The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1919-09-27
VARIETIES OF FRUIT. SEASON
AND eoiL CONDITIONS Gov
GRN METHODS.
CULTIVATION USUALLY PAYS
Il Stimulates and lnvIgorates the
Trees Causing Them To De-
vslop q Deep Root
System.

orchard culture ana metnOQS VIII
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 B. Szymoniak, associate horti-
culturist, Extension Division, Louisi-
ana State University. Generally II is
advisable to cultivate the young
orchard In the same manner that a
garden is cultivated. A good practice
therefore would be to start the home
orchard in the home garden. The
young trees must be protected from
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 it is best
to give level cultivation. If the young
orchard is not grown In the garden, or
il no 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 orc, ard 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 a very shallow
root system and the trees will not DC
well II 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 alluvial
soil where the water table 10 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 should
not be cultivated, it is seldom advis
able to grow fruit trees in sod or tc
allow the grass to establish itself IL
the home orchard because the grass
makes very rank growth and prob
ably excludes the air from the SOIL
II also causes the trees to develop
roots close to the surface where they
are unfavorahiy influenced by exces
| sive heat, moisture and drOuth. Cul
| tivation stimulates and invigorates
the trees, causing them to develop 3
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 into
| bearing IL IL best not to give II az
| intensive cultivation az Ia given the
| young orchard, but a definite system
must be followed depending on local
| conditions. The system that has given
good results in practice is to plant
cowpeas or soybeans. broadcast or In
rows. during the month of June Oh
July TO be plowed under in the fall ano
the soil planted to a winter cover croI
of rye or barley. This can be pasturec
by sheep OF 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 plowec
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
portapt 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 root system
which feeds them. Therefore the root
system is the foundation on which the
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 a vigorous fruiting condi
ton and enables the trees to resist in
sects and diseases.