The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-02-09
By JOHN u. McPHERSON,I Idaho
State Horticultural Inspector.
Oregon Short Line Demonstration
Train Lecture.

edhcH iitO COHSIueTdLiOu.- tine 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. 1t is a well 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
to frosts. 1t is also very important
that land selected for horticultural
purposes should be a deep and well
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 ATE 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 longer growing season than
others, and in selecting commercial
varieties to be planted, the length of
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
stage that no planter can afford to
plant any fruit other than the com
mercial varieties, and the fewer num-
Der OF varieties that are planted in
NY one section, the better for the
grower when the fruit comes into
bearing, as too many varieties are
now raised on the wester.- slope which
have no commercial value and are not
of good keeping quality.
There is great deal of difference
In the opinions of various horticulture
lists 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 Did. 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, it 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
asses, the nurseryman will strip the
rees of their leaves before selling
them to the planter. Such trees are
worthless and should not be planted as
1t is impossible to form low-headed
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 that
it Is mellow when handled. AS a gen
sral rule, the apple trees are planted
rom thirty to thirty-three feet apart.
This distance gives them ample room
to build up a good root system, and
l,,Ia ,.rhsa
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 at about the
same depth. or possibly little deeper
than when it grew in the nursery
The top soil is then placed in the
hole first and is we'll packed in
around the roots, by using some blunt
instrument that dll not bruise the
roots. AS soon IS the top soil is
placed in the hole, quantity of wa
ter should be run in, and the trees
well settled by slightly pulling 1t up
and down while the water is sinking
away AS soon as this is done, the
sub-sol should then be added and well
tamped in. The hole should be we'll
! filed and a 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 uIaptpd The traa should ha, cot
with the larger roots toward the pre-
vailing wind. The top should also be
slightly leaned in this direction. In
this way, the tree will gain a good root
system before it is bent over or
thrown out of line by the prevailing
winds. Another method used in some
Too laxative.
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