III. FRUIT RAISING. 
By FRANK L. WATROUS. 
A large majority of those who in times of uncertainty 
and scepticism, had the temerity to plant fruit trees along 
the valley of the Arkansas, have reason to be much encour¬ 
aged by the results of their ventures in that direction. 
There have been, perhaps, fewer than usual of the more 
serious obstacles met with in new countries, excepting the 
depredatians of itinerant tree peddlers, whose presence 
and genius are confined to no locality. 
It has been planned by the Station management, to start 
a good sized orchard of the well known, hardier varieties, and 
each spring to keep adding the new and promising varieties as 
they are brought out aiming, by careful discrimination in 
selections for planting, in manner of setting, in after culture 
and finally by close observation as to habits and general 
qualities, to establish a criterion in as many points as pos¬ 
sible, thereby making the Station work helpful to the class 
of orchardists who desire to learn otherwise than by per¬ 
sonal experience. 
Obtaining trees from various localities, near and far, it 
was noticed that a decided advantage was gained, where 
trees were home-grown, being selected, from the nursery, 
dug and replanted the same day. 
Of the various methods of planting, nearly all are good, 
if properly carried out. Giving ample room for the root 
system and carefully pulverizing and packing the soil about 
the roots are the principal points. 
Trees need water frequently during the first season. 
Ordinarily, it has been found good practice, to irrigate 
young trees once in two weeks until September, then with¬ 
hold the water till November and give one thorough wetting 
just before freezing weather. In case of very dry winters, an 
irrigation in February is beneficial. This applies of course, 
to well drained land. During the second season, once a 
month is considered often enough to irrigate if careful and 
thorough cultivation is given. There is nothing gained and 
there may be much loss by watering trees too frequently 
after they have become well established and the same rule 
applies in filling out and maturing fruit, as would be followed 
by a sagacious farmer, in perfecting his grain crops. 
