Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-02-28

The usual largo attendance character
lied the meeting of the Otero County
Horticultural society last Saturday after
noon. The G.. A. R. Armory in which thu
meetings are held, has recently beer
beautifully painted and papered. The
presence Of ladies added new interest tc
the session. We suspect that some Of tht
members insome mysterious way OWNED
the improved appearance Of the room anG
thepresence Of the fair sex, as they came
dressed in their best Sunday clothes
work of the society is not confined K
keeping tho orchards in fine trim.
]. @. Kahn was called to the chair while
following paper;
Orchard Planting.
A suitable site is all-important. Sc
lect good deep soil such as will raise
good crops and make it loose by deep
cultivation. Steep hillsides and rocky
places are only admissible on the condi.
ton that you have no other land and thai
you will fertilize it thoroughly. See that
your land has a perfect, natural or srti.
fetal drainage. Next lay off your ground
30 as to irrigate to the last advantage
and stake the land of, say 25 feet apart
for apples. Take large plow or lister
and put it down as deep as you have
teams to pull it, and go through couple
Of times and then mark Of the other way.
and then you are ready to plant
You will not need to do much digging
for two-year-old trees. Have your trees
heeled-in in some convenient place aud
mix up puddle Of grout and dip in the
tree us soon rs you move it, and take it
at once to the place you wish to plant it.
roots to be exposed to the sun or wind,
any longer than possible. II you have q
large orchard you may let one man dis
tribute the grout-coyered trees and two
men follow and set the trees, keeping
close up to the man distributing. Set
tho trees two or three inches deeper than
they stoQd in the nursery row. Avoid
planting too deep as roots placed too low
fail to receive any benefit from the air or
sunlight. In setting out trees never al
low the roots to be cramped. Dig away
the soil and give ample room. Gut away
all broken or bruised roots. Takea sharp
knife and make u smooth cut from the
under side. In no case put manure in
the hole where you intend TO set trees, as
it is injurious to the roots and has q
tCAAChJy W AoICo slo"SA ohu Anttho WIG
tree tender, is it does not kill it the first
season.
One word about varieties. Do not
plant many varieties OF apples. Choose
a few good marketing apples that sue
ceed in your locality and leave the novel.
ties to the experimenters. II you do not
know what to plant 60 aud ask some one
that has had exderiencs and he will tell
you, as horticulturists are not generally
selfish but like to see every body succeed.
Two or three choice varieties OF
summer, the same Of fall, and six or seven
Of winter apples Is large enough va
riety.
Prune out all the cross limbs and open
out the head OF tho tree and let In the
sunlight and air. A green Ben Davis is
one that has grown In the shade and is
as deficient in flavor ~ In color and Ia
worthless.
When you have the frst row set turn
on small head OF water that will not
wash up the troos. Lot u run till the
ground 10 we'll Roaked and SO on until
You are through planting. In few days
take horse and small diamond plow
and turn In the soil TIL tho ground is
of the rows about four feet from the treea
for the purpose of watering. 1t is not
admissible to allow tho water to stand
around the trunks of the trees ns it causes
the bark TO become tender and may in
duce sun-scald. Keep the ground well
cultivated over the whole surface us the
roots Of the treo aro ns long as the height
Of the tree. Avoid tho mistake OF ma
nuring or cultiyating narrow circles
about the foot of the tree.
Preserve q smooth clear stem by
removing all suckers. Glover or grain
should never be allowed in the orchard
as they harbor insects and dprevent proper
cultivation.
Every year of this decade croakers
have continued that the market will be
over stocked. These prophecies of over
production have never been realized.
The larger the amount Of fruit grown and
the more reasonable the price the more
consumers are found. More than this
our population is increasing and the habit
Of fruit eating is becoming more popular.
"Thrice worthy he who beauties his
home and farm for the sake OF self, OF
family, Of neighberhood and OF the pass
ing stranger. Few realize the effect of
symmetry and beauty in nature on the
life of individual and community, unless
by travel they have had opportunity for
comparison, or have noted the good work
accomplished in towns morals indi-
rectly by application OF the laws of order,
neatness and ornament"
No farmer can buy fruits cheaper than
he can grow them. II he could, no one
would grow them at a less price than it
costs for the purpose Of selling to him.
Then the farmer who has no fruit never
buys it. Plant some fruit. Do not say
that you can buy it cheaper than You can
raise il, and then do without and force the
same hardship on your family. Never
allow your children to say that il my
father had been smart he would have
planted trait but plant it.
In answer to a question Mr.. McClain
said; plow deep before planting and cul.
tivate xeil afterward. F. M. Weiland
near Catlin has one Of the finest orchards
in the county and he never raises any
thing on the ground but keeps it well
cultivated all summer.
Gibsoni That portion Of his orchard
where he grew nursery stock made twice
the growth of that in which corn was
grown.
Kain: Water should be run close to the
trees the first year. He was going to try
clover in his bearing orchard. leaving
bare about eight feet square around each
tree. Will cut the clover but not remove
il from the ground.
McClain: With many farmers the eight
feet square of bare ground would grad
ually get smaller.