The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-04-25

(From the United States Department of
Agriculture.)
Cherry trees are planted at various
distances apart, depending upon the
topography Of the land, the fertility of
the soil, the varietal characteristics Of
the trees, and the preferences and
conceptions Of the Individual grower.
For most sour varieties 20 by 80 feet
Is generally accepted as satisfactory.
Many who have orchards of trees of
considerable age that are planted
closer than this concede that they are
too near together. Occasionally q
grower is found who Is convinced that
% or even 25 feet apart each way
gives none too much space for the
strong growing varieties like the Mont
morency. Some of the smaller-grow-
ing sorts, such as the English Morello,
are sometimes planted 16 or Is feet
apart each way with good success.
The i'll effect of too close planting
Is suggested in the Illustration, which
shows Montmorency orchard abost
twenty-One years old in which the
trees are IA feet apart each way. The
branches interiock, so that spraying
is difficult; they are long, slender and
upright in position, and hence it is
difficult to gather a considerable part
Of the crop.
A good many sweet-cherry trees
have been planted 20 by 20 feet, but
this is admittedly too close. Probably
% feet each way is the minimum dis
lance advisable for sweet cherries,
while not a few growers prefer from
2S to 80 feet each way, in the convic-
ton that in the end the greater
amount Of space is more satisfactory.
East of the Rocky mountains COM
mercial paintings Of sweet cherries
have been made almost invariably in
connection with sour varieties, and
with few exceptions comprise but a
very small proportion of the orchards
In which they occur. It is therefore a
matter of convenience to space the
trees of the sweet varieties the same
as the sour sorts; but because of the
much larger size attained by the for
mer more space should be given them
wherever possible.
The details Of planting the trees,
so far as placing them in the ground
is concerned, do not differ from those
usually followed with apples, peaches,
or other fruit trees commonly planted
in the sections where cherries are
grown.
N q q
mutilated or injured portions of the
roots should be trimmed off and long,
slender roots, If they occur, cut off
to correspond with the length Of the
main roots.
In handling the trees every precau-
ton should be taken to prevent the
roots from becoming dry. Undue expo
sure during the period that elapses be-
tween the trimming and the planting
of the trees will injure them. This
danger can be eliminated largely by
pudding the roots as soon as trimmed.
This consists in dipping them in q
| puddle of clay. The puddle should be
| of such consistency that a thin layer
| Of mud will adhere to the roots when
! dipped into 1t. Such a coating Of mud
| will afford considerable protection,
| though even with this treatment the
| exposure of the roots to sun and wind
| should be reduced to a minimum at all
| times.
| In planting the trees after they have
| been prepared as above suggested,
| several very important precautions
/ must be observed If the desired sue
cess is to be realized. In filing the
| hole after a tree has been put into
| position and properly aligned only
| finely pulverized soil should be used.
| In this part Of the operation much
care should be taken to work the soil
| in closely about the roots. This may
| be done to some extent with the
| fingers. Moving the tree up and down
very slightly as the hole is being filled
will also materially help to settle the
soil among the roots. AS the filling
| progresses the soil should be firmly
tamped about the roots, and when
| completed the hole should be filed
even with the surface.
Pruning at the Time of Planting.
| Wide differences exist in the man.
ner of pruning and forming the tops of
the trees at planting time, though they
may be grouped into two general
methods: ~ Forming the top with
| three to five or six main framework