Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-05
PLANT TREES in FALL
Illinois sorchardist Says He Has Had
Good Results With Apple
Trees.
(BY w H Underwood, IllinoiS.)

is some controversy as to
the planting of apple trees In
= the fall. However, my many
years Of experience in fruit-growing
teaches me that the most appropriate
time to plant an apple orchard Is at
this season of the year.
The ground should be loose and
moist enough to work we'll. but not
wet and sticky. At this time the
growing season Is over, and the trees
will hardly be affected at all by the
change from nursery to orchard. The
roots that have been cut in digging
and preparing for re-setting will
calous over. The ground will settle
firmly about the roots. and In the
spring the trees are ready to awaken
into new life without check to their
growth.
I have found that good, thrifty, one
because they get damaged less If ship
ped from distant nursery. They are
more apt to live. are more quickly
and easily set, and contain more
f1brous roots than older trees. 1t Is
not necessary to cut the top back. 1t
can be permitted to grow straight up,
forming beautiful top, without the
numerous forks SO Objectionable to
trees that have been headed back, as
must be done with three-year-old
trees, to make the top correspond with
the roots that have been cut off.
In setting the trees, they should be
put at least twenty-four feet apart
each way and about two or three
inches deeper than they were grown
in the nursery row. It is very import
ant that all the roots are placed in
their natural position, with mellow
earth worked we'll among them. A
mound Of earth should be thrown uI
around the trunk of each tree and 6
protection of cornstalks larh or paper
be placed around the body to keeI
rabbits from gnawing them.
| Another requisite is to watch the
trees. and when you seen an oper
space around them, which is caused
by the wind moving the trees, keel
that filled up and well packed. Thi'
should always be looked into before
winter begins. There will very likel!
be found space from one-half to tWt
inches. The rain and snow settle II
this space, and freezing there, Away
hurts the trees more or less. am 9
the opinion that more young trees oil
from this cause than from any Other
and I believe that this is the caus
of blight to certain extent.
In the spring a leguminous crop Q
some kind should be grown betwee
the trees. I prefer cowpeas. find
necessary to SOW them in rows in or
der to cultivate the orchard. Sue
crops as potatoes, corn ETC.. are ex
cellent, however, for the first season.
i The trees must be kept we'll cult
waited until they are at least seve
} years old. If the first season aftersth
!. trees are planted is rather damp, the
should be cultivated pretty deep, br
: if it should be dry, three inches dee
. will be sufficient. Make it a practic
to stir the soil at least every tw
!. weeks. @
After the trees have been set or
t season, watch every tree, and do M
allow them to grow forks. Cut off a
3 forks whenever you see them begil
j ming to form. If any of the branch
. are inclined to grow too fast, the
a must be cut back. Whenever yc
\ notice one side Of the tree inclined
- SIOW lOO last, ciAd llhely " '6CI "
: of balance, cut it back. Always al
n to keep a spiral stem and have Il
branches start out horizontally.
e After the trees come into bearin
: cropping should cease. but cultivate
e should be continued as long as Il
# trees continue to bear. The great mi
s take that some make is in keepil
q their orchards in blue grass SO
. You might as we'll try to raise CO
IS successfully in such sod, as apples.
# find that when an orchard is {
II lowed to remain in grass without bel
e cultivated through the growing sease
IS the development of the trees
d checked. Such trees easily succur
e t. drouth, which prevents the healt
s. full formation Of fruit buds and t
le deposit of material for early growth
the spring.-Wm. H. Underwot
le Ozark, Ill.
1t e
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