Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-13
Rules for q chards.

In setting out new fruit gardens or
orchards use sixteen rules:
l. Select Il good soil. where rrras
naturally grow well, thus securing adj
VantageS.
=. Plow deep. and if cultivated with
heed crops for Il year or two previously
all the better, and pElyclizc well.
3. Lay out the lines in straight rows,
according to the directions and illustra-
TONS given some weeks ago in the COun-
try Gentleman.
4. Labor will be saved by rum nI the
plOW several times in one direction, to
make the earth deep and mellow, rn-
moving the stakes temporarily or finish
Ing afterwards.
5. In taking up the trees from tho
nursery, see that roots are taken up
foot long, to hold them firmly without
stalking.
6. If planted in autumn. pulveriZn The
crust Of the soil early in spring and sew
eral times afterwards, AMI it set in
spring pIllverize it rs SOcn rs any crust
is formed.
I. Keep the soil clean, mellow and
well cultivated I'LL through spring and
summer ut least three feet On each
side.
8. This clean culture is the best treat
mcnt, n-Xt to which is mulching With
iCCayed straw CT coarse litter.
8. Let the hOl,'S for receiving the roots
of the young trees be 50 wide and deep
as to Ilace the roots an inch OF two
deeper than before, and to give Them
abundant room without bending
10. Shorten back and thin ont needless
shoots on tn" head. that the head may
be no heavier than the strength of tho
roots can sustain firmly.
IL. Wien cutting BACK shoots to mako
the head light, always do it before tho
buds swell OF open.
L. Cover the ncwly-Set roots with
finely Ia'lvcliz"d earth. pressing it we'll,
amt leaving no cavities nor interSticcs
;!m"EG them.
L.. Never hill mp the earth around
tn" trees, but keep 1t level, clean AID
Mellow.
Ii. On good level farm ground meyer
LIT the trees of Il permanent orchard
r.s'arer than }3 or % frrt apart Tein
p"rary trees may be n"arnr.
u Plant yo'Clg trees not m1r2 Ilnn
tW" years from the bud OF graft They
are easily dug with Letter roots, hold
m'rc firmly i'll the ground, and start
lnl" vigorous growth aya.l with iss
check in growth
IT,. Treatment must vary with 10
calitieS. In most regions The orchards
Should be cultivated with cora ar oIl,F
hoed crop for some years till they be.
gin fairly to bear, after which they
nay be seeded to grass if .r.L.,"l -. ri
through the season with silI AMI aD-
lUaiJy tOp-dresSed with barn manure.
or they may be seeded to clover if it Is
under every alternate year or sub
stituted with manure.
Errors to avoid are. cutting liz. roots
" ry short when digging ~; leaving q
h. top and small bottom; cApoSin.
the roots several hours to wind and
Ian, crOwding the roots II 4 cl.lnnnd
DOle; filling in among them With clmls
AMI sods and leaving large in+crstir'>:
planting the trees in cT0,Fed rows,
making it difficult 20 cult vale VOL: NJ.
lowing the young orchard to grow no
with weeds and grass. becoming stunt
ed and mOuse-eatan: and allowing cater
pillars. C6nker-WCI1nS. cod,ing moths
and borers to spoil the trees and ruin
the fruit, without half the labor which
planters are willing to devote to their
potatoes and corn.