The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-04-25
DYNAMITING
FOR ORCHARDS
Scientific Horticulturists Re-
commend that Soil be
Thus Loosened.
IMPROVEMENT OF OR
CHARDS BY THE USE
OF DYNAMITE.

0fu III tHC cuNtCoolu
growing of trees. Those who have
tried it are thoroughly convinced
that no method of excavating the
hole in which to plant young
tree is so economical, quick, OF
productive of desirable after-re.
suits as blasting with dynamite,
Sometime ago it was the pre-
vailing idea that dynamite was
unnecessary for tree planting I'M
less the soil CHANGED to be under
laid with hardpan, in which case
the explosive was regarded as
valuable for breaking through the
hard soil. 1t has been found by
experiment, however, that trees
thrive better when planted in
blasted holes than in hand dug
holes, even when no hardpan is
encountered.
The explanation of this is sim
pie. 1t is because the explosion
of the dynamite loosens up the
soil for yards around the spot,
kills all grubs, worms or other
animal life likely to injure the
young tree and thus makes root
growth whereas, digging the
hole with tools tends to pack the
earth around the roots and retard
their growth.
Scientific agriculturists have
discovered that water is the most
important element in all kinds of
plant growth. Soil which is of
the natural consistency to allow
water to circulate freely through
it and still retain or conserve it
so that it is available at all times
for growing plants, may be con-
sidered as ideal for agricultural
purposes. Few soils possess this
natural consistency. Other soils
which may be classified as good,
average, of fair, must have artifi-
cial preparation in order to make
them produce the results that
may be expected from the rarely
found perfect natural soil.
Few persons understand the
principle of plant growth. 1t is
not necessary, as many suppose,
that the root of plant shall
come in actual contact with all of
the plant food elements of the soil
needed for the sustenance of the
plant or tree. Plant roots have
the power to draw from the sur
rounding soil the necessary ele-
ments of plant food, provided the
soil is of such character as to
permit the passage of these ele-
ments through it. Water or mois-
ture is the carrier of these plant
food elements through the soil
and into the plant roots. This
will indicate the Importance of
porous soil which will permit
the free passage of water through
it in order that plants growing
upon the surface may be prop
erly nurtured for rapid and
healthy growth, and it is because
the action of an explosive on
soil causes it to become thorough
ly loosened and aerated that trees
planted in blasted holes show so
much stronger and healthier
growth than trees planted under
old conditions.
In order to give those who may
not understand the subject an
idea of the scientific principles of |
plant growth, / will quote Mr.. w.
j. Spillman, Agriculturist in
charge of farm management inves
legations, bureau of plant indus
tries, U. s. Department of Agri-
culture. He says in a recent bull
etin:
PLANT food is dissolved in wa
ter. While a plant is growing, a
constant stream of water flows
up through it and evaporates at
it's leaves. For every pound of
increase in dry matter made by
the plant, from 300 to 500 pounds
of water flows up through it.
"Plants in their growth, make
use of thirteen elements, nine of
which they secure directly from
the soil. These are called the
mineral plant foods. They are
PHOSPHORUS, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sodium, iron, silica,
chlorin and sulphur. Soil consists
mainly of small particles of rock.
Nearly all kinds contain more or
less of these mineral plant foods.
Every year the soil water dis
solves Oft a thin surface layer
from each particle and plants APP
this water, thus secur-
ing their mineral plant food. Hy- .
drogen, another important ele-
ment of plant food. is also secur- ,