The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-01-05
FARMER AND PLANTER
PLANTING ORCHARDS.
Some Practical Hints By Practical Orch
ardist.

Trees are oftener set too close to-
gether 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 neighbors to allow it
20 possess an individuality all its own.
AN additional reason for sparse plant
ing has lately become fmportant-the
necessity Of spraying for insects and
fungus pests-and for this reason. as
well as to allow of better cultivation,
the outside rows::shoulds not be set
which trees may be set depends
much upon the system of sprun-
ing. If heading-in Is followed
vigorously. and systematically, trees
may be set a third nearer than if al
lowed to take their natural form.
Heading-in should always be practical
with dwarf pears, and many of our
best growers pursue it 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 10 take their natural
form: sf. kstl
Apples, 40 feet. each, way; pears,
standard, 20 to Is feet; pears, dwarf,
IL feet to rod: ounces 1 rod; peaches,
20 feet; plums, 20 feet; apricots, 20 feet;
grapes, 6xs to sx10; currants, 4x6 to
6xs; blackberries. Ak to 6x9; raspber-
ries. 3x6 to SKIS. $50
These are safe distances. In certain
cases, showever,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 1t; but if the orchardist gives
the very best attention to fertilizing
and cultivating, plantations can be
mixed with good results.
Plow the land and fit it we'll. As all
orchards should be put into cultivated
crops for the first two years. at least,
at will generally be sound advisable to
plow the entire area before the or
chard is set, rather than to plow
strips where the trees are to go,
for the land can then be shaped better
with reference to surface drainage and
general conveniences. The trees
should be set neither in dead burrows
nor on back burrows. Level culture
should generally be adopted from the
start, unless it is necessary to displace
surface water. and in that case it may
be questioned if the land is fit for an
orchard. In all ordinary soils, holes
must be dug by hand for the tree
fruits. Flowing out deep furrow in
the line of the rows may lessen the
digging and aid in getting the trees in
line. The hole should be dug broad
and ample, and the harder the soil the
larger ought the hole to be-, form that
case the loose dirt which; is filed in
must give the tree. its start. In loose
and deep soils. the hole need, be no
larger than the spread Of the
roots. Chop up the soil : in the
bottom of the hole, or throw |
in few shovelfuls of loose surface
earth. The tree should besset an inch |
s"o eeeper shah ~ s,ooa IN tne
nursery, ior Inc loose ear'n VIII settle
anu WASH away IN ztne course OF the
season even ~ ~ IS wen packed when
Sne ~ % -. ~ pes.s sno1iu, oe
80 IN s'N .l'''"o' oeiow
sne D nsely o. mus. oe
e ea ~ se' .n' sou 'noroagnly
...n; NJ - us W; 'oos mn.en a,e
.ha;r n.t,,.a, os;.;a, ~ e S..;s,i,.
I'D. ,eS ,.a,I ro,. I'll, az ~ ~ 10y
=, o.5ar a. - ~. 80 ~ ~ srSt 80
- 49, ort Tha d;rt 80 49,
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