The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-09-13
Transplanting Fruit Trees.

life of a farmer without having about his
home an orchard with variety of season.
able fruit-bearing trees In it. 1t is not nee
essary or desirable to discuss in this arti-
Gle the Importance or advantage of fruit,
either as an essential element of food or
as mere luxury. 1t is desired to call at
tention simply to some general facts that
should be observed by those who contemplate
setting out an orchard of young fruit trees.
The editors are in constant receipt of in
quiries as to the best methods to be OBJ
served in the preparation for an orchard;
and the article may be regarded as a reply
to a number of our correspondents who
have been asking for information on the sub
ject
The fall of the year-which will soon
be upon us fully-is the best
time of the year for trans
Planting the young fruit trees into a
permanent orchard. There are several good
reasons for saying this. Deciduous trees,
or trees that shed their leaves every fall suf-
fer less from transplanting as soon as the
foliage is gone than if the work is delayed
until spring opens fully. The ordinary
fruit-bearng tree-which is of the deciduous
family-lives largely through the action of
the leaf, and when the leaves all drop at
tree is practically over for the year. The
functions of growth are suspended until the
swelling in the bud begins in the spring.
While the tree is in this dormant condi-
ton it is less liable to suffer from the eff
fects of exposure and mutilation and de-
struction of root than when it is in the
period of its active growth. 1t is not al
ways quite easy to tell when the spring
growth really does begin, for the warm
sun sometimes awakes and develops the liv-
ing activity in the tree before there is any
outward manifestation In bud or bark.
In the fall of the year it is easy to select
time for the work of removal and trans
planting; whereas the opportune period is
not always easily obtained in the spring in
consequence of other duties which may APP
pear more pressing and imperative IN pitch
ing the crop. Furthermore, in the spring
of the year, when the opportune moment
may come, the ground may not always be
in proper condition, Ill consequence of wet
freezes. If it so happens that the OPP
perfume moment of leisure from the other
duties should come at Il time when the
ground is in proper condition for the work,
it may be that the early spring growth has
begun in the tree for as we have just OBJ
served, we cannot always fully determine
by the outward signs just when the growth
has begun and progressed 80 such an cx-
tent that there is likelihood of serious inju-
ry resulting in the removal of the young
tree.
After the spring growth has begun it is
well night impossible to transplant without
checking that growth and seriously stunning
the tree. The growth of the tree is large
" through little rootets that are not only
JoJSa hui
they are scarcely discernibe to
the naked eye in an ordinary glance. These
little rootlets are not so easily affected in
the fall as in the spring. If the young tree
is transplanted in the fall, the winter rains
and the freezes and thawings will cause
the earth to settle well and nicely about
all the roots and rootlets, and when the
spring warmth and other influences come
the whole will be ready and eager for the
change, and the tree will at once grow off
without any abatement in it's life, if the
whole work of removal and replanting has
been properly done
There is one fact which should always
be kept in mind in the transplanting of
trees of any kind In the life of a tree
there is usually a very close correspond
ence in the growth of limb and root. If
tree spreads its branches outwardly and
upwardly, there must necessarily be growth
of root to sustain the branches or the top.
There must be q widening of the trees
base in order to hold it firmly in the soil
and keep it from blowing over. If a tree
were all top and no roots, it could not
withstand the effects of wind and rain
storms. In the act of transpanting q
young tree there Is always a destruction of
more or less of root. This should be inya-
riably met with a coulterbalance by q
cutting back of similar or corresponding
amount of the growth in the upper branches
1t Is impossible for young tree that
has lost all its main roots in the act of
transplanting to live and flourish without
a severe pruning at the top. The best au-
thorities recommend the cutting off of all
lateral branches in transplanting most fruit
trees that are only one year old An
abundance of necessary growth will be
made the first season simply from the wood
buds remaining on the stem of the tree:
ana III transplanting trees that are older
the limbs or lateral branches should al
ways be cut back SO as to leave only two
or three wood buds on each branch. But
experience has shown that III starting an
orchard 1t is always best to begin with
the trees that are only one year old. These
are less liable to injury III the act of trans
piahtng; they are more easily managed in
the work Of transplanting; they grow off
mere promptly and readily, and usually
they produce tees that are more vigorous
and healthy than others, and they come
INTO 1ull bearing as soon as trees that are
transplanted when older. M NJ
FARM QUESTION BOX.