Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-07
Growing Trees to Withstand Drouth.

| 1t has long been noticed how much
1 better decp-rooted trees and growing
plants stand a drouth than those which
are shallow rooted. The tendency t
root in any particular way is largely
an inherited characteristic in the va.
rious varieties of trees or plants, but
! partly a matter over which man has
some control. There are conditions il
which moisture is so frequently sup
piled by rain, or where the water from
| below comes so near the surface of the
ground, that it is impossible and I'M
necessary to try to make the trees root
deep. There are no fruit trees so far
as | know, and but few Kinds of nut
bearing trees, which do well if their
roots extend to a perpetual water
strata. But on ordinary soils, and
under usual conditions, trees may be SO
pl uned and trained that they will send
their roots deep down, and the deeper
rooted the trees become the healthier,
the longer lived and the more pro-
ductive they will average.
The trees from the same nursery, on
the same kind of root, if planted in
California, will stand drouth which
would kill it's fellow planted in New
Jersey. with its ordinary root system.
This fact leads me to inquire if there
is not some way by which trees may
be induced to root more deeply. The
chef cause Of the difference is that in
California the soil about the orchard
trees is kept well cultivated, and each
wet season the ground is deeply
, plowed thus ali the surface roots and
rootIets are cut off. The moisture dur
ing the growing months is supplied by
a deep furrow system Of irrigation, 50
the water is sent well down into the
ground and the roots have no need to
come to the surface for water. In
deed the top soil is Kept so well culti-
waited that there is always a dry layer
of earth of several inches in thickness,
which prevents the radiation Of mois-
Iture.
From experiments which have been
made in the East it is possible to force
the roots to go deeper than were nature
let alone, and always, so far as / have
Investigated, has the experiment been
attended with satisfactory results. If
the main roots of a young nursery tree
are pruned square across a number of
small rootlets Immediately start near
the point of amputation, and their
growth is usually at right angles to the
root from which they originate. Now if
IN place of a square cut, fresh very
obIique cut be made, the tendency is
for a single main sprout to grow, and
in the game direction with the root
from whicl1Sit started. 1t is evident if
this rule holds true, that a deeper
rooted tree can be obtained by prun-
ing the tap root or roots in this man.
ner. The side roots should be similarly
prnned and the oblique face of the cut
turned downward. Then If in addi-
ton to the proper initial root pruning,
the orchard be >plowed and cultivated,
if not as frequently as is the custom In
California, at least once in while, 50
as to cut off the surface. feeders, then
the tree will depend more and more
upon its deep roots. 1t would not be
well to allow too long an interval to
eIapse between these root prunings for
the removing of considerable guam
tity would be a severe shock to the
tree. Better do it often.
| Deep rooted trees do not respond as
quickly to fertilizers, but on the other
hand they do not make known wan.
as quickly. There are always
sufficient number Of small roots to
take in the food or water, and the fact