60- Year-Old Orchard Successfully Rejuvenated 



STONINGTON, Aug. 23, 1911. 



Last Spring I used your dynamite to try to improve an old apple orchard, planted over 

 60 years ago, which has borne little or nothing for the past four years. 



The trees were planted 30 feet apart, and had been badly neglected and untrimmed. 



I used a half a stick of dynamite between every tree last April, and have been much 

 gratified at the result 



The entire orchard is loaded with apples, and their weight has broken down one tree, 

 and broken limbs of many others. 



I think the apples are much larger than usual. 



I have also used dynamite in blasting out rocks, with very good results, and am intending 

 to use it more extensively another year. Very truly yours, 



EUGENE P. EDWARDS. 



Saves Dying Orchard by Blasting 



CHEEKYDALK, VA., February 15, 1912. 



I noted on one or two occasions articles appearing in current magazines and papers on 

 the use of dynamite in breaking up subsoil and cultivating in general, especially in orchards, 

 I set out a small orchard a few years ago with rather unsatisfactory results, owing to the fact 

 that there was a hardpan that ran in this section of the country under the topsoil at the depth 

 of two or three feet, which in rainy weather allows no moisture to penetrate, making the ground 

 soggy for the time being; and then during a dry spell, with no moisture obtainable from beneath 

 the hardpan. it is only a matter of a short time before the ground is as dry as a bone. 



On reading the above mentioned articles I immediately made up my mind to give dynamite 

 a trial, for the trees were practically at a standstill for the past three years and I knew it 

 could do not harm, and I must say that I am more than elated over the results. Where I re- 

 planted trees I had an opportunity to place a small charge to loosen the topsoil down to the 

 hardpan, and after cleaning out the same I drilled through the hardpan and broke that up 

 nicely with another small charge. The trees planted in this manner are running away from the 

 rest, and at the same time those trees that I simply cultivated with dynamite have shown marked 

 improvement over those that were simply workea the old way. Although I have had only one 

 season to observe these results, I really expect better results from now on. 



I may add that the time and labor saved is by no means a small item. By using dynamite, 

 I simply had to ram the bar down about two feet, place a small charge, which cost less than 

 two cents, and was sufficiently strong enough to puff the ground up and around a reasonable 

 distance. With such gratifying results it makes a fellow feel bad when he thinks of the labor 

 and time spent the past three years working around trees the old way, and I assure you from 

 now on it will be dynamite for mine. Very truly yours, 



PAUL C. BISCHOFF.. 



From a Professor of Horticulture 



BOZEMAN, MONT., Oct. 3, 1911. 



I have been very much interested in the work which you are carrying on to 

 demonstrate the value of dynamite upon the farm, but I am especially inter- 

 ested in the use of this material in planting trees, both as a means of dig- 

 ging the holes and as a means of shaking up the subsoil. 



It has been intimated by some that the fruit trees in some of our irrigated 

 sections are shallow rooted, and it is no doubt true. Two conditions are 

 met with in arid sections, which I believe do induce fruit trees to root 

 shallow. One is a hard subsoil, through which the tree roots are unable 

 to force their way. This layer o subsoil is often thin and could easily be 

 shaken up with dynamite. Once the roots of the young trees are through this 

 soil, they would find conditions for growth good below this hard layer, com- 

 monly referred to as hardpan. 



Another condition, which is just as frequently responsible, I believe, is a 

 dry subsoil which does not invite the growth of roots in that direction. In 

 these arid regions many of our young orchards are planted upon raw land. 

 The subsoil is naturally very dry; and, if the soil is rather fine, it may be 

 several years before the irrigated water applied will reach the depth to which 

 tree roots normally go. But until the moisture is there, the roots will seek 

 the surface soil where the moisture supply is plentiful. And when once the 

 tree has established this shallow system of roots, it does not change. 



The use of dynamite in planting would, I am sure, break up the subsoil and 

 allow the irrigation water applied the first season to rapidly settle to the 

 lower soil and attract the roots of the young trees in that direction. The roots 

 well down in the soil are away from fluctuating temperature and moisture 

 conditions and are better able to serve the tree. 



O. B. WHIPPLE, Horticulturist, Montana Agricultural College. 



75 



