Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-10
Timely Advice On Orchard Planting Given by Murray D. Lincoln Director of County Improve ment League-Requirements Locality, Fertility Direction of Slope-Wen Matured Trees Should be Sc Now.

Owing to the increased demand and good prices for the various kinds of good fruit. many people are contem- plating the setting of an orchard this year: If well matured trees can be obtained this fall, it is feasible to set as soon as possible this year. Next spring when the spring work is rush. ing if the orchard gets planted at all 1t will be a slip shod job. The need of carefully setting the orchard can- not be too. strongly emphasized.
 Fall planting is preferable on we'll drained soils, particularly for hardy
 varieties of fruit like apples, pears and plums. If the ground is in good con- dition and the stock we'll matured, peaches can sometimes be set in Oc- tober with success. Advantages of fall setting are several. The trees become established during the open weather in the fall, and usually make start In the spring before the ground is hard enough to allow spring planting. This early start not only means a better growth the first season, but what is more important trees which get a | very early hold upon the soil endure the droughts to better advantage It | is also better to buy in the fall when the stock Is full and the best trees un- sold. However insist that the trees are we'll matured and not stripped of | their leaves which would seem to in l dicate that they have shed them and gone into the dormant condition.
 | At any rate, whether the farmer is | to set this fall or next spring he should be contemplating the location of his | orchard and get what he can in con- ] dition. A few timely remarks on the
 selection of such land may save some | from bad losses in the future.
 | There is considerable differences In l the local conditions demanded by the | different fruits, yet the same under | lying principles will serve for all | fv-r1f haar wise in
 selecting his general location for em- | barking upon the orchard business yet erred badly in locating the or chard upon the particular farm which | he bought
 Soil Fertility.
 Soil fertility is, of course, an im- portant consideration; yet not as i'm. the soil. If the general character oi 1 the soil is good. fertility may be sup piled by proper treatment. Run-dowr soils can be made fertile. yet the mar | who starts his orchard upon worn | out" soils is working under bis l handicap. The skillful grower can take a peach soil and develop a paying ap' ple orchard, the amateur should al l ways bear in mind that under sucf conditions only the man who thor | oughly understands his business car | hope for success.
 l For fedcneS.
 The peach thrives best upon rathel light soil; only the exceptional peacf l grower can hope to succeed WILT peaches upon clay soils. and the heav! ciays should always be avoided. A sandy loam, or gravelly loam Is the soil for the peach Apples require solif varying from sandy loam to clay | loarn In apple culture the experienced | orchardist soon learns that apple va | n their soil re- ouirements. Pears, for the greater | mart do best upon rather heavy soils | yet the writer has seen successiu pear orchards grown upon sandy SOILS l The secret of this variation lies per hans in the subsoil, rather than IT ion soil. All apple and pear soil. | should have subson of clay or cia1 | loann; a soil that Is retentive or mois ture and that does not readily ieaci out plant food. The roots of the peaci
 demand plenty of oxygen 10 anrto' tn, soil that allows surface water to set
 file away quickly and allows air '
 readily penetrate the SOIL
 All orchard soils should be easil! workable. The light sandy soils an. Heavy clays and stony lands are al
 ways hard to handle.In heavy clay on' often has to wait for days after rain before the soil can be proper.
 can get upon the land within fev
 hours after the heaviest rains. Eas off working soil also will materiaii' | cut down the cost of production.
 Very acid soils should be avoided
 wet we should not lose sight of tn I fact that most fruit trees are yer,
 tolerant of acid and alkaline condi :, tions of soil. All fruit trees deman,
 some lime to give proper strengtl to limbs and trunk. If a soli IS a aca some lime should be applied Lime Il stone soils are often favored for tn
 apple. The writer does not beiiev