Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-12
Orchard Cultivation.

IL CAUSE oh partial OF enClro IrulC
failure is sought, after the orchardist
has fulfilled his part, it may confident
ly be expected to result from one Of
two interfering conditions. Either
the fruit buds or growing fruit have
been injured by untimely frost, or suf-
ficient moisture has been lacking at
some time during the growing season.
Loss or damage from the latter cause
is now quite as common here is the
east as in the arid or semi-arid fruit
growing districts of the far west.
There they have become fully con-
vinced that no fruit need be expected
without an adequate and continuous
supply of moisture, either by conserv-
ing that falling during the wet season
or artifcially supplied, or by both
methods combined. Here 1t will be
presupposed that the orchardist has
faithfully done his part in fertilizing,
pruning, insect protection and, if need
exist, in draining, and at June 1st has
fair setting of fruit. Up to that
time, in the east and the middle west,
there is but little liability Of drouth.
1t is the period from that date till
harvest that is most critical for the
fruit-grower and which annually keeps
the statisticians guessing as to the
outcome.
Ripe fruit contains SIS to 80 percent
of water. When we consider this fact,
in relation to another that the leaves
of tree are constantly exhaling
moisture into the air at the rate of
hundreds of tons to each acre of large
and thrifty fruit trees throughout the
INNER season, it becomes at once
apparent how necessary 1t is that no
moisture in orchard or vineyard
should go to waste. 1t also becomes
plain why fruit often drops in crop
running quantities even when a
drouth is Of but short duration when
sufficient cultivation has not been
given to conserve the moisture. The
tree will obey the law of self-preser-
vation by sacrificing it's fruit rather
than it's life.
Where special attention has not
been given to moisture conservation
by cultivation, it is not generally un-
derstood how absolute protection
against evaporation of soil moisture
is afforded by a dust mulch. A con-
vincing and practical illustration Of
| its efficacy was witnessed last season
in a garden potato patch, which, after
| deep plowing and thorough prepara-
tory tillage, was given conscientious
stirring and cultivation from once to
three times weekly. The desideratum
being to allow no crust to form favor
able to moisture dispersion, this was
| continued throughout the growth of
| the crop. Although the season was
unusually dr., and the soil such as to
be easily affected by drouth the pota-
toes Welded a magnificent crop, both
in size and CTality. At all times dur
| ing ths period named moist earth
| could be found within two or three
inches of the surface. while half
dozen feet away. on either side. where
no cultivation was practiced, the soil
was destitute of moisture for at least
| 1S inches below the surface.
Later IN the season the same fact
was emphasized when the writer had
| an opportunity to witness orchard cul-
| tivation in the far west. notably in
| California. There were observed
tree-braaking crops of splendid fruit
| just adjoining others of the same age
variety. and otherwise equally as well
cared for except in the cultivation
given, the latter showing only partial
| nf infarinr ch wi, oil
the way down to absolute crop fail
ures in all cases corresponding close
| ly to the cultivation and artificial
moisture supplied. The best results
were evident in that climate of con-
stant sunshine and moisture-less at
mosphere, where a dust mulch of five
or six inches was provided. 1t was
there also made evident that those de-
pending on irrigation, without much re-
gard TO cultivation, were often no bet
tor off than the orchards unirrigated
The uninterrupted supply of moisture
Is an absolute necessity for the best
fruit results. Just as soon as the sup.
plv fails. the fruit begins a premature
| ripening which is fatal to its perfect
future development, even should its
stem remain impaired from the par.
ent tree.
The point would especially empha.
size is that no one with an orchard
of bearing age. which at its best is
capable Of realizing it's owner. in east
or west. from $50 to Sio0 per acre
net. when properly handled. can af.
ford to convert the moisture rightly
belonging to the fruit into grass or
other crops, or what is equally bad
for the fruit, allow the moisture to
escape into the air through the me-
dunn of hard. uncultivated soil
crust.-B. F. W. Thorpe, in the Coun-
t-y Gentleman.