The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-04-07

SETTING Trees on HlIIsldes'
After having my attention called 10
a number of articles written by piac
teal orchardists on setting trees
have felt it a duty that some one
briefly present the other SIDE ol 'n'
question bearing on the subject heIe'n
referred 10. viz, the a~dvisability VI
blowing up a grass side hill TO SET an
orchard. Not being Conversant Win
the many surroundings and dlHerch'
environments that should always De
taken into account, | can only venture
? few suggestions resting on genera!
principles. II the side hill site lHdu
has been referred TO in your FORMER
issues extends to the top OF the oIcE.
ard or perhaps further up above H. !
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 Norlh'
west that are not EOw in grass. where
the orchards have been left to go
through winter here on cultivated SOIL
where potatoes and other vegetables
have LETT the ground bare, the trees
have, as a rule, fallen victims to root
killing and always will till we succeed
in growing II choice apples top
worked on extra hardy stock.
| will give the plan ! have followed
for many years in setting trees, and
especially in setting trees on a south
hill. ! emove the end about three
to set the tree. Dig the hole first by
taking off the sod. Place this to one
side. Then | place the next six inches
on the other side. The balance | put
out on either side. | dig each hole
about two feet deep nearly out TO the
edge of the SOD on the outside.
Then | 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 ! adjust the roots. If any APP
pear to be too long and spindling
clip them off. Next | 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
or half past one. Set all principal
branches toward the sun and see that
no leading branches are left growing
TO the northeast or north. Cut such
on smooth to the trunk soon after
setting.
tEen cover the roots with the rich
surface earth first taken out. Cover
the roots we'll and press the earth
down by walking over the roots. Then
throw IN more earth and STOMP /,
down all over thoroughly and never
neglect to keep hacking down the
s1deS or the hole and stomping the
earth iirmly all around the outside OF
the mole, so that in a weeks time
tie hole will not hold lots Of water
ana III a dry time when the tree needs
tEe moisture that is trying TO reach
the roots through its capillary attrac
tlon 1t a reach it at once and not
stop outside Of the hole for the lacl
of connection.
When the hole is nearly full, take
the sod, invert it and SPREAD It over
the hole. leaving the surface slight,
di2hing towards the tree. Gin Of
small twigs on the sun side wSere J.,
so doing all openings IAN he closed
But IN rare cases don't ever cllp 0,
the shady side of a tree. But as a rnI,
II all leading branches, making morn
or northwest OF close to the trunk -
Edison Gaylord, Floyd Co., Iowa il
Farmers Review.