The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-07-30

OFSWaFo tFSHtWcVts
From the Farmers Review: Old
orchards. four times out Of Ave,
means nothing more nor less than
neglected orchards, for trees Of the
fruit.bearing class grow old rapidly
when illtreatcd. The first point to
consider Is the common custom of
treating frult-bearing trees as II they
were ordinary forest trees. without
any needs in the line Of soil. cultiva-
ton. There are many reasons why
orchards should be cultivated quite
the same as annual crops. The soil
needs opening up. that air and sun
shine may penetrate to some depth.
also weeds and grass use water need.
ed by the trees, to say nothing OF the
fertilizer they consume Perhaps the
most important point In this connec-
ton is the very matter of water
consumption. A soil thoroughly brok.
en- up by tillage holds water like q
sponge. and will draw Il from great
depths; now, II kept free Of weeds,
and the top two or three inches IL
kept thoroughly pulverized by means
OF fine-toothed harrow. An earth
mulch is obtained which Is every bit
as good as q mulch Of chopped straw
or grass clippings. II prevents the
soil water from loss from surface
evaporation, and rs the trees are con.
tinually using the water within reach
OF Its roots from every direction
about the tree there is q dow through
the soil towards these roots, but for
the earth mulch, this how would be
towards the surface, where the winds
would carry 1t on. It is not alone
the loss of water to be guarded
against. This soil water carries in
solution more or less plant food, and
when 1t is drawn to the tree by
means of what might be called root
suction. the fertilizer goes with II. II
the water is lost by surface evapora.
ton, this plant food does not reach
the tree. II Is important to note. how
ever. that bare soil must be kept
pulverized on the surface. II It is
allowed to bake and form crust,
surface loss Of water commences at
once. In short. the orchard, II Il Is
expected To do good work. must be
cultivated quite as thoroughly as q
field of corn.
The question OF plant foods for
orchards has been neglected fully as
much as tillage, though for less
cause, as We all know now that plants
must be fed regularly TO make useful
growth. Annual crops remove plant
food ingredients from the soil we all
admit. but many Of us do not regard
fruit trees In the same light. Trees
make more or less annual growth
both above and below the ground
also the leaves and blossoms form q
very respectable weight OF material
all Of which is comparatively very
rich In potash and phosphates. Tt
these must be added the fruit crop
which also needs very considerable
amount OF plant food. The fruit 4,
|, what we want, and II Is the frui
, which takes It's supply of plant foot
last. Between the new wood and roo
growth, blossoms and leaves. and tn,
crop OF fruit. the yearly needs of ar
orchard In plant food is every bit a,
large, II not larger, than grain crops
OF the more exhausting kind. There
fore, IL an annual grain crop needs
, plant food. 1t is Just as certain tha
orchards on the same soil also neet
manuring. There is. however. a diff
ference In the plant food needs OF |,
grain crop and fruit crop. To grow
fruit also a crop OF leaves and Woo
in the shape Of branches, roots, etc
Now. leaves are rich In potash an,
phosphates; the wood. etc. Is highe
in potash than In phosphates. and thu
! fruit shows many pounds Of potasl
to every pound OF phosphoric acid
The natural conclusion is. therefore
that fruit manuring Is largely
matter of mineral manures.-potasl
and phosphates.
We have now shown that plan
3 food should be used. the next poin
Is how much and what kind. Manure
} rich in ammonia (nitrogen) may b
. all right for grain. but they will no
: do for fruit,-make too much lea
and green wood growth. The plant I,
7 self suggests potash and phosphates
!. Phospnates may be obtained as OF
I, dinary acid phosphate, bone meal o
) bone tankage: potash as German po,
ash salts. such as kainit or muriatt
Do not trust too much to fertilizer @
high sounding name only. With u
bone and tankage products are cheaI
and q mixed fertilizer Is apt to cor
y tain ammonia and phosphorus. bu
y very little potash. There is not an
: potash TO speak of in bone or tanl
age. Look at the analysis, and sc
that the potash (actual potash)
. at least as high as the phosphori
acid. II II Is not possible TO get
& fertilizer satisfactory. use per acr
u three parts of bone meal to one paI
OF muriate of potash. and use It ever
year.--R. Garwood.
Scrub Feeding.
l. From Farmers Review: Men VIII
It grow live stock at home often becom
. oyer-enthusiastic over pure-bred stoc
n uio IN