The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-12-22

planted from thirty to th1rty-thret
feet apart. This distance gives then
ample room to build p a good roo
system, and ample soil from which
to feed upon.
In planting, the holes are dug
about 2x2. The first to 10 inches
of the top soil is placed in one pile
by itself and the subsoil in another
The tree is placed in the hole al
about the same depth, or possibly a
little deeper than when it grew in
the nursery. The top soil is then
placed in the hole first and is well
packed in around the roots, by using
some blunt instrument that will not
bruise the roots. AS soon as the top
soil is placed in the hole, a quaint
ty of water should be run in, and the
trees settled by slightly pulling it up
and down while the water is sinking
away AS soon as this is done, the
sub-soil should then be added and
well tamped in. The hole should be
well filled and dust mulch left on
top. Before the tree is planted, the
roots should receive some slight
trimming, cutting away any injured
roots, or any root that has abnormal
growth, and will not lay straight in
the hole when planted. The tree
should be set with the larger roots
toward the prevailing wind. The
top should also be slightly leaned in
this direction. In this way, the tree
will gain good root system before
it is bent over or thrown out of line
by the prevailing winds. Another
method used in some of the old es-
tablished fruit sections of Idaho is
planting of corn every third or fourth
row in new orchards, parallel to the
prevailing winds. The corn grows to
good height at an early date in the
spring, and furnishes a good wind
break. After the tree has been plant
ed, the top should be cut back to cor
respond with the root system. The
average height in cutting back a tree
from four to six feet, is from twenty
four to thirty-six inches. The cutting
back of smaller trees should be at
the same rate. This operation is
very important, as it is very essential
to form good root system before
the top is allowed to develop.
After the tree has been planted
care should be given, and the mois-
ture in the soil should be carefully
watched, so that there will be enough
moisture in the soil at all times to
make maximum growth, although
too much water is just as bad as not
enough, and good cultivation is just
as essential as irrigation, in fact,
some of the best orchards in the state
of Idaho are those which are extern
sively cultivated, and minimum
amount of water used. In some of
the orchard districts of Idaho, the
soil has become alkaline by the ex-
,esSive use of water.
One of the essential things in the
care of an orchard the second year
Is the forming of the scaffold limbs,
Dr. the framework of the tree. From
.hree to five limbs should be allowed
20 grow at height of from
eighteen to twenty-four inches from
he ground The distance of
.hese limbs apart should be from
tive to eight inches, selecting, if |
possible, three limbs to the wind
ward side and two to the lee, so that
the tree will be eq ally balanced.
These scaffold limbs should be di.
vided around the body of the tree,
and it not well to have one i'm.
above the other. The form
ng of the scaffold limbs on young
,rees is the most important work in |
he growing of new orchard. We
should always strive to have our
.rees as low-headed as possible, as
his will reduce the cost of spraying,
and the general care of
he orchard when it comes into bear
ng.
In pruning tree the third year,
he second year growth should be
tut back all but about twelve to
eighteen inches. This will cause
zach scaffold limb to throw out all
litional limbs; two of these should
re allowed to grow, the others should
re pruned away. The pruning of the
rec from then on should be, up to
he time of bearing, along the same
inc as Is done the second and third
ear, and each year allowing two ad-
litional limbs to grow from the last
ears growth. In this way, at the
ime of bearing, you will have a low
leaded stocky, and well developed
rec, and one which will be able to
ear its fruit in good quantity
Without breaking down under the
Dad.
There is no certain time that can
Re set as to when spraying should
re begun on newly planted orchards
or the different insect pests. Some
f the best orchardists in the state |
ommence spraying the second and
bird year after planting. This is
one as general preventive against
iseases and insect pests. Lime and
ulphur solution is used at strength
f from one gallon of lime solution
D 10 or II parts of water. A solu- \
ion of kerosene emulsion or Black
'eaf 40 is used in spraying young
richards for the different species of s
phis that are prevalent ON young
rees. A careful watch should be I
ept on young trees and If any infec-
on is found of any kind, it should 9
e attended to at once and not put