19§ ANNtJAIi REPORl: OF THE Off. DoC. 



PLANTING. 



Never plant in sod, unless you wisli to utilize a steep hillside or 

 rocky i>jece of ground. If such is the case, then dig large holes, 

 placing the surface soil on one side, the subsoil on the other. Set the 

 tree about one inch deeper, than it originally stood, putting the 

 good surface soil, supplemented with bone meal, in below and over 

 the roots, filling the poorer soil in above. Mulch the ground heavy 

 with straw manure, to keep moisture, and the surface loose, also 

 to furnish fertility. If the ground is i)lowed and in good tilth, 

 then open deep broad furrows with plow, and plant the young trees 

 therein. 



Distance. — A great diversity of opinions exist as to the proper 

 distance trees should be planted in an orchard. Many plant 40 feet 

 apart, claiming when mature, the tree needs all this space for the 

 spread of its roots in search of food, also giving room for the limbs 

 to spread, giving plenty of circulation of air and sunshine, that fruit 

 grown on such trees bring better fruit, of brighter color and higher 

 flavor. Others claim that this distance is unnecessary, that 30 feet 

 is far enough for any orchard, and more a waste of land. 



In many commercial orchards they plant 35 to 40 feet apart for 

 permanent trees, then plant fillers between, making three fillers 

 for every permanent tree. In the large Western orchards this 

 method is in vogue, planting such varieties as come into early bear- 

 ing, such as Missouri Pippin, Grime's Golden, Wealthy, etc. In 

 sections where the peach does well, peach are planted as fillers. 

 After these fillers have borne several crops, or when the trees be- 

 gin crowding, the fillers are removed, giving the entire space to 

 the permanent trees. 



I am frequently asked whether it is advisable to plant fillers. It 

 is doubtful if apple fillers ever produce sufficient before removed 

 to pay for care and expense. With peach it depends on the man, 

 whether he has the moral courage to cut them out in time to prevent 

 injury to the permanent trees, especially if said fillers are paying 

 110.00 to $15.00 per tree. I have gone through this and know 

 whereof I speak. 



I think 35 feet is about the proper distance for apple; 25 feet for 

 pear; 20 feet for peach, plum and sour cherry. 



CULTIVATION. 



In former times cultivation was thought unnecessary, but clean 

 culture is now acknowledged best by all intelligent fruit growers. 

 During the early stage of an orchard, if the lay of the land permits, 

 and the owner prefers, he may plant some hoed crop for a few years, 

 applying plenty of fertilizer to keep up- the fertility of the land. 

 But,' if not financially necessary, the best results can be obtained 

 by clear culture in the spring, then sowing to some leguminous 

 crop to mulch the ground over the winter, to be turned under in 

 the spring, which adds humus and breaks up the mineral elements 

 in the soil, appropriating them to its own use, to be returned to the 

 soil in a more available form, abstracting large quantities of nitro- 

 gen from the air, and thus enriching the land. When the orchard 

 comes into bearing, the raising of leguminous crops cannot so well 

 be done. Then it is best to seed to grass and leave this cropped 

 short, keeping all clippings on the ground. Or the land may be 



