12 HARRISONS’ NURSERIES 


a 
Two-year-old Peach Orchard, cow peas as cover crop. Cultivated near trees 
Succeeding with Orchards 
of Apples and Peaches 
By George A. Harrison, Orchard Director 
IRST of all let me make it perfectly clear that any man with 
“‘horse-sense’’ can succeed with a commercial orchard. There are 
no tricks in growing fruit; just simply follow the rules of the game. 
Selecting the varieties is the greatest problem to be solved. If 
you are planting for home use, you want sorts that are hardy and 
good bearers. If you are planning a commercial orchard, you must 
insist on these two points and another of equal importance—ability 
to stand packing and shipping. 
Experience and close observation have shown that among the 
hundreds of varieties of apples and peaches only a few are worth 
growing for market. Possibly a dozen varieties of apples, and not 
more than six kinds of peaches make up the list. 
Some of these varieties will be adapted to your section, and these 
should form the main orchard. In the apple section of this catalogue 
you will find a table showing the territory where the desirable apples 
succeed; you can safely depend on this information. Then, too, you 
should note the varieties that your neighbors are growing, and find 
out whether the crops are regular and profitable. 
In the peach section we put special emphasis on the varieties that 
are used in the great peach-growing sections of the United States. 
You can depend on these for the main planting; then use other varie- 
ties to suit local markets, as your fancy may dictate. 
Planting seems to be next in importance after selecting the varie- 
ties. It is not necessary to speak of this at length right here, for the 
subject has been fully covered in the preceding pages; however, it is 
of the greatest importance that the land be well drained. The land 
may be put in good condition by plowing and harrowing in advance 
of setting the trees, or same can be done immediately after planting; 
at least that part of the land adjacent to the trees should be so treated. 
At the time of planting trees, it is a good plan to fill the hole about 
three-fourths full of earth and then apply a pound of ground raw 
bone, well distributed, before completing the filling of the hole... Stable 
manure is one of the best fertilizers. A liberal application of this on 
top of the ground about the trees will be very beneficial in promoting 
quick growth. It should be remembered, however, that in applying 
coarse manure about trees it should be kept a few inches from the 
trunk, so that mice will not nest in the manure and possibly girdle 
the trees. A piece of land where cowpeas have been grown previous 
to planting is an excellent location for a young orchard. 
Cultivation. Of course, the orchardist will run the harrow and 
drag between the little trees—‘‘horse-sense”’ will teach this. But why 
not plant an intercrop between the rows, and thus make the land 
bear a part of the expenses for the first four or five years? When you 
cultivate the crop in the early part of the season you are giving the 
trees just what they need. Cultivation may cease in time to sow a 
