Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13
ABOUT ORCHARDS.
Some Practical Remarks By an
Agricultural Writer.
The Soil and Its Preparation; Selection of
Varieties, Planting, Cultivation
and Pruning.
fWritten ion the spy.l


In selecting site for an orchard, ex-
perience has taught cultivators that ele-
vated dry, firm, we'll matured growth, is
the only safeguard against the destruction
of the tree in winter.
SOIL.
A deep, dry, substantial soil between
sandy and clayey loam and possessing
among its inorganic parts a considerable
proportion of lime, is, according to all eX-
perience, the best. Springy or wet lands
are decidedly bad for an orchard, as too
much moisture is injurious. Such soil as
produces good crops of corn and potatoes
will in general afford the requisite and
best adapted nutrtment to apple and pear
trees.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.
The season before planting the soil
should be at least twice plowed with a
common and sub-soil plow, enriched with
suitable composts, and drained II neces-
sary; it should be Is inches to feet deep,
and quite dry.
SELECTION OF VARIETIES OF FRUIT
This is a most important point. The
selection of varieties must in all cases be
| made with reference to the uses to Whlch
they are to be appropriated, and whether
for home use or for the market. The mar
ket grower of the interior will find has
| most profitable culture to be principally
autumn and winter apples, because these
| can be packed and transported to great
distance with safety, and the comparative
| cheapnes6 of his lands enables him 10 com
pete advantageously with those more IA
vorably situated in regard to market lie
can only cultivate the summer fruits with
a view to drying or preserving, or for the
supply of a local market. All orchard
fruits intended for profitable orchard cul-
ture should be, first in regard to the trees,
hardy, vigorous and productive. The
fruits should be of good size, fair appear
ance, good keepers and of good quality.
PLANTING ORCHARDS.
When the soil has been thoroughly pre-
pared by sub-soil plowing and manurlng
pie matter but If this has not been done
planting properly requires considerable la
bor for large holes three or four feet wide
and two feet deep must be dug for the
trees, and the requisite composts procured
to be mixed with the earth in which the
roots are to be placed. Whatever. ma
nures be applied at the time should be
perfectly decomposed, as, if fresh and
warm, they will burn the roots. Trees are
often killed in this way The season OF
planting may be any time after the fall Of
the leaf by frost in autumn, till its reap
pearance in the spring, provided the
ground be not frozen. So important is the
operation of planting that 1t is better to
have one tree we'll planted than three
planted badly, and more fruit may be an
ticipated within the first ten years, II not
frozen, from the first one than from all the
others. When the compost has been laid
in the bottom of the hole, and layer or
fine surface soil spread over it. so as to be
highest in the centre the tree is set on it
so that when the planting is finished the
collar will be about two inches below the
surface. The roots must be carefully adj
justed, so that each one is spread out in
its natural position. The fine earth is then
filled in amongst them, so that no vaean-
cies will be left The upper roots should
be held back by the person who holds the
tree until the lower ones are covered.
When the filling in is half done 1t may be
gently trodden down with the feet, so as to
give the tree firmer hold of the ground
Mulching is an Indispensable operation in
all cases. 1t consists in laying on the sur
face of the ground, around the trees, to
the distance of three feet or so, cover
ing of half decomposed manure, sawdust
spent tan bark, ETC., two or three inches
deep. This prevents the moisture of the
soil from evaporation and maintains uni
formity Of heat and moisture which is
highly favorable to the formation OF new
roots. 1t also prevents the groWth OF
weeds around the tree, and obviates the
necessity of hoeing, dressing or watering
during the season. A deep. mulchlng
should always be given to fuli-planted
ing to the roots or drawing up the tree.
The distance between the trees in an ap-
pie orchard should be thirty-four feet from
tree to tree in all directions. In very
deep and strong soil, where the tree at
tains the largest size, forty feet is not too
much especially after the first fifteen or
between the size that different varieties
attain, and in their habits OF growth. one
will attain nearly double the size of an
other within ten years. Some are erect in
their habits, others spreading; and it vial
add greatly to the symmetry or the orchard
If the trees of the same size and habit OF
growth be planted together Varieties
that ripen about the same time should be
planted together, as the maturity can be
more easily watched and the. fruit gath
cred with much less inconvenience.
CULTIVATION.
Is very essential A young orchard set
in grass. and left to take care Of itself will
make very slow growth, II indeed, a large
part of the trees do not fam to grow. and
after few years die, as is generally the
case. When carefully plowed and culti-
waited in hoed crops, orchards thrive most
rapidly. care being always taken to pro-
tect the trees from damage either to the
The ground should be kept
rich and open, so as to be peryiouS to the
influence of rains, the sun and the atmos-
phere. Under these conditions the trees
will thrive vigorously All kinds OF cereal
grains are bad for orchards. If no root
crops are cultivated the ground should be
kept clean and mellow with the one-horSe
plow and cultfvator. Every third or fourth
year the trees should receive a dressing of
manure adapted to the wants of the soil
used in excess, they will cause quick
and strong growth of wood at the expense
of the fruiting; this is obviated by using a
properly balanced manure, applied in its
frequently practiced. A fruit tree has
three kinds of roots, each with its own
special functions: First, tap root, going
down perpendicularly from the trunk, to
give firm support to the tree. This
should not be meddned with. Second, long