The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-21
PLANTING ORCHARDS AND VINE
YARDS.

We publish this morning some very
interesting statements by prominent
fruit-growers of this State, to which we
invite especial attention. The gentlemen
wrote in response to inquiries calculated
TO bring out the results of their expert
ence in the business of planting orchards
and vineyards, and in cultivating them
successfully.
1t is not the purpose in this place to
analy2e the replies; they speak for them
selves, but they are rich in suggestion,
and the more important features will en-
gage our further attention presently.
The gentlemen to whom we are in
debted for the information published are
foremost in horticulture in California,
and have given it years of study. Gen
eral Bidwell is not only pioneer, but
one of the very first OF our orchardists.
he has at this time an orchard of l, 800
acres. He has been a successful grower.
and a close and highly intelligent OBJ
server of the methods in various sections
of the State. Mr.. Hatch, too, is one of the
leading authorities on fruit culture, and
is the largest and most intrepid orchard
list in this State.
Mr.. Buck is, in our judgment the most
thorough and practical of any man in the
profession-and we esteem fruit-growing
in California a profession. Mr.. Leonard
Coates is widely known as successful
nurseryman and has given much study
TO fruit and grape-growing. He is ofcool
judgment and most extended experience.
Mr.. C. w. Reed is the well-kuown fruit
raiser of Yolo County, and was, perhaps,
the first man to send California fruit to
an Eastern market. He is pioneer citi-
zen, close student of horticulture, and a
shrewd observer.
Just now the tree-planting season
closes, and therefore the question of the
cost of planting an orchard is an import
ant and most interesting one, especially
SO with reference to instructing Eastern
people and prospective home-seekers.
Men sometimes offer to sell land, and to
take so much money for planting an Or
chard on the tract. The letters which we
this morning publish throw strong light
on the value of such offers, the data given
by our correspondents furnishing cor
rect index to such value.
What may appear as discrepancies in
these statements will be found to be APP
parent only, for study of the replies will
disclose practical uniformity, as the con-
ditions of land and other varying factors
have to be taken into consideration. The
chief differences in the statements arise
out of the varying difficulties of culriva-
ton ard the difference in thoroughness
of cultivation. For instance, the best
fruit-growers insist that there cannot be
too much of cultivation in growing an
orchard; that, in fact, the cultivator
should be run all summer
One of the most important matters in
planting an orchard is TO lay the founda-
ton of its future productiveness by using
only frst-class trees. The trees want to
be first, good trees. distinctive as to vari-
ETY., and then properly treated in the nurs-
cry. Then when they are growing they
must be given the greatest possible
growth to have strength. Then, too, the
trees should be cut back just so far each
year-the orchards of California would be
greatly benefited by delaying their pro-
ducuveness one year at least-but, as we
stated in the outset, it is not the purpose
to treat the methods in horticulture and
yiticulture at this time, but to invite es-
pecial attention TO the article in another
column which furnishes texts for thor
ough treatment of the subjects.