The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-12-10
Plant Your Trees in Autumn.

All fruit trees, except the peach and
all the smaller fruits except the black
cap raspberry are best planted in the
autumn, and the earlier after the leaves
fall, the better. The advantages of
fall planting may be summed up as
follows:
l. Nurserymen have fuller and bet
ter stocks of trees in the autumn when
the sales begin. The best are sold first,
and later orders are filed with the
material which remains on hand.
Sometimes it is impossible to have an
order for certain varieties filled in the
spring, all of that stock being sold.
There is frequently observed a marked
superiority in stock received in the
fall.
2. If trees are properly planted in
the early autumn almost every one il
sure to live and thrive the next season,
while of those planted in the spring u
considerable per cent will die the first
year. The explanation Is that during
the warm days of autumn the trees be-
come established in their new locations.
moisture as they do in the spring. The
earth becomes compacted about the
roots, which form calluses over the cut
and torn ends, and even begin to emit
small rOotlets before winter sets in, SO
| that Oh the earliest warm days OF
spring the young orchard Is ready 10
start off to make full growth.
3. Another reason for fall planting
. n x.o mr.
time to dig and pack the trees. and
there Is less liability OF errors, which
are very provoking when discovered
after the lapse of eight or ten years
when the tree begins to fruit. The
planter, too has more time to properly
do the work Of planting, so that all
orchards planted i'll the autumn have
better chance of succeeding.
Strictly first-class trees and vines
should always be purchased. Other
qualities may live, but they will gen.
orally come to bearing so far behind
frst-elass stock that more will be lost
than is gained. To illustrate this;
Some years ago the writer purchased 8
thousand third-class currant bushes
They nearly all grew, but failed "a
| fruit the second and third years with
any degree Of profit, 80 that the loss
was considerable. So with pear and
apple trees of the second-class mora
will die and the remainder Will De
longer in coming into bearing.
Nurserymen often advocate the
planting of very young trees. THIS
will do If the trees are to have glrden
culture, but where trees are to De plant
ed i'm all orchard and will receive only
ordinary care the larger tree, three Oh
four wears old, will stand much the
better chance of living and early fruit
ing. Always order straight, thrifty
clean and healthy stock from the nur
sery, and insist that it be guaranteed
| free from all insect and fungus dis
After the trees are planted pull the
earth up around each one to support
il against the winter winds. In ex
ceptionally windy places it may De az.
| visable to stake each tree, but Orcaar0s
should not be planted in such locations
for the fruit will stand but little chance
of remaining upon the tree TO maturity
BEFORE ordering the trees. make out
= list of varieties suitable to the local.
tv and the needs of the family. Many
Varieties of apples and pears have only
q local reputation. Many winter ware
t;es 81 the North mature in autumn
or even late summer for the South
"A n general rule, but few summer
apples should be planted. A rev !rees
/ of early varieties will be needed iol
family use. but the bulk OF the ordel
for annie trees should be made up o.
| winter varieties. With pears the same
il largely true, although the autumn
mars will probably lie considered more
reliable than the winter ones ny mos'