Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1907-12-19
Institute Work at American Falls

the leading part in the discussion.
He was followed by A. McPher-
son. The gentlemen agreed on
general matters, but disagreed on
special features, their experience
having been acquired in different
states where conditions were more
or less at variance.
In pisnting an orchard Mr.. AL
word said to cut off every bruised
or unsound root, for if left to grow
some limb, nutured by it, would
sooner or later die The roots
should be cut downward, as root
lets would start from the cut sur
face, and their nature was to
grow downward He would cut
back the tree, and encourage
growth of roots rather than
branches. Never plant a tree
with a crotch or fork. Better to
destroy il at the outset rather than
waste several years i'll its devleop-
ment only to have it break down
under the strain of its first heavy
fruit crop. In trimming, develop
wide, bushy tree, rather than a
tall one.
He preferred planting trees rather
than gratis. Mr.. Alvord will
plant 80 acres to orchard on his
land near Aberdeen. This coming
spring he will set out $500 worth
of trees, using healthy trees from
three to five feet high. Firs, he
will trim the roots, and then trim
the top to conform to the roots,
even if it is necessary to cut nearly
all the trunk away. Never in
trimming, have two limbs opposite
each other, for they will eventual
1y form a crotch.
The soil for an orchard should
be in the finest possible condition,
plowed, disced, narrowed and
leveled with great care. In planting
trees, lean to the southwest, the
prevalent direction from which
the wind comes, and also as pro-
lection against the fierce rays of
the sun.
Don't drown the trees with
water, but work the ground every
week. Never plant anything
nearer than four feet to tree, and
never, under any consideration, he
said, SOW oats in an orchard. AS
the trees grow older, enlarge the
circle around the tree in which
nothing is allowed to grow, and let
the tree have the benefit of all there
is in the sell.
Mr.. Alvord said he would put
his trees % feet apart and plant po-
tatoes or vegetables between the
rows, cutlivating to dust mulch
and irrigate sparingly.
After the first year he recon-
mended irrigating once in the
spring, cultivating with dust
mulch, and Just before freezing
weather in the fall, irrigating
thoroughly, giving the soil enough
moisture to guard against dry
winter freezing.
For his commercial orchard he
will have Black Twig, Gano,
Greening and Jonathan. For fam
lily use he will have several other
varieties. He has ordered 5000 soft
maple, butternut, buckeye and
walnut trees for windbrake.
He recommended the following
Plant two inches deeper than the
tree grew in the nursery.
Get trees from home nurseries if
possible.
In irrigating, keep water from
touching the trees, by having
bitches at least two feet distance.
Pick off blossoms from apple
trees at least for two years follow
ing their planting.
Prune trees to grow low
Never stop cultivating young
orchard and never allow weeds OF
anything to grow near tree
Mr.. Mcpherson followed Mr.. Al
word in talk of half an hour that
held the attention of the audience
rooted. He placed great stress
upon the necessity in this locality oil
locating the air currents befcr.
planting commercial orchards On
the Twin Falls district, with records
kept under Mr.. MCPHERSON di-
rection, every frost belt has been To-
Gated, and it is known where or
chards may De planted with the
certainty of securing returns auc
where their planting is hazard
Gus. The differnce in temperature
of two or three degrees or a lit
tie circulation of the atmosphere
may make the difference between
success and failure. For instance
in a belt a mile or two wide, i
"a