Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-06-27
In quantity ranging from 400 to 600

sufficiently fertile for an orchard
growth and need no enriching until
the trees begin to show signs of weak
ness in vigOr from crop bearing. ana
even then they may be invigorated by
the use of crops of red or crimson
clover grown among the trees, allow
ing the crop to fall and decay upon the
ground each year. BY this treatment
a large amount of decayng vegetable
matter rich in plant food will accuml-
late upon the land, forming a moist
protection from the hot summer sun
and preventing deep freezing during
the winter. a condition conducive to
the health and visor of the trees. All
lands lacking in humus can have this
element restored to great extent by
such treatment. and orchards which
have been Sown with red clover main
tain greater longevity. fruitfulness and
dispensing with the costly necessity
Of using special fertilizers.
AS to the indications when bearing
orchard needs stimulating the emf
nent pomologist, DR.. Warder. once
said. when the growth Of the termi-
nal branches fails to make an annual
extension of at least one foot in length
the tree should be stimulated by ma
nuring the land and giving 1t thorough
cultivation"
The principal requirement in pre-
pairing land for planting an orchard
is deep tillage. and the more thorough
ly this work is done the more certain
is success. The preparation had best
be done late in the fall. so that the
land will be ready for early spring
planting or for fall planting If prefer
red. Many successful orchardists. es-
pecially in the western states. pillow
the ground in LANDS" so as to make
an open land furrow where each row
Of trees is to be set and then. after the
trees are planted. backfurrOw the
ground so as to make lands with tree
rows in the center.
This method affords a deeper filth
under the trees and at the same time
surface drainage into the open land
burrows midway between the rows.
which will receive and, II properly
graded. carry Off any surplus water
which may accumulate from heavy
ranfalls
Distances For Planting.
A decision as to the proper distance
apart to set trees varies with different
planters. Some plant 16 by 80 feet
that is. the trees sixteen feet apart In
rows thirty-two feet apart. The OBJ
ject Of this method is to obtain crop
from the trees until they begin to In
terfere with each other. when every
alternate tree in the row is cut out.
leaving the trees In the entire orchard
at a distance Of thirty.two feet each
way. The trees to be cut out should
be early bearing. short lived varieties
This system has the advantage Of
more fully utilizing the land for fruit
production until the thinning out be.
comes necessary.
Other planters adopt a distance be-
tween trees Of twenty. twenty-four or
thirty feet apart each way. claiming
that by the time the trees interfere
with each other they will have finished
their growth and the orchard will be.
gin to decline. But 1t is generally con.
coded that thirty-two to forty feet is
the preferred standard distance. II
the distance of forty feet each way is
adopted 1t will afford ample space be-
tween the rows for growing any crop
which requires cultivation. such as
corn, beans. potatoes. etc Such cult
walton Is highly important and neces.
sary for the maintenance Of moisture
In the soil and for the health and vigor
of the trees. This distance will afford
free circulation Of air and abundance
Of sunlight. both Of which are essential
to the growing Of well developed and
highly colored fruit. Small grain
should never be grown among fruit
trees. especially when the orchard is
young.
Best Time to Plant.
The question as to the best time to
plant Is governed somewhat by lati-
tudes. In southern ATTITUDES late fall
OF the early part of the winter may be
safe for planting. But in most of the
states early spring is considered the
better time. Fall planting has the OBJ
lection against 1t that the roots of
tree do not take hold of the ground
sufficiently to supply enough moisture
to maintain healthy active circula.
uOn OF the sap. which Ia required to
prevent shriveling of the branches
during winters extreme cold and ex.
naustive evaporation from drying
Winds.
The selection Of trees is a very I'M
pOrtant part Of orcharding. for upon
are and Judgment In this matter de
pend largely tire future profits Of the
Investment. Strong. stOcky and vigpr-
GUS one or two year old trees called
whips" by nuserymen. having well
developed root systems. are preferable.
i'rees Of this type and age are more
satisfactory and profitable in time and
suffer less in transplanting. cost less
and are much more easily handled
oil