The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-10

article how he would lay out and
plant an orchard:
After having made up your mind
to plant an orchard, the first thing
to be considered, usually, is select
ing the site. The most important
thing to be considered is the air
drainage with reference to the result
ant frost effects and its influence up
on the different fruits, and the adapt
ability of the different soils to the
different varieties of fruit. Ii there
are several distinct soils, from heavy
clay to almost pure sand, and If the
best results are to be obtained, this
factor must be considered.
The upper levels or benches are
generally sufficiently elevated above
the river and the canyons opening
into 1t for the flowing down OF the
cold air, which creates a constant
movement of the atmosphere and
prevents the formation of frosts. In
the immediate vicinity of the river
and in the depressions from which
there are no downward outlets there
is more or less danger of injury from
frosts late in the spring.
What has been said OF air drain
age and soils is true of every locality;
but when you pass out of an irri-
gated district another important fac
tor is to be considered-the water
contents of the soil and the influence
of the different slopes and air cur
rents upon the available moisture.
Here comes a selection of varieties
along different line. Upon the diff
ferent slopes there is not only a Diff
ference in the amount of moisture
contained in the SOIL but there is
also a difference in the temperature
of the surface soil. Both OF these
factors must be taken into consider
alton. On the southern slope owing
to it's being exposed to the prevailing
wind and more directly to the sum
shine, the evaporation is greater
Consequently the soil is dryer and
warmer which tends to shorten the
maturing season of the fruit. For
this reason you can raise upon the
southern slope an apple that re-
ouires a longer season in which to
mature than you can upon the nor
thern slope where the soil is more
moist and cooler Some varieties re-
quire much less moisture in order to
mature their fruit. For instance,
where a Rome Beauty would mature
in good condition a Winesap would
be worthless from want of moisture.
In the most cool situations OF the
higher attitudes where Jonathan or
Wagner would be perfectly at home,
such long season apples as the New
ton or Ben Davis would be of little
value.
The core fruits with plenty Of
moisture, will thrive upon any OF our
soils. The stone fruits, except the
plums, do best upon the warmer,
sander locations. All summer fruits
need less moisture than those that
require the whole of the growing sea-
son in which to mature.
Preparing the Ground.
Having selected the site for your
orchard and chosen the varieties suit
able therefor, the next question to be
considered Is preparing the ground.
1t is better for any kind of land to
be worked for one season before
planting; but in preparing bunch
grass land, especially where 1t is to
be irrigated, this is not absolutely es-
sential. In preparing new land for
planting, see that it is we'll plowed
and thoroughly narrowed. Where
the planting Is to be done IN the
spring the land should be prepared
in the fall and should be gone over
in the spring just as early as pos
sible with a spring-tooth harrow. /
would give it no further preparation
in our light, porous soils. In the
heavy, clay soils-if prepared in the
fall previous to settlng-a very shall
low blowing and thorough harrow
ing would be advisable.
Planting the Trees.
In the arrangement of the trees in
the orchards there are two systems
that are practicable square and
the hexagnn. The following diagrams
will indicate the two arrangements:
Square.
o o O o o o o o o o O
% o 20 o o o o o o
Square, set with filters, rows thir-
ty feet apart north and south, and
trees fifteen feet apart east and west.
Filters indicated by small dots.
O % % o o o . o o o. o o !.