Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-22

| adapted stock that trees of hardy
| varieties might have been obtained for
of reliable nurserymen in our OWE
state.
They have often used tricks of the
trade to induce farmers to buy, and.
| naturally enough, the results have
| been unsatisfactory. 1t would be un-
safe to say that tree agents are never
reliable. Some of our own nursery
men are their own travelling statesmen
and such can almost always be de
pended upon. But it is quite safe to
say that the average itinerant tree
agent is too often unreliable to merit
the farmers confidence. The best
place to buy fruit trees is undoubtedly
direct from the nurseryman. By sc
doing the purchaser usually secures
his trees at a much lower price, Is
more certain that they are true to
name, and if the nurseryman is of oul
own state, or from the northwest, his
stock is usually well adapted and he
can give excellent advice as to
varieties. The best way of all is for
the farmer to drive 20 local nursery
with his team and wagon, and select
the trees from the nursery rows him
self Two-or-three-year-old trees are
usually preferable to older ones.
Prices.
To inform our farmers as to the
prices at which they may secure fruit
trees, we have sent a circular letter to
the principal nurserymen Of Wiscon-
sin, asking for the prices at which they
would agree to ship good trees of the
apple, pear, plum and cherry, two and
three years old, for cash. The replies
show that good three-year-old apple
trees may be had at Is to 33 1-3 cents
each, pear trees at 80 to so cents, plum
and cherry trees at 25 to SO cents each
We do not feel justified in publishing
the names of our nurserymen but a
list of Wisconsin nurserymen may be
obtained of the secretary of the Wis
consin State Horticultural Society, J.
L. Herbst of Sparta
The trees had generally better be
ordered during the winter Or before
the season opens in spring. The
nurseryman's stock will then be larger,
and less difficulty will he had in
securing what is desired.
Planting.
Land that has been cultivated
year or two is generally preferable to
sod, though the latter may be used
with good results if proper care is
exercised in planting the trees. PloH
the ground well before planting in all
cases. The trees are preferably plant
ed in straight rows both ways. Apple
trees should not be set nearer than 80
feet apart,-35 is probably better
Pear, plum and cherry trees may be
planted rs feet apart. Dig the holes
abundantly large and deep to accom-
modate all of the roots. The latter
sound wood, and dipped in water or
mixture Of water and soil to promote
prompt root action. The top should
be cut back in proportion to the
amount of root the tree has. That is
if the tree has plenty of roots and not
many branches the top may be left dr
cut or cut only slightly, but if, as is
usually the case, the roots have been
mostly cut off in taking up the tree,
the top should be cut back rather
severely. Care should be taken to cut
back the top so as to leave it well
balanced.
Throw loose surface soil into the
hole until the tree will stand about an
inch deeper than it grew in the
nursery. Place the tree, holding it up
right and in line, and throw in surface
soil, working it well among the roots
dry pour in three or four pals of water
after the roots are covered with soil
and let it soak away until the next day
before filing the hole. Then fill
the hole level full, and unless it is
very early in spring, mulch the soil
about the tree for distance of two OF
more feet in all directions with coarse
manure, clean straw. marsh hay OF
leaves. If the planting is done sc
early that the soil is still cold. thE
mulching may be deferred until thu
grass begins to start freely, but eXcep'
in very wet springs it should always
be put ON before warm weather. Tn
ground should be cultivated about The
trees during the first half of the sea
son each year; in the latter half it i:
better to sow some crop on it, as
clover, peas, oats, rye or buckwheat.
Varieties to Plant.
1t would be impossible to name 9
list of varieties that would be best
adapted to all parts of our great state.
All who propose to plant fruit trees
should inquire as to the varieties that
are proving most successful in their
own vicinity, and the testimony thus
secured should be accorded as much
weight as any published list they may
find The list we here offer is small
one, but it is perhaps as large as it is
safe to recommend for general plant
ing. 1t is based largely on the lists
that have been published from time 10
time by the Wisconsin State Horticul-
tural Society.
Apples-For sum mer, Tetofski; for
late summer and early fall, Oldenburgh
(more commonly called Duchess in
wisconsin,; for late fall, McMahan,
Fameuse or Snow; for early winter,
Wealthy; for late winter, Northwest
ern Greening.
Pears-Flemish Beauty.
Plums-Native- Soto, Forest
Garden, Ocheeda, Wyant, Quaker.
European-Lombard. Japanese-Abun-