The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-03
AGRICULTURAL.

One of my objects in visiting California
recently was to ascertain the methods
used IN the cultivation of their orchards
and vineyards. I have always advo-
Gated level culture for all fruit orchards
and vineyards. and 1 was very much
pleased to find in the great fruit grow
ing sections of California that growers
were using level cultivation for all or
chards
The system In this state, and in fact
in all the great fruit growing sections Of
the Pacific states is almost perfect-the
nearest to being perfect I have seen in
any country. The growers here practice
thorough and clean cultivation. No pref
tier sight can be seen anywhere in fruit
growing than an orchard of orange trees
as planted and cultivated in southern
California. The work is performed by
the use of light cultivators and smooth
ing harrows.
Now, a matter that has perplexed me
for some time was how to make cul-
tivator that would work under the trees,
keeping the horses far enough out of
way to prevent the bitches from barking
the trees, and also to prevent the harness
rubbing the bark off and breaking the
limbs. That such an implement was i'm
portant and that such a one could be
made | had no doubt, and on reaching
California 1 found this all fully accom-
plished. These cultivators are made with
extended arms, which can be let out to
meet the demands of the trees or the
work that is required, so that as the
trees grow the team may be moved out
nearer the center, between the rows, and
the arms of the eultivator heightened so
as to reach up under and as close to the
trees as is safe. These arms or side at
tachments are provided with shovels or
cultivator teeth, the same as the main
cultivator, and these may be changed
to suit the class of work that is needed.
This is very simply constructed ar
rangement, as well as a cheap one, and
also one that is almost INDISPENSABLE in
orchard work. A smoothing harrow can
be used to follow thu cultivator and this
leaves the land perfectly level, as well
as leaving a dust mulch for preventing
the escape of moisture. In fact the dust
mulch Is one of the best means of con-
serving moisture for all crops.
Soil Should Be Prepared.
But In order to be able to use these
improved time and labor saving imple-
ments In the cultivation of orchards and
to use them to best advantage the soil
should be fully prepared lefore the trees
are planted. This part of the work we
have explained before in these papers,
yet 1t is a matter that cannot be too
strongly urged, for II trees are set on
rough land 1t will be almost impossible
to work such soil to any advantage.
The orchard question is now receiving
vast amount of attention. and the
growing of fruits for commercial pur-
poses, both for home and for export
trade, Is now one of the big industries
of this country. And this industry will
pay just in proportion to the amount of
care and attention that is given to the
business Now, more fruit trees will be
planted this season than ever before in
any one season, and the grower will save
himself lots of hard work and worry by
having his lands prepared before planting
the trees. In connection with this sub
ject we might notice some things in con-
nection with the California fruit business
which furnishes food for thought.
We speak more particularly of Cali
fornia because 1t has had the lead in the
fruit industry for some time. but now
Oregon, Washington, Utah and Colorado
are all fast becoming great fruit growing
sections, and they, like California are
employing the latest up to date methods
in all their details of fruit production.
The question of labor enters into this
matter, and the grower of experience
knows full well what THIS labor question
means IN growing and handling his crops.
This Is one of the strongest reasons why
the soil should be thoroughly prepared
before planting, so that the cost Of pro-
duction or cultivation may be reduced
to minimum. 1 have been satisfied In
my mind for some time that these west
DDS in growing and packing their fruits
for market, and so l have been anxious
to visit this section and see for myself
something of how a business that is
bringing such revenue to a country was
conducted
Now one of the things we want to no.
tice along this line is, first, the enormous
yields of commercial fruit in California
fruit orchards. l suppose that many of
our readers, when they read in my article
on peach growing the statement that
growers in Alabama, Georgia, MISSISSIPPI
pi and Texas had cleared 5000 per acre
from ElAfrta peach trees in one season,
that I was beginning to have little regard
for the truth; but now when l state that
this season some California peach or
chards Melted from $500 to $500 per acre.
they will say: ''Well this man heads
the profession on reckless statements"
Yet these facts were given me by reliable
parties, and besides they have been be-
fore published to the world and are open
for criticism, IL necessary; bit l do not
question the statement in the least
visited one fruit ranch-they call every
thing out there a ranch-where the owner
was boxing and selling his crop of apples
from eight-year-old trees-that is, they
were two years old when set and have
been set six years, which makes them
eight years old from the nursery. This
orchard was giving a net return of $500
per acre. But such results as these can
be obtained only where the very best
scientific methods are used In every de-
tail of the business.
Another Question.
But here Is another question for the
careful consideration Of all who are now
engaging in the planting of orchards.
Why should California fruit bring on
our eastern market fancy prices when
our fruits are a drug on the same mar
kets? I have shown In a previous article
that so far as quality is concerned our
fruit is better even than California fruit,
or fruit shipped here from any part of
the west. After visiting the west | am
able to now answer this question and the
answer Is that the western growers have
educated themselves up to know the
fances of the buyers and they have
learned that fancy appearing fruit can
only be grown under high cultivation,
and by giving the whole business their
on the trees at the proper time and then
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