The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-06-23
SOMERSET COUNTY AGRICULTURAL NEWS
MY Experiences In 0rcharding
(By Roland II. patten)

NY VI S1idl ulllB experience. Olltl Ills
has been in answer to inquiry; other
wise. when | could capture an audi
tor, have taken the opportunity to
talk about 1t for my own entertain
ment. l really believe there may be
something helpful for others. This
thought, Mr.. Editor. has lead me, I'M
invited. to offer this for publication
| in your agricultural page.
If l could have an orchard located
just to suit me, l would select good
soil anything except clay or sand on
rolling ground, with gentle north
easterly slant. A steep hillside is of
course Objectionable for the same rea-
sons that you would not select II for
any kind of agriculture. Trees will
grow there well enough but when you
attempt to do anything to them or
the land around them of course a gen
tie slope is better than decleyity.
A northerly or westerly slope will do
pretty well. An easterly cant is some
what undesirable and southerly slope
is open to serious objections. With
out spending much tine on that point
| will say that It warns up too readily
in the early spring and even in sunny
DAYS in mid winter. | am not going
to attempt to give any advice as to
variety, except to say that a small
commercial orchard should be all of
one kind and that a large orchard bet
ter not have more than two or three
sorts. Likewise choosing between one,
two. three year or even older trees
will not be decided by me am rather
| inclined to nothing over two years
old. but any age of tree will do well
enough if you study the treatment 1t
particularly requires.
If the trees come before you are
quite ready to do the planting they
may be healed in. that is, you can
dig a trench long enough and lay in
and cover sufficiently to protect the
| roots. When you are already to pro
coed rapidly with the planting of
course each tree should be carefully
pruntd as to it's roots and branches
Be sure to cut away every trace Of
bruised roots. There are bulletins
which cover the entire process of APP
pie tree planting, and they are es-
pecially useful on this matter of root
and branch pruning. Better send for
one to the Department of Agriculture
| at Washington, or to the University OF
Maine at Orono. The advantage OF
the bulletin Is that it is illustrative,
showing just how the root pruning
especially should be done. Every tree
should be carefully dipped in lime
sulphur solution before planting. 1t is
very much easier TO eliminate infec-
ton at this time than later.
Every sort of care should be taken
to get the rows straight. and the trees
! OF equal distance apart. Thirty TO
thirty-fve feet is a very good distance
! Some recommend thrty-three and
one-third feet which gives exactly
three trees in every hundred feet
The services of a surveyor to exactly
locate every tree are well worth while,
but OF course that is not absolutely
necessary. In digging the holes it is
well to take the surface soil, say to
one foot In depth, and lay it one side.
then dig to an ample depth and good
roomy area The soil ought to be
stirred at least one foot below the
| roots of the tree. The surface soil
| already referred to should be thrown
| in Immediately under these roots. Set
the tree in place about the depth II
was in the nursery, then pack the
| dirt in very firmly around 1t. Right
here is a very important thing. Bear
| in mind that our prevailing winds
| come from the northwest. Observe
every orchard that you come across
and you will see that the trees are
| inclined toward the southeast and
the branches are all swung around In
that direction. Push your young trees
! over toward the northwest all you
! think they ought to go and then push
them down some more. II you IN
cline them in that direction all they
ought to go your neighbors will be
sure to laugh at you. but never fear
they will straighten up and lean the
other way before they are ten years
! old. In pruning or in locating the
trees in the hole, be sure to turn the
| principal branch growth toward the
northwest. These points just given
are never sufficiently observed.
The matter of branch pruning has
not in this piece yet had sutlielen,
attention. You must keep in mind
all the time how the tree is going to
| look ten years after the day you nave
1t in your hand. Splendid bulletins
are issued upon this subject You
should send for them. The bulletins
however do not quite emphasize the
danger of getting branches too near
together. A little reasoning will show
you that If your branches are six in
| ches apart on the trees when planted
by the time those limbs have attained
even half of their full growth, they
! will Just about touch each other. 1t is
no use to tell you to have your branch
es a foot apart. You won't do it; no
one ever did, but II | could have my
way | never would plant another tree
having the branches nearer together
| than that.
The well understood advantage in a
wide separation of branches on the
| trunk of the trees Is avoidance OF
! splitting down. Where two branches
come off al the same point they are
much more likely to split down when
| overloaded Then too, If two or more
branches are close together on the
trunk cavity is sometimes formed
where moisture and debris is retained,
an undesirable condition