The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-27


in comparison with the mahaleb stock.
The common wild bird" or pin"
cherry has been used to a limited ex.
tent In some sections for stock pur-
poses, but it is unimportant in COM
parison with the others mentioned.
Trees for Planting.
The selection of trees suitable for
planting is fundamental to the success
Of an orchard. To plant poor tree
Is to start with handicap that may
continue throughout the life Of the
orchard. The purchase price of poor
tree may be few cents less than that
Of one of high grade, but the economy
OF the transaction ends with it's pur-
chase. Everything else costs substan-
TALLY the same as for high-grade
tree. Real economy consists in pay
ing reasonable prices for high-grade
trees. If only definite amount can
be expended. for trees, 1t is better to
secure a small number Of good, strong,
buy larger number at the expense of
quality. An altogether desirable tree
Is difficult to describe, especially as
different planters have different ideals,
The desirability of a tree is not meas
ured by size alone. While q small In
ferior tree should be avoided because
il n not likely to grow well even when
planted under favorable conditions, a
very large, overgrown tree is scarcely
better. Unless handled with extreme
care, the largest grades do not endure
the check incident to transplanting as
well as thrifty medium-sized' trees.
In the past, two-year-old trees have
been planted, as a rule, by cherry
growers, but there is evidently a grow
ing preference for trees that have
made only one seasons growth in the
nursery.
Season for Planting Trees.
In regions where the winters are
severe and trying, spring planting is
advisable. Such conditions occur in
the North, where the temperature drops
very low, and the Great Plains area,
where, in addition to low tempera-
lures, the winters are very trying be-
cause Of the limited supply of moisture
both ip the soil and in the atmos-
phere. In the middle ATTITUDES and
wherever the winters are comparative
ly mild fall planting generally is pref
cradle.
One factor in spring planting needs
to be observed with special care. The
buds Of cherry trees swell and start
into growth very early. If they start
to any considerable extent before the
trees are planted, high percentage OF
failure Is likely to occur. Therefore,
particular pains should be taken to
hold the trees in a perfectly dormant
condition until they are set out, very
early planting usually being the wisest
plan.
Handling Nursery Trees.
The trees should be unpacked i'm
mediately after delivery and every pos
sible precaution taken to prevent the
roots from becoming dry. Unless the
number Of trees is so limited that i'm
mediate planting is possible and the
time for doing it is at hand, they
should be heeled in. For this purpose
thoroughly well-drained' place
where the soil is mellow and deep is
required. A trench sufficiently wide
and deep to receive the roots is made,
and the trees are placed in it.
In covering, the soil should be
worked among the roots sufficiently
to fill all the spaces between them. II
large number of trees are to be
heeled in, they are usually placed in
closely adjacent rows. Where this is
done, the trees in one row may be
covered with the soil which is removed
in opening the adjacent trench.
Trees that are tied in bundles when
received must be separated before they
are heeled in.
Preparing the Land.
The ideal preparation of the soil fol
cherry trees consists of deep blowing
and thorough pulverizing with har
row or cultivator. The preparation
should be hardly less thorough thar
for corn, potatoes, or other hoe crops
Though various compromises on thii
ideal may be possible without defeat
ing the ends In view, any temporary
gain through a course that falls shor
of thorough and deep working ant
timing Of the soil will usually be more
than Offset by the results that follow