The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-23

TRRR PLAN TING.
Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer
ALAMANOE Co, N.

of trees is nearing its close. But hen
the spring season is backward, as IL Is
this year, trees may be tr~ansplanted
successfully for more than q month
vet to come, especially if the trees IN
tended to be planted have been taken
ND before the sap began to rise, and
kept buried on the north side or a build
ing or some other cool place. / once
saw an orchard planted by the late
John Turrentine, of this county, that
was planted i'm May. 1t was before the
dav of railroads in this section. He
wrote to a nurseryman to have the
trees taken up for him, but he was de
layed in going after them. The trees
were somewhat dried dried out before
he got them home. He placed them in
the branch ver night, planted them
we'll. The long season Of May set in
soon after. All the trees lived and he
had a good orchard. I, however, pre-
fer setting trees either in November or
February.
AS so much has been written on the
planting of fruit trees, it is not needful
to be very specific; yet / deem it proper
to caution novices against planting
trees either in poor land or IN a tena-
ciou5, cold subsoil if there is better
land to plant upon. Do not plant a
tree too deep. I would suggest not
much deeper than it grew in the u
sery. Then drive a stake on each side
of it and conine the young tree to each
stake by a string or a small vine, so as to
keep it from being rocked by the wind.
Ct refer to large nursery stock. It is
not necet sary to stake small stock. l
prefer to set peach trees Of n years
growth and pears and apples Of two
years growth. If possible, plant moth
ing but healthy, vigorous stock reject
any infested with the woody aphis,
which shows itself upon the roots in a
white downy substance, but as the tree
grows older it appears upon the body
and caust 3 knots, making the tree IN
healthy. The sphis may be pretty
efectually destroyed by dipping in
water strongly impregnated with blue
stone. 1t will not hurt the tree.
The heavy gale last fall blew many
fruit trees down in this section; others
are badly injured. Trees of email size
may be set up and made to do well
where too many of the roots are not
broken. But a part of the top should
be cut away. otherwise the tree will not
flourish. Trees badly slanted or canted
should have the earth dug from under,
them and be slanted slightly in the op
posite direction; for if left to grow in
an inclined position, the body Of the
tree, being unprotected, will sun scald
and soon decay.
The trimming should be done in the
early growth of the tree. During the
first year do not rub the buds or leaves
from the young tree. Leave them on.
If too many twigs or young limbs start,
so as to make the young tree top heavy,
some of them should be cut away.
Large vigorous limbs should new be
cut eff. I have seen many thrifty
orchards ruined by injudicious trim
ming, No green limb should be cut
away that is too large to heal over Il
refer to the pear and APPLE. All the
dead limbs and twigs should nov be
taken from the tree as o as possible
and burned. Many trees show prema
ture decay by the ends of the twigs
and limbs dying. This is caused by
o~verbearing, a poor subsoil, or by per
hitting stock to tread and pack the
soil around the trees. 1t can be par
TALLY remedied by cutting back the
limbs, blowing the orchard and enrich
ing the soil. But when decay fairly
sets in and the sap becomes Vitiated, do
your best and the tree will die within
afew years. Pear and apply. trees may
be lightly trimmed or pruned at any
season of the year, but the best time in
this climate is from June till February.
Peach trees may be trimmed at
almost any season of the year. They
should be headed in or back every
year; otherwise the tree will overbear
and the fruit be small.
WHERE WILL H NEXT GENERATION GET
ITS LUMBER
The great gale of last September
blew down much large timber in all
sections; much of it has been sa we'd
into lumber, but much of it is defective,
showing signs of decay, and being
badly worm eaten. In fact, in cutting
much oak timber, I find a great deal of
il to be defective. The Spanish and
Black oaks are nearly all dead or dying.
The many saw mills are cutting up the