Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-04-09
Planting of Fruit Trees.
BY c. v. Mitchell.

Il
''Oh I don't care if l do not get
this orchard set out just right. l
don't expect to pick fruit from these
trees AWAY. First of all we owe
it TO ourselves to do this work care
fully and scientifically as possible,
for the time is now here when the
horticulturists know when they see
a good thrifty orchard and are only
looking for the best
The commercial orchards of today
that are bringing enormous prices,
are the ones that have been set
with view to growing perfect
fruit and maturing the trees to pro-
duce their utmost capacity. There
are important steps to be noted as
follows:
The Soil-The soil should be
from three to four feet deep in this
section and it appears that most of
the soils in this valley are parricu-
larly adapted TO growing of orchards
and are free from alkali and also
have good drainage.
The Preparation of the Soil
First of all the ground should be
thoroughly leveled so that each and
every tree will get water alike, for
fruit trees can easily get too much
water, as WE'LL las not enough. As
it is impossible to level after the
trees are set it is quite important
that this work should be done be-
fore with a view to perfect drain
age.
Next the ground should be plow-
ed deep and jointed down. The
distance the trees are to be set
apart being determined, the rows
should be furrowed out with ten
or twelve inch stirring pillow. The
holes for tbs trees should be dug
in this furrow deep enough to al
low the trees to be set in the
depth they were in the nursery.
The furrow should be deep enough
when cultivated in it will cover
the trees three or four inches.
The Selection of Trees This is
very important. Some prefer the
piece of root graft to the budded
stock AS for my choice, l prefer
the budded, three year old root,
one year from bud. In this we have
the whole root, while the piece
broot oftentimes has its root system
to make after it is set. However,
fine orchards have been grown from
both and poor ones also. The best
grade of either should be bought
and thoroughly inspected before, set
ting to see that they are free FROM
injurious diseases. This is quite
important and will make the cost oil
labor much less in caring for them
after wards.
Setting the Trees Enough trees
should be taken out at a time to SCI
at least one row. These should be
placed in a barrel filled about one.
fourth full of water, enough dir
added to make it rather thick.
This adheres to the roots and wher
placed in the ground loose dirt will
adhere to the roots much better.
Before setting see that the hole is
large enough at the bottom to allow
the roots to be spread out witnou
being cramped and prune the end'
of the larger roots with pair o
sharp primers so that no bruised OF
split ends remain. Next head th'
tree from twenty-four to thirt,
inches from the ground, this com
pletes the pruning for the present
loose fine dirt. Do not lamp will
YOUR foot or otherwise, but wher
YOU have set three OF four tree
turn the water into the furro "
You can then keep ahead OF tn
water which will settle the dir
around the trees much closer thar
in any other way. When the water
gets through to the end OF the row
shut il off. Continue the remaindc
of the plat in the same way. II
is desired to set the trees before tn
water is turned into the canals eacl
tree should be watcrcd with buck
ct when set. This may seem an ex
ira amount of work which to man
may seem unnecessary, but 20
would not think of setting out an
other plant or shrub without water
ing. and the trees need the waite
lust as much or more, Tor it re
quires longer for them to establis
new set of roots and if you ar
setting an orchard for your ow
family use or for commercial pur
poses. these little extras are mer
atoms of time and expense, consio