The Lamar register., 1906-08-08
STARTING AN ORCHARD ON
THE FARM.

little information. I am just open
ing out a new farm. Have had my
ground plowed and cropped one year.
l expect to do my first planting in the
spring. Would you advise the plant
ing of an orchard close to the house,
where the ground slopes to the south.
or ought 1t to be planted on the high
est ground on the farm, irrespective of
location? Does the slope or elevation
have anything to do with what they
call sun scald, or the effects OF spring
frosts? Would you plant a windbreak
around the orchard? If so, on what
side. and what kind of trees would
you use? Do you consider close plant
ing advisable in the orchard, with the
expectation of cutting out when they
crowd"
In reply to the inquiry, will say that
the site of the farmers orchard is.
as a rule, near the house and prob
ably will be in the future. There are
many advantages in having it there
which Offset the reasons why it should
not be. The man who makes fruit
growing his main business should con-
slider well before deciding where he
will plant his trees, so that good and
profitable returns may be obtained.
There has been much debate in recent
years in state horticultural meetings
and Institutes as to what slope is best
situated for the apple orchard. The
trees planted on a southern or south
western slope are more subject to
sunscald there than If they are planted
on northern or eastern one; on the
nj ho
a very severe winter trees suffer more
from root-killing on the northern slope.
the intensity OF the frost being great
er. AS sunscald probably causes the
death of more trees than root-killing.
and as the latter can be protected to
large extent by growing clover crops.
we would recommend northern or
eastern slope as best.
All practical farmers and fruit
growers know that spring frosts are
very local, even occurring on one part
of farm and not on the other, and
as such late freezing sometimes means
great loss, especially if it should oc-
cur at blooming period, it is essential
and important to avoid using site
that Is low when one of higher alti-
tude can be procured near by. Gen
orally speaking. the apple trees grow
well in almost any kind of soil, if 1T
is thoroughly drained. 1t is this won
derful adaptability of the apple which
has caused it to be planted on the
many varied soils we have in our
state, but we are confident that the
better the soil the better the results
will be. A good orchard soil is one
;.,, 4 ,,,t+t
food rich in humus, while sandy, loose
soil is generally lacking in this. To
bring 1t up to the requirements of tho
tree, lots of artificial fertilizer or
barnyard manure must be used
The preparation of the land before
planting has not had the attention it
deserves by our farmers. II very often
happens that the farmer or fruit grow
err instantly decides to plant an or
chard. no previous thought or prep
aration being given to the matter or
If there had. nothing was done to get
the land into the proper condition for
the young trees. There is no future
preparation or care that will make up
for the loss sustained. We believe
that all orchard land should be plowed
deeply in the fall If possible, and sub
soiled. This prepares the soil so that
the roots can easily penetrate deeper,
and as the soil is broken. makes de-
pository for the elements OF nutrition.
The time to plant an orchard in this
country is invariably in the spring,
although trees may in occasional sea-
sons be planted out in the autumn.
But 1t is dangerous practice and one
that should be abandoned. The dis
tance apart that apple trees should
be planted will vary according to the
varieties used and the land at the
planters disposal. That trees may
thrive and produce fruit of good size
and quality, they require an abund-
ance of sun, light and air, and they
cannot obtain this If planted closely
together. There is but one argument
in support of close planting and that
is the protection that trees afford each
other, but to obviate this, We recon-
mend the planting of low-top trees so
that the stems may be shaded. The
great mistake in the past in the or
chards of Iowa or the northwest have
been that they are planted too close.
the result being the production of
poorly colored, scrubby fruit. Apple
orchards in Iowa should not be plant
ed out less than 25 feet apart each
way, and if land and the planters
conscience will permit, make it 80
feet.
If the orchard is not naturally pro-
tected from the wind by trees or ris-
ing ground. windbreak may be
planted with good effect along the
north and west sides or on the south
side. This must be governed by the
location and direction of prevailing
winds. We would not encourage wind
breaks that would be dense, so as to
check the circulation of air, but mere
ly break the velocity of the wind, and
as the proper windbreaks lessen the
force of the wind, it will protect the
trees from being blown over and they
will grow straighter and more shape
ly. The windbreak will also be a fac
tor of Importance in retaining the
moisture in the orchard during a
drought, as the wind is one of the
greatest agents in drying out our land.
The best trees to plant for wind