Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-04

the health ana VfEoT OF the trees. All
lands lacking in buinus can have this
element restored TO a great extent by
such treatment. and orchards which
have been sown with red clover main
tain greater longevity. fruitfulness and
excellence IN fruit product. besides
dispensing With the costly necessity
of using special fertilizers
AS TO the indications when a hearing
orchard needs stimulating the emf
nent p0molosist. 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 it thorough
cultivation
The principal requirement in pre-
pairing land for planting an orchard
is deep tillage. aud the more thorough
~ ibis work is done the more certain
Is success The preparation bad best
be done late in the fall. so That the
land will be ready for early spring
planting or for fall planting If prefer
iGd MANY odANNS1Ati 20
pecaliy 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 10 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. If properly
graded. carry off any surplus water
which may accumulate from heavy
rainfalls.
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 q crop
from the trees until they begin to in
terfere with each other, when every
alternate tree in the row is cut out,
ttit lie lliC titNo Ia lltC SIlAt 0lCHdiu
at 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 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 aud the orchard will be-
gin to decline. But it is generally con-
coded that thirty-two to forty feet is
the preferred standard distance. If
the distance of forty feet each way is
adopted it 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 MS to the best time to
ole 10, bot Lott
tudes. In southern attitudes late fall
Or the early part of the winter may be
safe for planting. But in most of the
states early spring is considered the
better time Fail planting has the OBJ
lection against it that the roots of a
tree do not take hold of the ground
sufficiently to supply enough moisture
TO maintain q healthy active circula
zion of the sap, which is 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 vigor.
Gus one or two year old trees. called
whips" by nuserymen, having well
developed root systems, are prefera Bile.
Trees of this type and age are more
satisfactory pnd profitable in time ana
suffer less in transplanting, cost less
and are much more easily handled
man older ones.
In this connection we would suggest
the adyisability OF purchasing trees
for planting from the nearest respon-
stbie nurseryman. The local nursery
man, If perfectly familiar with his
business. will understand the needs
anG demands of his home customers
ana should grow the varieties best
suited to his section of country. IL
hoEest be should feel himself morally
If not legally responsible for the cor.
rectnesS of his nomenclature. BY Sc
curing trees at the nearby nursery all
danger from damage by long transit