The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-01-04

BY JOHN u. MCPHERSON. idaho
State Horticultural Inspector.
Oregon Short Line Demonstration
TiNin Lecture.

Train Lecture.
In selecting land for an orchard site,
there are three things that should be
taken into considerations: the lay OF
the land, drainage. and depth Of soil.
Land should not only be selected
which will give good soil drainage, but
air drainage should also be taken into
consideration II is we'll known fact
that cold air always settles In low
places, and the planting of orchards In
such places should be avoided. mas.
much as they are more susceptible
that land selected for horticultural
purposes should be deep and we'll
drained soil, so that at no time will
water be allowed to stand around the
trees, and the soil should be of good
depth, so the trees will have ample
room TO develop their root system.
The best results cannot be attained by
planting on shallow soil. Trees planted
on shallow soils are bound to be sur
face feeders and will not stand
drought, and will require more water
and more frequent irrigation than
trees planted on deeper soil.
The varieties of apples to be planted
In any section should be governed
great deal by the length of the grow
ing season and the elevation at which
! they are to be planted. Some sections
have a longer growing season than
others, and In selecting commercial
! varieties to be planted. the length OF
| the growing season should be taken
into consideration. The planter should
study his own locality, and the condi-
tons existing there before selecting
his varieties. Varieties should be Sc.
lected so that the fruit will reach a
good size, and have good color and
texture in the given number of months
| which will be the growing season in
| that section. The growing of fruit on
the western slope has reached such a
stage that no planter can afford TO
plant any fruit other than the com
merciai varieties. and the fewer num-
Der of varieties that are planted in
any one section, the better for the
| grower when the fruit comes into
/ bearing, as too many varieties are
now raised on the western slope which
have no commercial value and are not
OF good keeping quality.
| There is a great deal of difference
| In the opinions of various horticultur-
| fists on the western slope as TO the
| age of trees used In planting, but the
best results have been attained by the
planting of one year old, well-devel-
oped trees. As a general rule, stock
| from four to six feet, with a good top
and root is used, and in purchasing
such nursery stock, il is we'll to buy
from some reliable nurseryman as
near home as possible. In this way
the planter can see just what he is
buying Spring planting is generally
practiced in Idaho. although some fall
planting is done. In buying trees for
fall planting, the planter should be
certain that the trees are well ma
tured before purchasing In some
cases, the nurseryman will strip the
trees of their leaves before selling
them to the planter. Such trees are
worthless and should not be planted al
it is impossible to form low-headet
tree from such stock.
The planting in the spring is begun
Just as soon as the spring freezes are
over, and the soil is dried out, so tina
il is mellow when handled. As a gen
eral rule, the apple trees are planted
. from thirty to thirty-three feet apart
This distance gives them ample room
to build up a good root system, anC
, ample soil from which TO feed upon.
In planting, the holes are dug abou
2x2. The first to 10 inches of tn,
top soil is placed in one pile by itsel
and the subsoil in another The tree
il placed In he hole at about tn
same depth, or possibly little deepe
The top soil is then placed in tn
, hole first and Is well packed II
around the roots. by using some blum
instrument that will not bruise thu
roots As soon as the top soil |
placed in the hole, quantity of wa
| tsT Nuouiu bt run III anu Nht bite
, we'll settled by slightly pulling II u
r and down while the water is sinlin
|, away. AS soon as this is done, tn
r subsoil should then be added and wei
3 tRmped in. The hole should be vel
filed and a dust mulch left on TOT
Before the tree Is planted, the root
should receive some slight trimming
cutting away any injured roots. o
any root that has abnormal growth
snd will not lay straight In the hol
when planted. The tree should be Sc
with the larger roots toward the pre-
vAiiing wind. The top should also b
slightly leaned in this direction.
this way, the tree viii gain good roc
system before II 10 bent over Q
thrown QUA Of line by the preyailiH