. If the trees are taken fror
v the nursery after the roots are rip
e at the falling of the leaves-an
/, set at once in the orchard, care bt
II ing taken to remove all damage
n roots by clean cut, the wound
h will heal and young roots wi
S. form ready for work as soon &
e spring opens. And again | al
W persuaded to call attention to tn
e matter of selecting trees. Do NJ
l. plant other than first-class tree
l. Whatever is done in orchardin
10 should be done we'll, and nothin
bears upon this point SO much
the planting of first-choice tree
d 1t pays in both time and none
ie to take first choice trees, no ma
l. ter what the cost, SO long as wit
t, in the bounds of reason. An o
j. chard set out after the foregoir
'e directions and given correspondil
l. care during the first three years
lie its lite, will amply repay the plan
I'd er for all extra expense and labo
a by its superior vigor, luxurian'
is and size. Trees treated in II
le above manner, from the date
Iy transplanting, will be much lie
y. liable to the hundred-and-one i
re sect and fungus troubles usual
al seen in less carefully treated Q
ct chards.-Fruits and Flowers.
II,
at PORTLAND will have a free brid;
~ aftor oil Tho oifu oOnncil h