The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1904-04-08
Commercial Apple orchar ding.

In planting peach filters between
apple trees many OF our orchardists
have found that the peach grows so
rank as to rob the apple trees in much
the same way as cottonwoods, wind
breaks or Usage orange hedges whe n
planted too close to the orchard When
it ls desirable t. make use OF the land
between the trees while coming into
bearing age, | believe that annual crops
are better than fruit tree filters and the
returns are quite as certain while less
expense is required in clearing the epace
when needed by the permanent settisg.
Trees for filters would not be so obiec.
tionable il the same species we're always
used and il all orchardists would yank
them out promptly when they begin to
crowd the permanent trees.
Corn has been condemned by some OF
our horticulturists as crop for plant
ing between rows when the trees are
young, but we have found it the best
thing of all, Corn should not be plant
ed too closely, say four feet from the
rows, the first year. We have found
that 1t helps furnish protection from
the winds, which Is great and to the
trees during July and August. 1t is
better to lsaYe the stalks standing all
winter to afford better protection, catch
the SHOWS and keep the soil from drift
ing.
Kaffir corn and cane are too presist-
ent in their search for moisture and rob
the trees, therefore should not be plant
ed in an orchard at any time. Sugar
beets are all right the first two or three
years if water is abundant 90 that they
can be given supply at just the right
time without robbing the trees in doing
go.
Water should always be run up next
to the tree rows as often or more often
than it is applied to the cultivated crops
between the rows. Melons and tomatoes
make excellent nurse or cover crops for
an orchard if care is e1erclsed to shut
off the water in ample time to allow
the wood OF trees to mature in autumn.
The last watering before maturing the
wood should be between thu middle OF
August and 'he midd'N ~ Sep.csohc-,
the exact time depending entirely on
the character OF the soil. Land hold
ing moisture we'll will need it at the
earlier date while sandy or gravelly
soils may stand irrigation as late as the
18th of September aud yet dry up euf-
iciently to stop the growth before
severe weather occurs.
Beans of all kinds are desirable cropl
for cultivation in an orchard. The
nitrogen which they gather from the
| al uuu StOlc III tuo lOIn VI dNdlldUlt
plant food in the decay ing roots form
valuable return. to the soil for the smal
amount of fertility taken from it anC
are help rather than a hinderance t.
the growth OF the trees. Beans requir,
but little moisture to produce profitable
crops but like sugar beets must havt
that little just at the right time, whicl
is after the blossoming period and whel
the pods are filling out, On very sand
soil there are some points in fayot of
sort OF cheap john system of orchart
culture.
The plan consists in blowing narroy
strips, say six feet vide, where eacl
row Of apple trees is to stand, leavin
the middles il natural sod, This sttl
is carefully cultivated and irrigated
and the trees make about as goo
growth the first three years as il tn
entire land we're plowed and cultivated
AS the trees become larger and requir
more room for the spread Of roots fur
row or two is added TO each side Of tn
strip where the row stands until fnall
only narrow strip Of sod large enoug
for the wagon to follow remains in eac
middle. On land much inclined to bIov
the original sod makes the best cove
crop aud by CAREFUL culture OF tn
!, plowed part and thorough irrigation {
the entire land a most economical sy
tenn and one adapted to the purpoe
results.-W. L. Crowley in the Denvt
Field and Farm.