Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-01-12

: New York state furnishes interesting
= information which will be Of interes
: in all states where fruit Is raised. Sh'
says:
within the last two months I've
: had as many as twenty letters from
women asking for advice about in
vestiug in fruit trees. Most Of these
women are thinking Of investing In
farms or small country places where
there are already what they term old,
run down orchards. They come 10 me
10 find out if they can ever make
those old trees bear.
According 10 my experience. an
apple tree in this climate has to be
pretty far gone to be ready for the ak
/ mean. Of course. when it is good
variety The trouble with the apple
/ trees which we see on these old places
I IS that they need care and attention.
They have been allowed to stand
year after year with their roots COW
cred by sod. They are actually dying
Of thirst and starvation. II one will
only study the difference in the color
If the leaves of trees growing in a
titled orchard and in one allowed to
go TO grass in midsummer he will see
the signs Of starvation and thirst
The FIRST thing to do with such an
orchard IS 10 plow It up. If it has
been in sod for a number Of years
there will be many roots near the sur
face. Do not be afraid Of hurting the
trees by cutting these roots with the
plgw.
This plowlng should be done early
In the spring and should be repeated
several times during the first season.
If the roots are so thick that you can
not plow, then chop up the sod with
a disk harrow If the land is 100
rough even for that. turn In hogs.
Drop a few grains Of corn here and
there In crovbar holes and leave the
rest for the hogs.
Trees in such neglected orchards 4
always need pruning. This should be /
4y-.- " IEu lLG trees dit ubTIudIt- (
February is usually the best month.
If the tree has not been pruned for
several years. do not take out all the
lselass wood at one time. Let some
If it 60 over
Now pruning is something that
hould never be carelessly done The
Jrunings should all be burned and the
shes scattered about the roots Of the
rees.
After this severe pruning you will
.et big crop Of water sprouts in the
Ummer. Rub them off promptly.
after this first pruning 1t will be nee
ssary to prune little every season.
As a rule. there is enough plant
ocd In the soil If It is only put in
hIpe so that the trees can use it. If,
owever, this should not be the case,
hen a fertilizer containing nitrogen
the best tonic. liberal dressing
( barnyard manure is the very best
ray Of supplying this nitrogen. Nj
-ate Of soda is also good
81 have found 1t impossible to raise
God fruit without spray pump II
)u have never sprayed. begin by writ
ig TO your state experimental sta
on for its spraying bulletins. Don't {
)ray feebly, but do the job thor
lghly.
Trees may be healthy and blossom 6
ear after year and no fruit be form
l. This condition can be remeded {
two ways. One way IS to graft
bout every third tree IN every third e
w with a pollen bearing variety.
he other and sometimes the more q
,nvenient is TO replant certain rows
ith pollen bearers When setting out
wv orchards always plant every
urth row with pollen bearers.
fortunately it is only in Isolated
Of a single variety that such
prevail. In fruit growing
stricts where several varieties are
ised and bees are kept a total fail
q is next 10 impossible. II is not
ways necessary to keep bees. but it
III pay a fruit grower. especially In
new country. to be on the safe
1e"