The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-07-09


place your order. II you are planning
to purchase a considerable number of
trees good method is to order by
samples by requesting the nurseryman
to ship you samples Of the kinds of
trees you desire. Always order a few
more trees than you actually need
This will permit of discarding any poor
or injured ones
Have your trees shipped to arrive q
considerable time in advance OF the
day or week in which they are to be
set and heel them in." You will then
have your trees at hand ready to set
when the conditions for planting are
best. II one understands "heeling
them in" properly, so they will not be
damaged during the winter. 1t is
good practice to purchase the trees in
the fall.
AS soon as the trees arrive from the
nurseryman they should be unpacked
to note their condition. If the trees are
dry the roots should be placed in wa
ter for a time until the bark on the
trunk and branches Of the trees re-
the soil is In workable condition when
the trees arrive they should be taken
to the proposed site of the orchard and
pruned and heeled in. They will then be
near at hand when needed for planting.
Proper Height to "cut Back"
Two to two and one-half feet above
the bud is about the proper height to
'cut back" peach trees for planting.
Good trees can be formed when cut
back to eighteen inches. but anything
more severe than this is not to be rec
commended.
Sometimes the roots of peach trees
which have been grown upon sandy
soil show an infestation Of black peach
aphdes or plant lice These are likely
to check seriously the growth Of the
trees where they are planted upon the
sandy soils, and 1t is recommended that
the roots of infested trees be dipped
in a solution of whale oil soap at the
rate Of one pound to three to four gal.
Ions Of water. One Of the soluble oils
for killing scale would also probably
be safe dipping solution made up at
the rate of one part Of oil to sixteen or
eighteen parts Of water. The writer has
used lime-sulphur successfully for this
work, but other authorities have report
ed injury from this material, so. II
tried. it should be used with caution.
AS early as the soil Is in proper con.
dition to work in the spring the site OF
the orchard should be well plowed and
thoroughly narrowed. Make the land
as level as conditions permit and avoid
leaving any dead burrows" In other
words, prepare the land as thoroughly
for peach trees as for a crop Of pota.
toes or one Of the truck crops.
The Importance Of early preparation
of the land after 1t Is in workable con
dition cannot be overemphasized. II
remains much more moist. and the trees
have much more favorable conditions
in which to begin growth. If the land
is plowed late 1t is often dried out, and
the trees do not find the most adorable
moisture conditions.
This is an important feature and one
which will show the results Of good OF
poor judgment during the whole life
time of the orchard. There are various
systems of tree planting. but the most
common and the one to be generally
recommended for peaches is the setting
Of the trees in squares.
Directions For Planting.
Three is a good number to make up a
planting gang-two men to set and a
boy or man to drop the trees. Ii the
planting is done upon bright day the
roots of the trees should be kept GOV.
| cred with a piece OF moist burlap OF
similar material as they are carried
| out to be set, and only a few trees
should be dropped ahead of the men
who are setting II the weather is dull
and rainy at planting time consider
able number of trees may be dropped
ahead Of the men who are planting,
and the man who does the distributing
can also assist in setting.
If the land is well furrowed out
where the trees are to be planted 1t
will only be necessary to move from
two to four shovelfuls Of soil In order
to make hole of sufficient width and
depth to receive each tree. One man
should then hold the tree In place while
the other shovels In some Of the loose.
moist surface soil about the roots
Most any vegetable crop may be
grown between the trees the first sum-
mer without damage to the orchard,
and it usually proves to be an indirect
benefit. The truck crop Is likely to
receive attention In the form Of good
cultivation and this is Of much value
to the trees. Where the orchard is
not planted with some marketable
crop the cultivation is seldom as well
done.
Such crops as tomatoes. sweet pota.
toes melons. sweet corn and bush
lima beans may be grown successfully
in the young peach orchard and under
average conditions will at least pay
the cost of the cultivation Of the or
chard for that season.
Caution In Summer Pruning.
Unless the young peach trees are
upon fertile sou and are making o