The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-01-12

NP Sood ioot system, ana ample SOL
from which to feed upon.
In planting, the holes are dug about
zx2. The first g % 10 inches OF the
top soil is placed in ouc pile by itself
and the subsoil in another. The tree
IS placed i'll the hole at about the
same depth, or possibly little dcepcr
than when it grew in the nursery. The
top soil is then placed in the hole first
and is well packed around the roots,
by using some blunt instrument that
will not bruise the roots. AS soon as
the top soil is placed in the hole, a
quantity of water should be run in, and
the trees we'll settled by slightly pull
ling it up and down while the water is
sinking away. AS soon as this is
done, the sub-soil should then be add
ed and well tamped in. The hole
should be well filled and dust mulch
left on top. Before the tree is plant
ed, the roots should receive some
slight trimming, cutting away any in
Jured roots, or any root that has alb
normal growth, and will not lay
straight in the hole when planted. The
tree should be set with the larger
roots toward the prevailing wind. The
top should also be slightly leaned in
this direction. In this way, the tree
will gain good root system before
it is bent over or thrown out of line
by the prevailing winds. Another
method used in some of the old es-
tablished fruit sections of Idaho is the
planting OF corn every third Or fourth
row in new orchards, parallel to the
prevailing winds. The corn grows to
a good height at an early date in the
spring, and furnishes good wind
break After the tree has been plant
ed, the top should be cut back to cor
respond with the root system. The
average height in cutting back tree
from four to six feet, is from ~ to Sc
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 sys-
tenn before the top is allowed to de-
velop. .a.-
After the tree is planted care should
be given, and the moisture in the soil
should be carefully watched, so that
there will be enough moisture in the
soil at all times to make maximum
growth, although too much water is
just as bad as not enough, and good
cultivation is just as essential as irri-
CATION, in fact, some of the best or
chards in the state of Idaho are those
which are extensively cultivated, and
a minimum amount of water used.
In some of the orchard districts of
Idaho, the soil has become alkaline by
he excessive use OF water.
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 Is to "a
inches from the ground. The distance
of these limbs apart should be from
5 to inches, selecting, if possible,
three limbs to the windward side and
two to the lee, SO that the tree will be
eqsally balanced. These scaffold
limbs should be divided around the
body of the tree, and it is not we'll 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, har-
vesting, and the general care of the
orchard when it comes into bearing.
In pruning tree the third year, the