The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-08-16
CULTURAL METHODS FOR
TIE HOME ORCHARD
VARIETIES OF FRUIT, SEASON
AND SOIL CONDITIONS Gov
GRN METHODS.
CULTIVATION USUALLY PAYS
Il Stimulates and lnvigorates the
Trees Causing Them To De-
velop a Deep Root
System.

Orchard culture and methods will
| depend on size or age Of trees. nature
OF root growth, and the kind of season.
! whether rainy or dry, and the type ct
| soil in which the trees are growing,
| says 3. Szymoniak, associate horti-
culturist, Extension Division, Louisi-
ana State University. Generally it is
advisable to cultivate the young
| orchard in the same manner that u
| garden is cultivated A good practice
| therefore would be to start the home
orchard in the home garden. The
young trees must be protected frcm
injury while blowing This Is done
| by placing fence posts on either side
Of the trees and by keeping two feet
away from the trees while cultivating
! the soil with horse Implements,
On the upland type of soil 1t is best
| to give level cultivation. If the young
orchard is not grown in the garden, or
If TO garden crops are grown in the
! orchard, it should be planted to cow
peas or soybeans during the month
of June, planting them in rows which
should be cultivated. Fig trees grown
under orchard conditions should not
; be cultivated, but the soil around the
! roots should be heavily mulched with
pine straw and leaves or other COARSE
! material. This is done for the reason
! that fig trees have very shallow
! root system and the trees will not 90
! wetl Il lie roots are disturbed. Tho
mulch Hhould not be piled up around
! the trunks of the trees but should be
| applied at least two feet away from
! the base In growing trees in alluvial
| soil where the water table is close 10
; the surface it is necessary to plant the
trees on wide ridges with water FUR
| rows between the rows to drain Off
the surplus water.
Under Louisiana conditions, except
[ in the case of pear trees, which should
not be cultivated. it Is seldom adviS-
! able to grow fruit trees in sod or to
allow the grass to establish itself In
/ sho home orchard because the grass
| makes very rank growth and prob
| ably excludes the air from the soil.
| It also causes the trees TO develop
| roots close 10 the surface where they
! are unfavo-ably influenced by excess
siye heat, moisture and drouth Cul.
tivation stimulates and invigorates
| the trees, causing them to develop
| deep root system. The roots of the
| trees are the foundation of the trees
! and must be properly cared for by
p,oper cultivation.
After the orchard has come into
| bearing it is best not to give 1t as
| intensive cultivation as rs gwen the
lang orchard but a definite system
| must be followed depending on local
| conditions The system that has given
| good results in practice is to plant
| cowpcas or soybeans, broadcast OF In
rows. during the month OF June or
I July to be plowed under in the'fall and
| the soil planted to a winter cover crop
| of rye or barley. This. can be pastured
| by sheep or calves during the winter
provided the trees are not injured.
| Cattle should never be allowed in an
orchard unless the trees are protect.
ed. The winter cover crop. is piowed
! under in the spring and the orchard
| disced or narrowed two or three times,
| depending on the season. Then cow
| peas or soybean5 are again planted
during June or July. This system can
be followed not only in the home
orchard where the trees are mature
| but 1t can be practiced also in pecan
orchards with good results.
| Cultivation is one of the most im-
| portant factors in growing trees. BY
| cultivation the roots are given proper
| soil conditions for best development.
| Good fruit and healthy leaves as well
| as branches depend on the rootsystera
! which feeds them. Therefore the root
| system is the foundation On which tho
| life of the tree depends and must be
| properly cared for by cultivation in &C.
| cOrdance with the demands OF each
| kind of tree grown. Cultivation keeps
| the trees in vigorous fruiting cond:+
ton and enables the trees to resist lie
secis ard diseases.