The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1917-08-30
BEAT The H.C. OIL.
BY RAISING FRUIT
Every Home in Arkansas Should Have
Enough Fruit Trees TO Supply
Family With Preserves.
by ]. S. Knox, Extension Division
University Of Arkansas.


kansas where a real fruit tree cannot
be found, and thousands of others
where the paintings are confined to
the fence corners or terraces. Such
should not be the case, but every farm
home, whether occupied by land OWL
er or tenant, should have a well kept
orchard of from one-half to one acre.
Only few trees of each kind OF fruit
will be needed to supply an abundance
Of fruit for the family. There is
nothing nicer than being able 10 go
into your own orchard and gather a
basket of nice ripe fruit from your own
trees or vines.
The Best Place for an Orchard.
The location of the home orchard is
of great Importance. Since its OBJ
jeet Is to supply the home with fresh
fruits, it should be located as eonFen-
lent as possible 10 the home. It should
be remembered, however, that fruit
trees will not thrive in cold, wet soils,
and it may be best to sacrifice near
ness to the home for a more favorable
location. Your farm may not have
any very favorable places for an or
chard, but there are very few farms
where there isn't a small area that
could be made to produce a fair crop
of fruit. Wherever possible, 4 gentle
slope should be selected for the or
ehard. since such places are less like
~ to suffer from frosts or excessive
water in the soil
Buy From Reliable Nurserymer.
Too much stress cannot be placed
on the Importance of buying trees
from reliable nurserymen. No matter
how ideal the soil or the location, one
cannot suc>aed with poor trees. IN
buying fruit trees, by all means avoid
the so-called fruit tree agent, unless
you know him personally and know
that he represents a thoroughly roli-
able nursery.
The time of ripening of the diff
ferent varieties should also he
given careful consideration. since by
proper selection Of this kind ve can
have fruits ripening all along from
May to November Generally speak
ing, one-year-oId trees arc preferable
because they are not so badly dam
aged in digging and since they can
be shaped more to your liking.
Plant Properly at Right Time.
Fruit trees may BE planted at any
time from the first of December to the
first of March, but the early planting
is generally considered 7gefera bic be
cause it gives the soil time to settle
about the roots of the young tree be
fore the growing period sets in. The
holes for the trees should be dug
large enough to receive the roots Of
the young trees without crawding
them. Before setting, cut off all
broken or mangled roots and cut back
the trees 10 correspond with the root
system that is left
Must Care for the Trees.
1t is impossible to grow fruit I'M
less we devote considerable tine TO
the care of the trees. There are nu-
merous insects and diseases that are
always on hand to destroy the trees
as soon as they are planted but for
tunately we have remedy for most
of these If you do not intend to
prune, cultivate and spray your or
chard, then it is best not to plant one,
because it will serve only as a breed
ing place for insects and diseases that
will injure your neighbours orchard.
A barrel spray pump should be on
hand wherever a home orchard is
planted. These pumps can be pur-
chased complete for about $500 to
$1,000, and one pump will be suf
cient to take care Of several home or
chards. In order TO get results from
spraying, the work must be done thor-
oughly. Spraying is not difficult
operation nor is it very expensive
compared to the returns which 1t
brings.
If you are figuring on planting
home orchard. write to the Fxt"nsion
Division, University of Arkansas. Fay
etteville, Ark, and let us heip you in
the selection of varieties suited TO
your section.