Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
Tillaqe and Crops.

| '''oSC anu StOPSs
In most sections where peach or
chards were given good summer cul-
lture, in 1910, and the cultivation was
kept up late, there were excellent and
fnll crops of fruit the past season, but
where cultivation Of the soil is neg
lected, the crop was failure
The season Of 1911 will long be re-
lmembered for it's unusual deficiency of
rain fall. Many farmers had to draw
water long distances for their stock
during the winter months, while the
hay crop was heavily reduced by the
prolonged drouth OF the spring and
Isummer
One of the most valuable lessons that
farmers and fruit growers should have
learned from the year 1911 is that of
the Importance of the tillage Of the
soil
AT "Orchard Farm" with the excep-
ton of a few local showers, that
moistened the surface of the soil few
times during seven months, there was
not sufficient rain eall TO affect springs
or streams; yet, we have never pro-
duced larger crop of apples, or Of
better quality-and particularly of bet
ter size.
/ This sample of Rome Beauty APP
pie. (exhibitedJ, was taken from a
trees that produced one and one-half
barrels of apples, the seventh year
from planting, the trees being a me-
dunn size of two years when planted.
| There were many Mcintosh trees that
produced the same quantity; at the
same age. The Northern Spy" Tex
| fol Tpn
years planted and loaded with fruit.
This orchard with others was given
early and continued cultivation up to
the middle Of July. The indications
seemed to be those of a continued dry
period, and cultivation was then TO be
relied upon to conserve such moisture
as was in the soil TO keep up the
growth of the trees and the maturing
of fall crop of fruit.
Glover and Buokwheat Cover Crops.
For nearly twenty years it has been
our practice 10 SOW clover for a cover,
and green crop to be plowed in an
| nually, but for two years the summers
have been so dry at the time of seed
| ing, in July, that a light growth only
of the clover has been obtained The
past season, to make more certain a
larger humus crop we sowed buck
wheat over nearly one hundred acres
of orchards. Much of it reached five
TO five and a half feet high, some of
which was plowed in, in September,
| before the seed formed, but as large
crops of fruit had to be handled, the
balance was cut and left on the
ground. This large growth together
with the mass of roots in their de-
composition will add much humus 10
the soil.
| We have long been an advocate of
| clean cultivation, allowing no sod
about the trees. We also advocate
low headed trees for the first six
years of a young orchard. We are
| still in favor of that culture.
We are now going to adopt a diff
| ferent method after seven years Of
cultivation, which will be not To plow
or cultivate nearer than seven feet
| from the trees, or such distance as
will avoid crowding against the trees
| by the teams
Higher Color Desired.
| With continued cultivation with the
| leguminous crops plowed in for sew
| eral years, while good size in the fruit
is obtained, it requires a longer time
in which TO have the high color so
desirable brought out.
| 1t is known that the trees that stand
in sod do put higher color on the APP
| pie though they are smaller in size
| and yield
| without doubt the grass takes up
moisture and checks the development
sooner which brings out the better
color and earlier.
| If in the highly cultivated orchards
the apples are left on the trees until
| all get good color, there will be
| large loss from the dropping of the
| fruit and from storms, that are La
| BILE to reduce the crop. The sugges-
| ton is sometimes made that the earlier
maturing apples be picked, going over
| the trees two or three times. This is
| impractical on any large scale. Very
| few men can be employed who will
| select the mature fruits. They will
pick as many OF the uncolored as col
ored apples while they will knock off
| many more in moving and placing
| ladders. This is practical only with
dwarf trees, where it might be done
| to advantage.
| The Roots Of Tree.
| AS trees grow older the roots next
| to their trunks perform different
| function than while they are younger.
| They become the strong bracing parts
| of the tree. to hold it in place, and
| to resist the winds, when the trees
| begin TO take on heavy weight in the
fruit they carry. Were it not for these
strong large roots the trees would
blow over during high winds, and es
| pecially when the soil is wet from
heavy rains. There are very few fine
or feeding roots on these enlarged por-
| tons, for few feet out from the
trunks. the trees getting their main
nourishment from the fine fibrous
roots out at the extremities that push
| out and into the soil in all directions.
We are inclined to believe it will
give better results to have the soil
| undsturbed. next to the trunks of the
trees. to keep such vegetation, most
~ weeds, as may grow there cut to
form an accommodating mulch. All
stones should be closely picked up