Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-01-26
NO BOUN TIES.
Cratiot Farmers Sit Down
on Those Given for
SUGAR AND SPARROWS
Hold a Very Interesting and In
structive Session.
SUGAR AND SPARROWS
Pass Resolutions Condemning Trusts Com
bination and Monopolies.

Our very successful institute was
opened Tuesday morning with a talk
NJ l.. Dean. Of Agricultural Col
lege. on the subject Of Setting Out
an Apple Orchard. He advised every
farmer 20 at least set out enough trees
TO supply his own wants and OCCASION
ally afford a surplus. First consider
well the location and that ii is not
always tile richest soil that is best for
this purpose. \ good drainage OF
both soil and air is necessary, the air
drainage being especially essential for
avoiding fungus diseases and often
aids 10y bearing away injurious insect
lite Often a few feet elevation of a
peach or plum orchard settles the
question Of success or failure Of crop
from spring froSts Soil not naturally
drained must be underdrained. After
selecting site prepare it one or two
years before setting by thorough cul-
tivation. The keynote of successful
apple raising is to get strong, hardy
trees which must not receive the least
check from the nursery TO the bearing
orchard Buy Of reliable nurseries
only which guarantee their stock.
Those OF long standing and business
reputation most likely 80 prove reli-
able. one of the reasons for our or
chards not being 50 productive as for
merly is their general neglect from
the average farmer for other farm
work For spy ana other slow grow
ing varieties might be advisable to
top work on common hardy stock. II
you cannot get trees early enough in
spring buy in fall aud heel in through
the winter. In heeling put dirtrclear
TO small limbs and cover further if no
snow. Would not advise fall planting
from the liability OF freezing and
thaWing TO break the small hOrOus
roots before the tree is firmly eStab-
lsned. Mark off each way in straight
rows forty-tve or fifty feet apart, then
in center of squares thus formed can
pant the quick growing varieties like
the Waggoner or peach trees and when
the slower varieties get large cut
these out. Remove all dead dry roots
and cut off where broken or bruised,
thus causing small rootlets TO be
thrown out instead OF the injured
roots TO stop vitality Of the tree. Dig
hole plenty large enough for roots,
place tree in carefully and firm fine
soil around roots leaving slight de-
preston to hold moisture. Would
not mulch with coarse material as it
draws all roots TO the surface where
the moisture is and where they Will
suffer unless mulch is kept there dur
ing the entire life OF the tree. Let
the roots be lower and preserve the
moisture with a dust mulch. Allow
no weeds TO grow in orchard. a hoed
crop may be all right for first few
years but no grain crop. Would be
careful about what | pasture orchard
with if at all. Sheep liable TO gnaw
trees aud hogs To eat the roots. An
advantage to have wOrmy diseased
manure ecattor broadcast aS car ont
as limos extend not close TO body.
Would be an advantage in mulching
for white: protection 70 prevent freez-
ing aud thawing Set fully as deep
or deeper than those we're in nursery
and straight and trim SO heaviest
limbs shall be toward prevailing winds.
To prevent limbs growing down, prune
just in front Of upgrowing bud and
vice versa. Never trim SO two limbs
shall be opposite. Would suggest fol.
lowing varieties for family use: Vel
low Transparent, Early Harvest, Red
Astrachan or Gutenberg, one Sweet
Golden and GravenStine for early:
Maiden Blush, Bailey Sweet, Famuse
and Wealthy FOR fall, and jonathan,
Grimes Golden, ThOmpkins, Baldwin,
Northern Spy and one of the Russets
or Vaudevere.
Question Box. What is the best
method of preventing blistering on
southwest side OF fruit trees and what
the cauSe?" Cause. scalding by hot
sun. Preventative, board set up on
that side or any similar cOntrivance
60 keep off the suns rays.
"What is the remedy for lIessian
fly in wheat?" So far no sure pre-
tentative, Late sowing recommended
as it is an insect that deposits eggs
after second leaf starts and If sulh.
cient, warm weather after that they
are Matched and go down. This pest
is usually controlled by parasites.
VIII sometimes work on spring plants.