Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-03-22

them in properly. so they viii not be
damaged during the winter. It is q
good practice to purchase the trees IN
the fall.
AS 0 0 as the trees arrive from the
nurseryman they should be unpaekea
to note their condition If the trees are
dry the roots should be placed IN wa
ter for a time until the bark on the
trunk and branches of the trees re
gains It's full. bright appearance II
the soil Is 10 workable condition when
tire trees arrive they should be taken
to the proposed site of4he orchard and
pruned and heeled hi. They viii then be
nea at hand when needed for planting
Proper Height to "cut Back"
Two to " and one-half feet above
the bud IS about the proper height 70
''cut back" peach trees for planting
Good trees can be formed when cut
back to eighteen inches. but anything
more severe than this is not to be rec.
commended
Sometimes the roots OF peach trees
which have been grown upon sandy
soil show an infestation of black peach
aphides or plant lice. These are likely
to check seriously the growth Of the
trees where they are planted upon the
sandy soils. and 1t Is recommended that
the roots of infested trees be dipped
in a solution Of whale oil soap at the
rate Of one pound to three to four gal.
Ions Of wafer. One Of the soluble oils
for killing scale would also probably
be a safe dipping solution made up at
the rate of one part of oil TO sixteen or
eighteen parts OF water. The writer has
used lime-sulphur successfully for this
work, but other authorities have report.
ed injury from this material. 50. If
tried. 1t should be used with caution.
AS early as the soil is in proper con
dition to work In the spring the site Of
the orchard should be well plowed and
thoroughly narrowed. Make the land
as level as conditions permit and avoid
leaving any dead burrows In other
words, prepare the land as thoroughly
for peach trees as for a crop of pota-
toes or one of the truck crops.
The importance of early preparation
of the land after ii is in workable con.
ditiou cannot be overemphasized. II
remains much more moist. and the trees
have much more favorable conditions
In which 10 begin growth. If the land
is plowed late il is often dried out. and
the trees do not find the most favorable
moisture conditions.
This is an important feature and one
which will show the results of good OF
poor judgment during the whole life
time Of the orchard. There are various
systems of tree planting. but the most
omnion and the one to be generally
recommended for peaches Is the setting
Of the trees in squares,
Directions For Planting.
Three is a good number to make up a
planting gang-two men to set and a
boy or man to drop the trees If the
planting is done upon a bright day the,
roots of the trees should be Kept Gov
cred with u Piece OF moist burlap or
similar material as they are carried
out to be set. and only n few trees
should be dropped ahead of the men
who are setting. If the weather is duh
and rainy at planting time n consider
able number of trees may be dropped
ahead of the men who are planting.
and the man who does the distributing
can also assist in setting.
If the land is well furrowed ont
where the trees are to be planted IL
will only be necessary toAsnove from
two to four shovelfuls of soil In order
TO make a hole of sufficient width and
depth to receive each tree. One man
should then hold the tree in place while
the other shoyels in some of the loose,
moist surface soil about the roots.
Most any vegetable crop may be
grown between the trees the first sum
mer without damage to the orchard,
and it usually proves TO be an indirect
benefit The truck crop is likely to.
receive attention in the form of good
cultivation, and this is of much value
to the trees. Where the orchard is
not planted with some marketable
crop the cultivation is seldom as well
done.
Such crops as tomatoes. sweet pota
toes. melons. sweet corn and bush
lima beans may be grown successfully
in the young peach orchard and under
average conditions will at least pay
the cost of the cultivation of the or
chard for that season.
Caution In Summer Pruning.
Unless the young peach trees are
upon fertile sol and are making n
rapid growth it is best not to practice
any summer pruning the first season.
In the past there have been too
many orchard failures that could have
been prevented. and too many such
failures are occurring today. Lack OF
thorough cultivation is responsible for
more partial and complete failures
than any other one thing, not even ex
eepting peach yelIows, little peach or
scale,
The peach orchard should be kept
thoroughly cultivated from early
spring until midsummer, when a coy
49,. -I-.Il 49, - .-.