The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-02-21

10y IL NoOLD, HOHOIOSlSC OnlLeu
states Department of Agriculture
Many Of the trees which make up
the farm orchard fail to grow when
pl5nted because they are not properly
ha ldled.
Not infrequently small orders in
iended for the farmers of a community
are all packed in q large box and
shipped to someone who is located in
town, it may be, and with whom the
agent selling the trees has previously
arranged to receive the trees.
Upon the arrival OF the stock, those
| interested are notified and come to the
point of delivery to claim their re-
! Spective orders.
This method of delivery may not be
| Objectionable up to the time when the
| shipment arrives at its destination;
| but after the box in which the trees
are packed is opened, they are often
| subjected to many exposures to sun
and wind, which are ruinOuS to the
| trees.
| Necessarily the different orders,
| which may be tied in bundles by them
| selves, are handled over more or less
| as the various purchasers obtain their
respective orders. In this way the
roots are often exposed to the air.
sunshine, and wind, which dry them
| out to the point greatly reducing their
vitality, if not destroying it entirely.
Then, the order, when delivered to
| the purchaser, may be placed in the
farm wagon with the roots still ex-
posed, with still further reduction in
| the vitality of the trees through dry
ing. If the trees are not planted at
once upon arrival at the farm, there
may be even more deterioration from
| the same cause.
In contrast to this kind of treat
ment, every possible precaution should
| be taken from the time the trees are
| dug from the nursery row until they
are planted to prevent the roots from
ever becoming dry.
| When they are unpacked to await
the claiming of the different orders by
the purchasers, the roots should be
sprinkled or dipped in water and
| buried in moist soil, or sand, or given
some other adequate protection against
becoming dry.
While being taken to the farm, the
| same precaution is essential. If the
trees, especially the roots, are covered
with gunny sacks, an old horse blanket,
or some other material that has been
| thoroughly moistened, sufficient protec-
! ton usually will be given.
Planting the Trees.
With the trees at hand and the land
! put in shape for the planting, that
operation is the next step.
| On land moderately level, or uni
| fOrmly sIOped, the most common prac-
tice is to plant the trees in rows so
| that they check both ways; that is,
| the trees should be in line crOsSwise
| the rows as well as lengthwise. Some
convenient method of getting the
trees in line when planting them,
either by sighting, by measuring, or
by combination of both, will suggest
itself to most planters.
The observance of a few simple d.
rections should result in the trees be-
ing so planted that only a very small
percentage Of loss, at the most, will
occur. The methods to be followed are
essentially the same with all of the
| tree fruits under consideration.
The holes in which the trees are to
be planted may be dug in advance or
at the time of setting. Each course
| has its advantages and disadvantages.
Where the soil is very dry, digging at
the time Of planting is preferable. In
| any event. the holes should be made
| wide enough to receive the roots after
| they have been properly pruned, with
out bending or forcing them from their
| natural positions; and deep enough so
| that the trees will stand two or three
| inches deeper when the holes are filled
even with the surrounding surface
| than they stood in the nursery before
| they were dug.
Before the trees are placed in the
| holes, bruised and broken roots should
| be cut off. IF there are rough, stub
| ends, made by the breaking off of
roots, the ends are usually trimmed
| off smooth.
Soil for Hole.
| The hole should be filed with fine
soil, preferably with surface soil rath
| er than that which was taken from
| the bottom of the hole when it YVES
| dug. The soil should be worked down
among the roots very carefully. This
can best be done with the fingers, al
| though grasping the trunk of the tree
| firmly in the hand and moving it up
| and down very slightly will help to
settle the soil among the roots. AS
| the hole is filed, the soil should be
made very firm throughout by tram
| ping it down several times with the
| feet, or by compacting it in some other
Proner Horse ShoeinO