The Sauk Centre herald., 1906-03-22
HORTICULTURE
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Setting Trees on HiIIsides.

a number of articles written by prac-
tical orchardists on setting trees,
have felt it duty that some one
briefly present the other side of the
question bearing on the subject herein
referred to. viz, the advisability of
plowfng up grass side hill to set an
orchard. Not being conversant with
the many surroundings and different
environments that should always be
taken into account, I can only venture
few suggestions resting on general
principles. If the side hill site that
has been referred to in your former
issues extends to the top of the orch
ard or perhaps further up above it,
should very much prefer to set trees
in sod. refer to the great Northwest
and not south of Chicago. There are
very few orchards over the North
west that are not now in grass. Where
the orchards have been left to go
through winter here on cultivated soil
where potatoes and other vegetables
have left the ground bare, the trees
have, as a rule, fallen victims to root
killing and always will till we succeed
in growing our choice apples top
worked on extra-hardy stock.
l will give the plan l have followed
for many years in setting trees, and
especially in setting trees on a south
hill. l remove the end about three
feet across the place where l intend
to set the tree. Dig the hole first by
taking off the sod. Place this to one
side. Then l place the next six inches
out on either side. dig each hole
about two feet deep nearly out to the
edge of the SOD on the outside.
Then I dig down the outside of the
upper edge of the hole surface dirt
enough to raise the roots of the tree
about seven inches from the bottom.
Then l adjust the roots. If any ap-
pear to be too long and spindling
clip them off. Next l examine the
tree very closely and especially if it
is to occupy a site where sun injury
is likely to occur. Set the stem point
ing to one o'clock sun, and never west
of halfpast one. Set all principal
branches toward the sun and see that
no leading branches are left growing
to the northeast Or north. Cut such
off smooth to the trunk soon after
setting.
then cover the roots with the rich
surface earth first taken out. Cover
the roots well and press the earth
down by walking over the roots. Then
l throw in more earth and stomp it
down all over thoroughly and never
neglect to keep hacking down the
sides of the hole and stomping the
earth firmly all around the outside of
the hole, SO that in a weeks time
the hole will not hold lots of water,
and in dry time when the tree needs
the moisture that is trying to reach
the roots through it's capillary attrac-
tion it can reach it at once and not
stop outside of the hole for the lack
of connection.
When the hole is nearly full, take
the sod, invert it and spread it over
the hole, leaving the surface slightly
dishing towards the tree. Clip off
small twigs on the sun side where by
so doing all openings can be closed.
But in rare cases don't ever clip on
the shady side of a tree. But as a rule
cut all leading branches, making north
or northwest of close to the trunk
Edison Gaylord, Floyd Co., Iowa, in
Farmers Review.
Producer and Consumer of Fruits.
The nroducer knows what fruit
leaves his hands, but he does not
know in what shape that fruit reaches
the consumer. 1t is a fact that the