The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-02-09
Planting and Care Of Orchards
Up to the Time Of Bearing

Of the old established fruit sections
of Idaho is the planting of corn every
third or fourth row in new orchards,
parallel to the prevailing winds. TIE
corn grows to good height at an
early date in the spring, and furnish
es good wind break. After the tree
has been planted, the top should be
cut back to correspond with the root
system. The average height in cut
ting back tree from four to six
feet, is from twenty-four to thirty six
inches. The cutting back of smaller
trees should be at the same rate. This
operation is very important, as it is
very essential to form good root
system before the top is allowed to
develop.
After the tree has been planted
care should be given, and the mois-
ture in the soil should be carefully
watched, so that there will be enough
moisture in the soil at all times to
J make maximum growth, although
too much water is just as bad as not
enough, and good cultivation is just
as essential as irrigation, in fact, some
Of the best orchards in the state Of
Idaho are those which are extensively
cultivated, and minimum amount OF
| water used. In some of the orchard
districts of Idaho the soil has become
| alkaline by the excessive use of wa
ter.
One Of the essential things in the
care OF an orchard the second year is
the forming of the scaffold limbs, or
the framework of the tree. From
three to five limbs should be allowed
to grow at height of from eighteen
to twenty-four inches from the ground.
The distance of these limbs apart
should be from five to eight inches, Sc
lecting, If possible, three limbs to the
windward side and two to the lee, so
that the tree will be equally balanced.
These scaffold limbs should be di.
vided around the body of the tree, and
it is not well to have one Immediately
above the other. The forming of the
scaffold limbs on young trees is the
most important work in the growing
of new orchard. We should always
strive to have our trees as low headed
as possible, as this will reduce the
cost of spraying, harvesting, and the
general care of the orchard when it
comes into bearing.
In pruning a tree the third year,
the second year growth should be cut
back all but about twelve to eighteen
inches. This will cause each scaffold
limb to throw out additional limbs;
two OF these should be allowed to
grow, the others should be pruned
away The pruning of the tree from
then on should be, up to the time OF
bearing, along the same line as is done
the second and third year, and each
year allowing two additional limbs to
grow from the last years growth. In
this way, at the time of bearing, you
will have a low-headed stocky, and
well developed tree, and one which
will be able to bear it's fruit in good
quantity without breaking down under
the load.
be set as to when spraying should be
begun on newly planted orchards for
the different insect pests. Some OF
the best orchardists in the state com,
mence spraying the second and third
year after planting. This is done as
general preventive against diseases
and insect pests. Lime and sulphur
solution Is used at a strength OF
/ from one gallon of lime solution tc
| 10 or II parts of water. A solution
of kerosene emulsion or Black Leaf 40
Is used in spraying young orchards for
the different species of aphis that are
prevalent on young trees. A careful
watch should be kept on young trees
and If any infection is found of any
kind, it should be attended TO at once
and not put off as the only possible
way to keep trees in a healthy grow
ing condition is by watching them
closely and keeping them free from
the different pests and fungus diseases
that destroy our orchards.
In conclusion, there are five inn
portant factors that should be borne
in mind at all times in the growing OF
young orchard; the selection of a
deep, we'll drained soil; second, the
purchasing of first-class nursery stock
with good thrifty growth, and free
from diseases; third, the careful and
economical irrigation and thorough
cultivation; fourth, the proper pru
ming, and the forming of the frame
work of the tree at the beginning OF
its second years growth; fifth, the
ultimate outcome and the producing
power of any orchard absolutely de
Ponds upon the care that is given Il
in its early stage of growth and de
velopment.
noted sociologist tells the follow