Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-12-06
FARMER AND PLANTER
PLANTING ORCHARDS,
Some Practical Hints by a Practical orch.
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Trees Are oftener set too close TO-
gcther than too far apart. In fact, the
latter error scarcely exists. Trees are
Wide feeders, and the best results are
obtained when each tree stands far
enough from its nelghbors TO allow IL
to posseus an individuality all its own,
An additional reason for sparse plant
ing has lately become important--the
necessity OF spraying for insects and
fungus pests-.ahd for this reason, as
we'll ms TO allow of better cultivation,
the outside rows should not be set
close TO fences. The distance Mt
which trees may be sot depends
much upon the system of prun-
ing. II heading-in is followed
vigorously and Systematically, trees
may be set n third nearer than If al
lowed to take their natural form.
lleading-in should always be practiced
with dwarf pears, and many of our
best growers pursue 1t with peaches,
plums and ounces For myself, have
always advised thin planting as the
safer rule for the majority of cases.
The following table may be supposed
to represent the outside average limit
for the planting of orchards, when the
trees are allowed to take their natural
form:
Apples, 40 feet each way; pears,
standard, 20 to 25 feet; pears, dwarf,
12 feet to rod; ounces, rod; peaches,
20 feet; plums, 20 feet; apricots, 90 feet;
6xS; blaclberries, 4x7 to 6x9; raspber-
ries, 3x6 to 5xs.
These are safe distances. In certain
cases, however, where the soil is strong
and the grower makes thorough work
of cultivating, pruning, and fertiliz
ing, these distances can be reduced
somewhat with profit, except in the
case of apples. These remarks will
also apply to the common question
whether it is good policy to plant
short lived trees, as peaches, between
apples and pears. 1t all depends upon
the man. In general, | should dis
courage it; but If the orchardist give;
the very best attention to fertilizinl
and cultivating, plantations can be
mixed with good results.
Plow the land and fit it well. AS al
orchards should be put into cultivated
crops for the first two years, at least
it will generally be found advisable t.
plow the entire area before the or
chard is set, rather than to pillow
strips where the trees are to go
for the land can then be shaped bette
with reference to surface drainage anc
general conveniences. The tree
should be set neither in dead furrow
nor on back burrows. Level culture
should generally be adopted from tn
start, unless it is necessary to displac
surface water, and in that case it ma,
be questioned if the land is fit for al
orchard. In all ordinary soils, hole
must be dug by hand for the ire
fruits. Flowing out deep furrow il
the line of the rows may lessen tn
digging and aid in getting the trees il
line. The hole should be dug broa,
and ample, and the harder the soil tn
larger ought the hole to be, for in tina
case the loose dirt which is filled il
must give the tree its start. In loos
and deep soils, the hole need be n
larger than the spread of tn
roots. Chop up the soil in tn
bottom of the hole, or throy
in few shovelfuls of loose surfac
earth. The tree should be set an inc
or two deeper than it stood in tn
nursery, for the loose earth will settl
and wash away in the course of tn
season, even if it is well packed whe
the tree is set. Dwarf pears should b
set from three to six inches belov
the bud. Every care must b
exercised to get the soil thorough
firmed in about the roots-which ar
Strengthened out in approximate
their natural position-and especial
under the crown or fork of the roots
in order that no air spaces may be lei
to dry out. The dirt can be bes
placed by lingering it in, mo-
ing the tree gently up and down q
the same time. Once or twice in th
progress of filling the hole, the cart
should be stamped down. Fill tn
hole to little more than level full,
carry off surface water, but be Garrett
that no hollows are left close abor
the tree into which water can settl
especially when painting in the fal
Stamp on the earth very firmly abol
the tree before leaving it, for tt
double-purpose of retaining moistul
and of holding the tree against wind
All this operation of tree planting ca
proceed to perfection only when Il
earth is dry enough to crumble. Tree
can not be well planted in wet an
sticky soil.
If the trees are set according to the
directions and the tops are cut bac
there will rarely be any necessity fl
stalking and trying the trees to ket
them plumb.
Mulches of straw or manure a
sometimes advised for newly-set tree
For trees planted late in the sprir
and upon droughty soils, a light mulc
about the tree may be advised, but
other cases it is not. If mulches a
applied to fall-planted trees, care mu
be taken to tramp them down well,
they may become nesting place f
mice, which will girdle the trees
there are heavy SHOWS. There a
those who favor placing forkful
manure in the bottom of the hole, b
this is practice of doubtful value; an
at all events, the manure should
well mixed with the soil to preve
drying out.-Prof. Bailey, in N.