The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-08-09
CULTURAL METHODS FOR
THE HOME ORCHARD
VARIETIES OF FRUIT, SEASON
AND SOIL CONDITIONS GOV
ERIN METHODS.
CULTIVATION USUALLY PAYS
II Stimulates and invigorates this
Trees Causing Them To De-
veiop Deep Root
System.

Orchard culture and methods vii
depend on size or age OF trees, mature
| of root growth, and the kind of season
! soil IN which the trees are growing
! says B. Szymoniak, associate hort
! culturist, Extension Division, Louisi
ana State University. Generally it i:
advisable TO cultivate the young
orchfSd in the same manner that
garden is cultivated. A good practice
therefore would be 10 start the HON,
orchard in the home garden TIL,
injury while blowing. This is done
By placing fence posts on either side
of the trees anu by keeping two fee
away from the trees While cultlVating
the soil with horse implements
On the upland type of soil it is best
to give level cultivation. If the young
orchard is not grown in the garden, oi
il no garden crops are grown in the
orchard, it should be planted 10 cow.
peas or soybeans during the month
of June, planting them i'll 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 dc
well if the roots are disturbed. The
mulch should 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 alluviaI
soil where the water table is close to
the surface it is necessary to plant the
trees on wide ridges with water fur
rows between the. rows to drain Of
the surplus water:
Under Louisiana conditions, except
in the case of pear trees, which shoulG
not be cultivated. it is seldom advis.
able to grow fruit trees in sod or &c
allow the grass to establish itself il
the home orchard because the grass
makes a very rank growth and prob
ably excludes the air from the soil
1t also causes the trees to develoi
roots close TO the surface where thel
are unfavorably influenced by eXces
sive 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 |
proper cultivation.
After the orchard has come intt |
bearing it is best not to give it az |
intensive cultivation as is given this |
young orchard, but definite system |
must be followed depending on loca |
conditions. The system that has giyeI |
good results in practice is TO plan |
cowpeas or soybeans, broadcast or IL |
rows, during the month of June 0
July to be plowed under in the fall ane
the soil planted to a winter cover cToI
of rye or barley. This can be pasturet |
by sheep or calves during the winter
provided the trees are not injured |
Cattle should never be allowed in ar
orchard unless the trees are protect
ed. The winter cover crop is plowedI
under in the spring and the orchard
disced or narrowed two or three times
depending on the season. Then COW
peas or soybeans are again planted
during June or July. This system car
be followed not only in the home
orchard where the trees are mature
but it can be practiced also in pecan
orchards with good results.
Cultivation is one of the most i'm
portant factors in growing trees. b.
cultivation the roots are given proper
soil conditions for best development
Good fruit and healthy leaves as we'll
rs branches depend on the root system
which feeds them. Therefore the root
system is the foundation on which the
lie of the tree depends and must be
cared for by cultivation in &C
,Ordance with the demands of each
lind of tree grown. Cultivation keeps
he trees in vigorous fruiting condi
ion and enables the trees to resist in
Iects and diseases.