The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-10-10

VI Tree growers, ut this time of the
year, just what can and should be done
in the treatment of trees for the bal
ance of the season. We have had nu-
merous inquiries as to how long the
cultivation should be continued, and
what pruning, if any, should be done
ut this time of the year or later. As
this is one of the most critical peri
DDS in the life of young trees it is i'm
portant to know what to do ut this
time.
AS me welfare OF the tree is so
closely associated with the soil in
which it grows, the treatment will de-
pend, of course, very largely upon the
condition of the soil. If the soil is
comparatively dry, as is usually the
case in most parts of Moth Dakota,
at this time of the year. it is IL good
plan to continue cultivation UP until
the close of the season. We have no.
ticed numerous instances trees make i,
good growth until some time in Au-
gust. They then begin to lose their
foliage and go into the winter in a
very dry condition with small chances
Of growing the following season. This
Is, III most cases. due to the fact that
the soil has been allowed to become
too dry through lack of cultivation or
mu!ching. In midsummer the trees
are in full leaf and the rate of evapo-
ration is greater at that time than ut
any other seascn of the year. At that
time. also, the atmosphere is drier.
and that tends to increase the evapo-
ration. This moisture must be pro-
vided for by continuous cultivation,
or, where that is not practical. by
mulching with straw or coarse stable
manure.
In most cases the pressure of work
upon the farm from the middle of
August to the end of the season is
such that young trees will not get the
proper amount of cultivation. In all
uch cases they should be mulched. 1t
"a question under many conditions. if
:ulching is not better than cultiva-
on. The experiments at Edgeley
how that a good mulch applied in
midsummer made a larger growth
upon the trees the following season
than did continuous cultivation; and
in all cases where the soil is rather
hard and dry. we will recommend
mulching in place of cultivation. The
mulch should be left on during the
winter and the following season. AS
it decays 1t can be cultivated into the
soil. 1t still continues to perform it's
office of mulching. and at the same
time allows cultivation for the de-
Struction of weeds and grass. 1t may
also be stated that trees that are
mulched are much less liable to WIN
tcr-kill than those around which the
ground is left bare
In seasons when the soil contains a
large amount Of moisture. particularly
in August and September, it is not
wise to force the growth by continuing
the cultivation too long. If the trees
are found to be growing too rapidly
the first Of September one should stop
cultivation. thus allowing the soil to
dry out and compelling the trees to
mature and ripen before winter. If
mulch is applied in such cases it
should not be done until the growing
season Is over, some time in October
In extreme cases O fthis kind where
the soil is very rich and moist, and
the season is warm, it is sometimes
good practice to SOW good crop
of oats along the trees to assist in
drying out the ground and ripcning
up the wood of the trees 1t may be
said. however, that this practice is not
necessary in an ordinary North Da-
kota season. It is followed in regions
that have more moist growing weather
in the fall, particularly in those states
further south and east.
In the matter of pruning, it is not
we'll to prune heavily after the first of
August. as the pruning will stimulate
a new growth which is not apt to ma
ture we'll before winter sets in. If fall
pruning is done at all it should be
done after the fall season has COM
menced. There is no objection to
pruning trees after that time of the
vera. The small wounds that are
made will quickly heal and cover in
the next years growth. 1t is not con-
sidered good practice, however. to re-
move large limbs in the fall as the
freshly cut wood dries out and checks
in the winter. This should be done
just after the leaves open up in the
spring.
In regard to the matter of tree plant
ing we may say that it is an excellent
plan to prepare the soil at this time
Of the year for next springs planting.
There are often days during harvest
when it is too wet to cut grain, but
the soil is in excellent condition for
blowing. It is then very good practice
to plow and work down the soil pre-
paratory for spring planting. We
have also found it to our advantage in
heavy soil to dig the holes for the
trees in the fall. Such soil, in the
fall, is in better shape for digging
than in the spring, when it is often
too wet and sticky to be handled. AL