Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-11-30
Fruit Trees Killed

mers throughout the county nave
made close inspection OF the
young orchards to ascertain the ex'
tent of the damage done by the
freeze, but in the neighborhood OF
Monterey the outlook is most dis
couraging and indicates an immense
loss to the comfy should the per
cent Of damage prove as great in
other sections.
DR. o. Campbell. who took great
pride in his young orchard near
town, has gone to trouble to exam
inc, not only his own trees but ma
ny others, and he says the destruc-
ton is very nearly complete. de
thinks that at least 100 OF his
young trees are killed, and esti-
mates his loss at 81 900. Mr. r b
Campbell, who has Young orchard
in the hills south Of town, has also
lost most of them. Or Straight
Creek, Mr. G W Trimble had plant
ed, perhaps, thousand trees, and
he, too, has lost the greater num-
Der Of them,
The sap seems to have been
caught, in its decent, about a foot
from the ground, and, at this point
MANY trees show the bark split and
the body Of the tree turning black.
A loss such as this is far reaching
and hard to estimate. 1t is especi'
ally discouraging when we take in
to consideration the length of time
required to grow an orchard. There
is, however, but one course to pur-
sue, and it is needless to say, that
many trees will be planted in High.
land this season. With this fact
assured, few Of our energetic
young men should arrange to rep
resent some good nursery with a
view to insuring satisfactory deal
ing and keeping commissions at
home.
We find in one Of our exchanges
some suggestions said to be value
able. relative to putting out new
orchards. and we reproduce it for
the benefit Of those who may be
interested. The article is from
Prof James Troop. Purdue Univer-
sity, Indiana.
The site for an orchard should be
high enough to prevent winter Kill
ling.
If necessary to plant on an eleva.
ton exposed to the sweep Of the
cold winds. protect it on the north
and west with row of Norway
spruce.
The best soil is clay loan, well
drained, with sub-soil capable of
holding much MOISTURE
Black, mucky soils in river bot
toms and low places are unsuita-.
BILE.
Good wheat land is good orchard
land.
It is cheaper to buy trees than to
attempt to propagate and grow
them. But be sure of your nurse
ryman.
All that should be expected of a
tree during the first four or five
years is that it should make astrong
healthy growth. 4
Prepare the ground as for a crop
Of corn,
The best time to set out trees is
in the fall.
Set them not less than two rods
apart each way. Forty feet would
be better for the vide spreading
varieties, like the Rhode Island
Greening.
Cut of all roots to within five or
6 inches of the trunk, and cut back
the tops to correspond.
Set the trees just about as deep
as they grew in tho nursery row,
leaning them a little toward the
prevailing winds. Il
Always place good surface soil
around the roots. because the yonng
feeding roots will need plant food
as soop.as they start.
No water is necessary, unless
the soil is unusually dry,
Do not use manure in immediate,
contact with the roots unless it is
we'll rotted and Thoroughly mixed
with the soil. ~
Stamp or write the label of each
variety on a copper label and at
tach one to each row.
| have kept mice and rabbits
away from trees in winter making
mound of earth foot high and
patting it down smooth with a
spade. Never lost a single tree by
this method. Pulled down the
mounds in the spring.
Give the Young trees the same
care you would give your field OF
prize corn.
No Blue grass. oats, wheat or rye
in the Orchare, but you may plant