The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-01-12
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The Planting and Care of Orchards
Up to the Time of Bearing.
BY
John U. Mcpherson, Idaho State Hor-
ticultural Inspector.

ticultural Inspector.
In selecting and scr al orchard site
there are three things that should b.
taken into considcra THE lay @.
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. 1t is we'll known
fact that cold air always settles in
low places, and they are more suscep-
tible to frosts. 1t is also very import
ant that land selected for horticultural
purposes should be a 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 plant
ed on shallow are bound to be surface
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
10 any section should be governed a
great deal by the length of the grow
ing season and the elevation at which
they are to be planted. Some sections
have 4 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 cond-
tons existing there before selecting
his varieties. Varieties should be Sc
lected 50 that the fruit will reach
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
inerciai 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 COM
:nescial value and are not of coed
keeping qualities.
There is a good deal of difference
in the opinions of various horticul-
turists, 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 general rule, stock
from four to six feet, with good top
2 ID root is used and in purchasing
S oh nursery stock, it is well 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
!di; pm 'i'|. Tue pldtlteI SHOulu be
ce-taii: that the trees are we'll matur-
I'd here purchasing. In some cases,
IT," r'-seryman will strip the trees of
their leaves before selling them to
the p'arte& Such trees are worthless
ard shoulHno Re planted as it is I'M
c,ssNl. to, 'o-,n low-headed tree
tfom such. stock.
= The planting in the spring is begun
j'st as soor9'as the spring freezes are
over. and the soil is dried out. so that
it is mellow when handled. AS gen.
eral rule, the apple trees are planted
from 30 to 50 feet apart. This dis
tasce pives them annie rom RI h,:ld