The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-01-30
FARM z :!.!' ORCHARD
Noss oea Massaos hom A0'saai Colleges Epanenf Saoss
u Oregon and Waho Specially Ssaasde . naer coa cs.
POINTS TO BE OBSERVED IN
PLANTING FAMILY ORcHAa

POINTS TO BE OBSERVED IN
PLANTING FAMILY ORCHARD
Oregon Agricultural College, Corval-
lis.-"In starting family orchard
hope that you will put out what may
be called an ideal family orchard, ;"
said Professor G.. I. Lewis, horticul-
turist of the Oregon Agricultural Col
lege. II am sure that we can learn
a very profitable lesson from past ex.
periences with family orchards in this
state. For one thing we have learned
that the average family orchard is too
large, and that it is poorly cared for
and produces more fruit than can be
used by the family, because it is often
of very inferior quality.
Orchards of this kind are often re-
garded as a menace to the fruit in
dustry by those who depend upon
fruit growing as livelihood. They
have caused much discussion concern
ing enforcement of inspection laws.
believe that we can establish family
orchards much better than any we now
have In fact this is necessary. Some
persons have gone so far as to say
that the day of the family orchard is
about past. Unless men who have
these orchards in charge take better
care of them they will be legislated
out of existence. This would be
great misfortune and we cannot af-
ford to prevent the growing of home
orchards on Oregon farms. There are
few things indeed that contribute so
much to the delights of farm life as
the home orchard.
Zone way to improve the orchards
and insure better care of the trees is
to reduce quite materially the num-
Der of trees planted. If it is felt that
it is necessary to have every variety
you desire, fewer trees may still be
planted and later four or five varie-
ties grated onto single tree. Many
varieties of fruit are very desirable
for the home orchard, but an entire
tree is not required to furnish enough
of each variety for family use. By
setting out fewer trees and using more
varieties supply of fresh fruit can
be secured for the family for prac-
tically every month of the year. Hav-
ing a small orchard encourages the
wv uCl " CdhO UCCtCls Cd1 VI IL.
I'm shaping the trees they should
be headed low, and since there is
plenty of room on the farm the trees
should be given plenty of space. APP
pie trees should be given at least 80
feet; pears, 25; sweet cherries, 35;
walnuts, so; -prunes, %; peaches and
sour cherries, 20.
"The trees should he planted in the
orchard little deeper than they were
in the nursery row.
I'm this valley it probably makes
little difference whether the trees are
planted in late fall or in early spring.
l have always felt that fall planting
is perhaps the better, but am not
at all positive as to this. There are
indications that in some years at least
spring planting is safer in western
Oregon, and we know that it is safer
in eastern Oregon.
I'm choosing varieties for the home
orchard there are several points to be
kept in mind First, only varieties
which are liked by the family should
be selected. Personal preference
should mean very much in choosing
varieties fol. the home orchard. Sec
ond, varieties should be so selected
that they would furnish fruit through
out the entire year. Third, varieties
may profitably be chosen even though
they do not grow to the highest de-
gree of commercial perfection. Some
varieties do not come up to the COM
mercial standard of color, size and
yet, because of their eating or cook
ing qualities, are very desirable for
the family orchard"