The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-04-30
!. I. + i. i \ i. !. \ 4 1. /. !.
BY w. S. THORNBER
HOrticulturist, Washington Exper

ment Station, Pullman.
81 AND that is slightly higher than
the surrounding country is best
for orchard purposes, since it af-
fords better drainage, thus lessening
the danger Of late spring frosts and
usually provides good soil drainage
A south or southern slope is better
for early or highly colored fruits,
while north or northeast slope is
better for late or winter fruits.
Practically all kinds of land in the
state are being used for orchard pur-
poses; and while the apple is very
cosmopolitan in it's choice, yet the
deep rich loamy or basaltic soils, free
from alkali, hardpan or substratum Of
shale rock are producing the best and
most productive trees. Very sandy,
light, dry or even rocky soils will
produce short-lived, unproductive
trees, while heavy wet clay soils pro-
duce large hardy bearing trees.
The greater part of the semi-arid
soils of Washington and Oregon. while
rich in mineral plant foods are fire.
quently deficient in nitrogen and
humus These deficiencies should be
arranged for II not provided before
planting the trees by means of cover
crops, green manure or commercial
fertilizers.
A good orchard soil possesses at
least three strong characteristics:
good water drainage; good texture
and plenty Of available plant food
Preparation OF the Soil
Before starting to plant, the soil
should be deeply plowed, thoroughly
subdued in perfect tillage, as it is
very expensive to prepare land or sub
due 1t after 1t is planted to trees. II
the orchard is to be irrigated, it is an
excellent plan to run the water over
the land after the trading and level
ing is done to determine If it will ir-
rigate as it is intended.
While many orchards are being
planted on raw sage brush land and q
few on land that is not even cleared
yet. 1t is the experience of the ma.
jority of our best fruit men that ir
the long run it pays to till or ever
crop the pand for one or two years OIL
at least plow under green crop Of
rye or Canada peas before planting
the trees.
When It Is necessary to plant trees
on poorly prepared land a small
amount of nitrate of soda mixed witt
the soil as the trees are being planted
adds very materially to their growth
during the first year after planting
Nursery Stock
Only one year old, well-grown, bu
not overgrown trees should be plant
ed. Older trees increase the cost o.
transportation and planting and art
usually headed too high for the bes
results
Medium size, not too small a tree
has many advantages over the large
or overgrown tree. One of its chic
advantages is in having active buds OF
the lower part of the stem from
where we desire our branches t
spring.
The difficulty Of getting trees tru'
to name has caused many planters
to consider the advisabilty of grow
ing their own trees. Where the per
son has the necessary knowledge
time and land he can usually grow
trees cheaper than he can buy them
however, this is business of its owl
and requires more skill time and pa
tience than the average grower cal
give to it. Consequently, it is general
ly cheaper to buy exactly what Isl
wanted than it is to grow it.
other things being equal 1t is bes
to buy from the nearest nursery a
the stock is usually acclimated ant
better adapted to the location thai
stock grown under different condi
tions. Buy only the very best; secont
class stock and culls are dear at an.
price and should never be used IL
commercial orchards. A diseased
stunted or injured tree rarely If eve
develops into a first class tree.
It matters little whether tree ha
been propagated by budding or b.