The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1901-12-26


holes; and we cannot give more
forceful illustration of the ideas of
two persons as to the wants Of a
fruit tree, or a better notion Of the
comparative provision made to
supply these wants, than by con-
trasting these too phrases them
selves. The one looks upon the
tree as living being, whose life
is to be rendered long, vigorous
and fruitful, by good supply Of
food, and a soil mellow and easily
penetrated by the smallest fiber.
The other considers it very much
in the light of trunchson or post
which he thrusts in the smallest
possible hole, and supplies with
the least portion of manure, trust
ing to what he seems to believe
the inextinguishable powers of ma
ture to make roots and branches
under any circumstances.
In this country where the sun
and climate are so favorable,
where pruning and training are
comparatively 30 little necessary,
the great requisite to success in
the ordinary culture of fruit trees,
is the proper preparation Of the
soil before tree is planted.
Whether a transplanted tree shall
struggle several years to recover
or grow moderately after a short
time, or at once start into a very
luxuriant and vigorous growth,
depends entirely upon the amount
of care and labor the planter is
willing to bestow on the soil for
his trees. We have seen several
instances where side by side, one
man planted his trees in large
spaces of deeply moved and rich
soil, and another in small holes in
the common way, which uniform
ly showed the trees of the first,
larger at five years, than those of
the last after twelve. No fruit
tree should be planted in hole of
less size tnan three feet square,
and Is inches to 2 feet deep.
Now to return to my own ideas
on this subject place your tree,
putting in fine rich earth around
the roots, working it in through
the roots well with the fingers, so
as to leave no cavities. Never use
any fresh stable manure in setting
your trees, as it will kill the tree
if the following summer should be
dry one. Avoid deep planting,
as many trees are lost from this
cause. They should be set about
as deep, or perhaps little deeper
than they were in the nursery.
Some years ago we were engaged
in selling fruit trees, and found
many persons that said they had
no luck in setting fruit trees. By
inquiry, we found that some had
planted them too deep. Others
wanting to be real good to them,
had given them too much fresh
stable manure.
When setting your trees,-es-
pecially apple trees, incline the top
little to the south, and stake ii
there, especially if your orchard is
where the wind has fair sweep
at it. Otherwise your tree will
be bent northward by the wind,
thereby exposing the trunk of the
tree to the hot sun of July and
August, which will finally kill it
We have witnessed this in our owr
orchard. We think early spring
the best time TO plant trees. We
would prefer fall planting if oul
winters were always mild, for by
spring the earth would be we'll set
tied about the roots of the trees
enabling them to stand the prob
able drouth of the following sum
mer. But if severe winter fol
lows a fall planting of trees, they
will be greatly injured, if not kill
, ed. Therefore we think early
spring planting the safest. II
either case, we should prepare oul
: ground in the fall. If we intenC
to plant in early spring we SHOULD
, get our trees the fall before anC
heel them in the ground to keel
them over winter. Or go to som,
near by nursery and get them whel
, we want them. We would recon
, mend two year old apple trees, ant
naanh traan ono unar from hnd n