The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-01-12

by the prevailing WINDS. AnOtner
method used in some of the old es-
tablished fruit sections of Idaho is
planting of corr every third or fourth
row i'm new orchards, parallel to the
prevailing winds. The orn grows to
q good height at an early date in the
spring, and furnishes a 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 a 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 a 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
make a 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 extern
sively cultivated, and a minimum
amount of water used. In some of
the orchard districts of Idaho, the
soil has become alkaline by the ex-
cessive 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 a height of from
eighteen to twehty-four inches from
the ground. The distance of
these limbs apart should be from
five to eight inches, selecting, if
possible, three limbs to the wind
ward side and two to the lee, SO that
the tree will be eq ally balanced.
These scaffold limbs should be di-
vided around the body of the tree,
and it i not well to have one i'm
mediately above the other. The form
ing Of the scaffold limbs on young
trees is the most important work in
the growing of a 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 bear
ing.
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 adj
ditional 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 ad-
ditional limbs to grow from the last
years growth. In this way, at the
time of bearing, you will have a low
headed stocky, and we'll developed
tree, and n which will be able to
bear its fruit in a good quantity
without breaking down under the
load.
There is no certain time that can
be set as to when spraying should
be begun IN newly planted orchards
for the different insect pests. Some
of the best orchardists in the state
commence 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 n gallon of lime solution
to 10 or IL parts of water. A solu-F.
ton 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 infec-
ton 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 growing condition
Is by watching them closely and
keeping them free from the different
pests and fungus diseases that de-
stroy our orchards.
In conclusion, there are five i'm
portant factors that should be borne
mind at all times in the growing
of a young orchard; the selecting of
deep, well drained soil; second, the
of first-class nursery
stock with a good thrifty growth, and
rec from diseases; third, the careful
IND economical irrigation and thor
'ugh cultivation; fourth, the proper
pruning, and the forming of the
framework of the tree at the begin
ling of its second years growth;
fifth, the ultimate outcome and the
Producing power of any orchard alb
olutely depends upon the care that
S given it in it's early stage of
'rowth and development.