The silver messenger., 1912-02-27
BY JOHN U. MCPHERSON. Idaao
state Horticultural Inspector.
Oregon Short Line Demonstration
Train Lecture.

oregon Short Line Demonstration
Train Lecture.
In selecting land for an orchard site,
there are three things that should be
taken into considerations: the 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 we'll known fact
tnat 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 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, 30 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 are 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 a
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
the growing season should be taken
into consideration. The planter should
study his own locality, and the condi-
tions existing there before selecting
bis varieties. Varieties should be Sc.
lected so 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
mercial varieties. and the fewer num-
Der of varieties that are planted in
my one section. the better for the
grower when the fruit comes into
bearing, as too many varieties are
now raised on the westeE. slope which
have no commercial value and are not
of good keeping quality.
There Is great deal of difference
IN the opinions Of various horticultur-
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 old, well-devel-
oped trees. AS q 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
ases, 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 a 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
1t Is mellow when handled. AS a gen.
'ral rule, the apple trees are planted
rom thirty to thirty-three feet apart.
This distance gives them ample room
to build up good root system. and
4mple soil from which to feed upon.
In planting, the holes are dug about
Sx2. The first 8 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 a little deeper
than when 1t 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 ill not bruise the
roots. AS soon rs the top soil is
placed In the hole, a quantity of wa
ter should be run in, and the trees
well settled by slightly pulling it up
and down while the water is sinking
away. AS soon as this is done, the
sub-soil should then be added and we'll
tamped In. The hole should be well
hlled and 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 planted. The tree should be set
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 1t is bent over or
thrown out Of line by the prevailing
winds An0thor rnothO1 ,,col |