Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-04-09
PLANTING
FRUIT TREES.

FRUIT TREES.
Detailed and Valuable Instructions by
Frank Crowley.
Perhaps the most critical point in the
life of tree is the time when it is being
Transferred from the nursery row to the
permanent plantation, The dryness OF
our atmosphere and the great amount Of
sunshine, together with the very drying
winds that frequently occur at the season
when tree planting must be done, make
it necessary to exercise unusual
care in protecting the roots while hand.
ling trees. While it is fact We must
use more care in moving young trees
than they do in the rain belt, it is also
true that our system Of irrigation gives
US advantages, after the tree is set, that
that make it possible for rs to transplant
trees Of all kinds more successfully than
in any place where the rainfall is de.
pended upon entirely.
So much depends upon the manner in
which the tree is handled in planting the
orchard that it is impossible to cover
more than few Of the more important
points that have bearing ON the subject
in one paper.
About the first Of April 10 believe, the
very best time for tree planting in the
Arkansas valley, and in an ordinary
season trees will be too far forward by
the middle Of April Where . large
number Of trees are 10 be set the bulk
Of the work should be done during
March.
A two-year-old Apple or Pear tree, 4
to 6 feet high, well branched, and that
crown, is the ideal size for planting in the
business orchard. It is easy to handle,
can be packed in moderate space, is
quickly set out and can be pruned to suit
the orchardist. However, With irrigation
We can make any sized tree live and dc
well, and especially il they are trees that
have been grown by irrigation, 40 such
will have abundance Of fine roots within
reach Of the spade. I have seen hun
dreds of .::4-and 5-year.old sapple, pear,
cherry, peach and shade trees trans.
planted here that made q good growth
and gave crop OF fruit nearly o. soon
as il undisturbed; But these are too
large for planting in the market orchard
and besides are not to be had by our
tree planters. OF the peach, plum,
prune cherry, ETC., I think 8 to 6year-
old whip is just about the right size.
As to the distance for planting the
various species Of fruit trees much will
depend ON the method Of culture 10 be
pursued and the crop to be grown be-
tween, il any.
For a market orchard Of the apple,
where NO small fruit is to be grown be.
tween, and either clean culture or some
fer to plant Is feet each way. But where
the land is valuable and it is desirable to
crowd things little good distance is
30 by Is feet, making the thick rows run
north and south or else toward the two
O'Clock. k..sun. While it Is folly to plant
trees 80 or IS feet apart each way il is
equally bad to plant so close as 12to Is
feet apart each way. While the tree will
not injure each other at that distance un-
til several crops Of fruit have been
gathered, one thing in connection with
the caro- Of the orchard must be taken
into consideration. That is, we must
henceforth have room to work among the
trees, not only with the cultivator but
also with the sprayer, and when lnrper
acreage Is to be sprayed it will be neoes-
sary to use two horse machine, and for
rapid work 1t will be desirable 10 20
crosswise as we'll as lengthwise Of the
rows, spraying from the four quarters a.
fast as the team can walk.
For the upright growing pears 20 BY
~ feet will be ample room. Plums will
require from II TO 16 feet square accord
ing 70 varieties Peaches 20 by 20; Cher
ries 10 by 20; Ounce II by II.
60 to the beam and il followed BY a snb-
soiler 30 much the better. Our land that
has been in cultivation for some time mas
Q very friable subeoil and there ia little
trouble to get the roots to penetrate il 4
it cannot be plowed more than eight
inches. In the vicinity of Denver. how
ever. it 10 very different and David
brothers have been using dynamite yery
successfully in loosening up the under.
planted. Aave the ground moist Nv
winter irrigation before plowinp. DRAG
the land plowed each day 80 as 10 lenve
no clods. When ready for planting
stake of both ways, lay of light furrows
cto6ewlse and then plow deep and wide
ditch in the direction the water is TO rnn.
reset the stakes in the middle Of furrows
and little trouble will be experienced in
making the trees line up. Where Il IL
necessary to plant nearly rs fast os The
land is being plowed it is not Convenient
to lay of burrows crosswise and then n
pole the right length is used to measure
each tree as set. Where the main fnr.
rows have been plowed deep it will NOT
take much digging to accomodate the
roots. But one thing must be observed
in digging these holes, and that is not E 10
leave the bottom with a depress;on @ N
scooped out in the center but to mako tba
hole il anything, slope outward 10 the e
edges 30 as to provide drainage for the e
roots. One man does the sighting and md
holds the trees in place while one or two two
men with shovels sift the fine ton s"E sn;i
among the roots. He jolts the tree mn nm
and down gently while they are ID doiupp up
this 30 that the earth can ind III uvsaS r,ax
down among and under the roots. 'whayy
the roots are covered he steps down and md
firms the earth little with his FOOT thau
little more is sthrown In, the II roots % bs;en amen