>-\ I RCHARD ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY THE GIFT OF Dr. Maria Faust CORNELL UN1VEI^.TY..L»RARY S, i. Oaff0W. Pcanologital In' 3 1924 094 802 810 DATE DUE OAYLORD PnKTBJtNUSA PRACTICAL ORCHARDING ON ROUGH LANDS By Shepard Wells Moore The New Werner Company, Akron, Ohio. 1911. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands "Trees are our teachers, If we but read their silent lives aright, Rooted in day, they lift their heads toward the light." "Teach me. Father, how to be, Kind and patient as a tree." — Edwin Markkam. ^epard Wells Moore, GallipoHs Ferry, West Vtrginm Copyright 1911 By Shepard Wells Moore Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 5 TO ALL TREE-LOVERS. '^Who loves a tree, he loves the life that springs in star and clod; He loves the love that gilds the clouds and greens the April sod; He loves the wide Beneficence. His soul takes hold on God. A tree is one of Nature's words, a word of peace to man, A word that tells of central strength from whence ail things began, A word to preach tranquillity to all our restless clan. Ah! bare must be the shadeless ways, and bleak the path rrjust be, Of him who, having open eyes, has never learned to see, And so has never learned to love the beauty of a tree. 'Tis well for man to mix with men, to drive his stubborn^ quest In harbored cities where the ships came from the East ^nd» West, To fare forth where the tumult roars, and scorn the, name of rest. 'Tis well the current of his life should toward the deeps be whirled, And feel the dash of alien waves along its channel swirled, And the conflux of the eddies of the mighty-flowing world. But he is wise who, 'mid what noise his winding way may be. Still keeps a heart that holds a nook of calm serenity, And an inviolate virgin soul that still can love a tree. Who loves a tree, he loves the life that springs in star and clod; He loves the love that gilds the clouds and greens the April sod; He loves the wide Beneficence. His soul takes hold on God.'' — Sam Waiter Foss, in '"^Songs of War mid Peacef^ C- o H oT ^.2 «u c k> "•' ^ rP i > M> VJ w »- .A • ^ '^ ^ >. U. := _ o o CJ s.S >- ;_ 3 jii t/5 r- 11 ^ o ^ . c ^ 2: ^ ^c c o >. V. o r3 ^ SQ X = >^'^ ui u! C: (L» > «5 4> o 3 r- O ^ be U s-f >. — ^ (U a> O ^ r^ (/) c •" .« -3 "^ E D- ~ "t; — C U r: i) E '^ o •O »rv a> fl) "- E O O y) t^-S ^ L H ^ a; c- &. < / Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 7 THE APPLE TREE, "Great blessings on the man who planted thee, O apple tree, Within my garden *s safe enclosure kept, While winter slept, Then went thou summering with birds and bees And other trees. First came thy springtime joy, when rills Sang to the hills, And thou didst laugh and shake thy bells of bloom, And made sweet room For wandering breezes, murmuring some love song The whole day long. Great blessings on the man who planted thee, O apple tree, For when the wmter storrn wails round my room, Thy springtime bloom Lives in the rosy apples on my table here; Their fragrant cheer Gives gentle hint of how they grew, and grew, When sun and dew, And shadows falling m the evening gray, Made up the day. Great blessings on the man who planted thee, With wh« s„e°.Zu.rh= hoped ,h« d,ou would,, ^^ And so and so The slender sapling climbed a little way By night and day. All silently and hidden, tender root Supplied the shoot; The long, lithe limbs reached further, further yet, With green buds set, And lo, a great tree, on whose leafy crown ^ The sun shone down, Till every apple, green and garlanded, Blushed rosy-red. 8 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. Great blessings on the man who planted thee, O apple tree, I love the man who builds not for himself, alone, Some little home; Who plants a tree knows not, nor thinks for whom That tree may bloom ; But some one coming after him, will bless His thoughtfulness.'' TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. The First Essentials for Success 19 Every man cannot become a successful orchardist — Love for money alone is not enough to ensure success — Never a more serious time — Must have a 1o\e for our work in order to get the most out of it, either pleasure or profit. CHAPTER n. Orcharding as a Business 25 Recognized as a profession today — There is a vast differ- ence in growing Fruit for Home Use and in growing it for the great markets of the world — It seems to be the de- sire of every man to grow, handle and eat fine fruit — This is a day of specialties — Preparation differs in different sec- tions — Large companies formed for the planting — -Not re- stricted to any particular section — The Nurserymen impor- tant factor — Will production be overdone? — A good time to enter the Business^The East a good place—Study loca- tion. CHAPTER HL Location 33 Choosing a location — The chief factor in deterrnining — Is climate— Apple zone divided — Allegheny Section — Lake Ontario Section — The would-be planter — The choice of lo- cation — Transportation — Water supply — Site — Choose the soil — Altitude— Prolong the seasons — Advantage of the mountain sections over the more level. CHAPTER IV. Drainage • ^'^ Should receive more careful attention — Difference between moist and water soaked soils — Pays to drain lands— For crops — For orchards— Drainage necessary on steep lands- Root Rot— Air or frost drainage— The comparative height — Not altitude— Difference in frost and freezes— The suc- cessful fruit grower of the future. CHAPTER V . The Aspect ^ 57 A very great difference of opinion — Experience and observa- tion—Various slopes— Strength of soil— Moisture holding capacity— Unproductive Soils— Availability— Plant food— The warmth of the soil— Protection from wind. 9 1 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. CHAPTER VL Windbreaks 65 Difference of opinion — Much emphasis — Arguments in favor of— Objections— Belts of timber — May shelter— Sometimes interferes with growth — Set and build trees so they will protect — Prune for protection against wind. CHAPTER Vn. Preparation of the Site 73 Should have thought — Should be a pleasure — Different methods — Different kinds of land — Object, root to occupy entire surface — Prepare in fall — Dig holes early — Watch drainage. CHAPTER VIIL Laying OS the Orchard 83 The plan of setting — Difference in the number of trees per acre — The operation of laying off the orchard — Distance apart — Strength of the land — Habits of growth — Fillers — Arrangement of varieties. Selection and Care of the Nursery Stock 97 Where to purchase — Visit nursery — Poor nursery stock — A good tree — Well grown according to varieties — Free from insects — Aphis knots — ^Fungous troubles — Manner of propa- gation — Grimes Golden — What aged tree to plant? — Com- parative hardiness in fall and spring setting— Too early delivery — Stripping off the leaves — Purpose of the leaf — Treatment of dried and shriveled trees — Heeling in — Label- ling-— Mice trouble — To prevent^, growth. CHAPTER X. Planting the Tree 115 When to plant?— Soil in good condition— When trees are moved from the nursery^Arrangement of varieties in the orchard— Prepare tree for planting— Depth of planting- Puddle before setting— Position to set tree— Sunscald— Longest root as anchor— Heavy side of tree— Dust mulch around the tree. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 1 1 Care and Cultivation 133 Why we cultivate—Cultivate to set free plant food — ^To deepen a soil — Cultivate to increase moisture holding capacity — To retain moisture — Cultivate to hasten decom- position of plants — Cultivate to destroy plants — To develop plants — Growing plants — Growing plants to supply humus — Growing plants to control the growth of other plants — Terminal bud — Different methods necessary in different sections — Care of the orchard — Crops first year — Care of trees first season — Kind of wrappers to use — Winter care of the orchard^ — Crops to grow in young orchards — Summer cover crops — Winter cover crops— Treatment of cover crops — Mulches — Dust mulch — Foreign mulches — Mulch grown in orchard — A growing mulch — Sod mulch — Self- mulched trees — Care of trees. CHAPTER XIL Pruning 1 89 The planters ideal— The ideal tree — An ideal fruit tree — Low-headed trees — Habit of growth of tree — Purpose of pruning—The first effect — Pruning to modify vigor — Check- ing growth to cause fruitfulness — Pruning to produce larger and better fruit — Pruning to remove^ unnecessary parts — Pruning to remove injured parts — Pruning to renew bearing wood — Pruning to renew bearing wood in old trees — ^Treatment of water sprouts — Pruning only for form and size — Pruning to form the head of the tree — Pruning to re- move insect infested parts — Pruning to bring into manage- able shape — Pruning with regard to the location and forma- tion of the flower buds — Art and science of pruning as re- lated to flower buds— When to prune — How to prune — Where to cut — ^What tools to use — Cutting large limbs — Treatment of woimds — Remove the brush — Summary. CHAPTER XHL Spraying 247 How and when to spray — Protection — ^Thoroughness — ^What shall we spray with— Insects— Spraying for scale — Appli- ances — Pump — Length of hose — Nozzle. CHAPTER XIV. Picking, Packing and Marketing 266 When to pick — By what shall we be governed in piddng— Make several pickings— How to pick— What to use in pick- ing—Packages—Marketing—When to market. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands OHIO RIVER HILLS Courtesy J. F. Cunningham *'And soon or late to all that sow The time of harvest shall be given ; The flowers shall bloom, the fruit shall grow, If not on earth at least in heaven." INTRODUCTION. This is an age of advancement. As a people we are proud of our achievements. With eager watchful eye we note the ever varying customs of those about us, even the fashions that come and go with each recurring season, ' as so many fast flying shuttles. Each shuttle carries its own thread of special hue and can- not fail to leave its trace in both warp and woof of the nation's fabric. Yes, we are quick to notice all these things, but slow to realize the changes that have come about in our coun- ts 1 4 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, try, in our soil, in our crops, in our markets and their demands. We read with interest of the discovery of our country, and follow excitedly the explorer as he searches out the wonders of a new land. With the prospector, we seem to be climbing the mountains; tramping through the trackless forests, and fording the swollen streams. We picture with great vividness his day dreams of the future as he viewed the country from some lofty height, and in his imagination, located a city at the junction of these streams, and an- other at yonder gap in the great mountain range. We seem to see in our mind's eye, as he did, the smoke curling up from the foun- dries, and we think we can hear (as he did in his imagination) the buzz of wheels in mill and factory. We are apt to be envious of those men whom we think of now as speculators, when we read of their dreams of great coal veins and immense railroad systems carrying to the markets nature's stores of wealth. This is only a backward glance at the de- velopment of our country, and while it may be a good thing to look back occasionally, let it be only that we may have a clearer vision of die future. I|: shall be the purpose of this book to try to Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 1 5 show the young man of to-day that all the de- velopment is not completed. The field is as ripe for the harvest now as in the past, but the field is to be occupied by another class of workers; men who are willing, by their energy and industry, to transform our brush covered hills into profitable orchards. These men are making history just as truly as did those of days gone by. They also have had day dreams of lands and opportunities that have been passed by or overlooked Yes. i„ the rush for the wealth of our natural resources, the surface of much of our rough and rolling lands has been neglected, and now there appear bright dreams of happy homes, nestling among the orchard covered hills and mountains, which are pink with peach, and white with the apple blossom, and all the breezes (as they bring to us happy voices of childish glee) seem laden with sweet perfume. The busy knock-knock of the cooper is heard from early morning until late at night, as he drives down the hoops on the thousands of barrels that are to carry the product of the orchards to the great markets of the world. Railroads are breaking in on quiet valleys. The shrill whistle and the clouds of smoke tell us they are hauling away the timber from the 1 6 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. mountain sides, giving place for thousands and thousands of fruit trees. This is not a mere dream. We see acres and acres of rough land now in orchards, which are yielding handsome returns for the time and money expended in their development. The people in general seem to realize that we are approaching the time of more intensive husbandry, and are beginning to appreciate, as never before, the value of our rough lands for orchard purposes. The hun- dreds of young men who come with their ques- tions as to location, site, preparation, selection of trees, choice of varieties, planting, care, cul- tivation, pruning, spraying, picking, packing and marketing; represent a great army of fruit growers of the future. Their constant tramp, tramp, as they march against the many difficulties which present themselves has caused the writer to take up this work and attempt to encourage, and possibly to aid them, by a few suggestions. These pages have been written after years of experience in orcharding on rough lands, and while it is not our purpose to advise any one to hunt out waste land for orcharding, we will try to set forth some of the possibilities and even advantages of such rough or rolling lands as may be at the command of the reader. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 1 7 If we shall cause some one to plant and care for only a small home orchard, which would give his family a bountiful supply of fruit, (which everj^ family should have) and thereby create in the boys and orirls a love for s^ood fruit and a desire to plant and care for trees, it may be a means of advancing horticulture, as their work and its effect may be passed on and on to future generations. Should we be able, by giving to the public our experience, to keep even one person, who like the writer, found it necessary to utilize rough lands for orcharding, from making some of the many mistakes which crowd in upon us as fruit growers, we shall feel that our efforts have not been in vain, as has been so well ex- pressed in the following lines: "I may not reach the heights sublime: M/place is lowly and unknown. But if I've caused the light to shine Across some pathway, dark and lone; If some one called me kind, and then, Another found in me a friend ; If but one wanderer on Life's way, Would pause beside my grave, and say, *He did his best the world to make A sweeter place, for mankind^s sake/ Or some bent form its step would stay To whisper, 'He helped me on my way* ; Or one in sore distress or need, Remembering me, would for me plead ; I shall not miss the laurel crown 1 8 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. That victors wear, nor cap nor gown The great achieve, for service done. IF I HAVE SERVED— I shall not moan That I have not been better knovi^n." —Shepard Wells Moore. ORCHARDS ON ROLLING LANDS Courtesy J. H. Hutchinson ) CHAPTER I. - ^ THE FIRST ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS. " Th^, man who wins is an average man ; Not built on any peculiar plan, Not blessed with any peculiar luck; Just steady and earnest and full of pluck." —Charles R. Bartlett. In order to succeed we must have a love for our work. This is necessary in any business and especially is it true in orcharding, for orcharding is a business which requires years of enthusiastic work to attain profitable results. The high prices of certain crops, such as corn, wheat or tobacco, may induce some to engage in their production, and although they have no ' special love for the work they may be able to keep up their enthusiasm for the short time necessary to realize a profit from their efiForts, and then clhange their line of work. But how dififerent with the orchard business. The high price of fruit may encourage some to plant 19 20 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. trees by the thousands, and then if interest be lost by a series of years of low prices for the product, or from ravages of insect pests, early or late frosts, or from any cause, climatic or otherwise, all may be lost. Yes, and the busi- ness discredited. So if there is not in the bosom of the planter a love for the work, the business is likely to suffer sooner or later. Not every man can become a successful or- chardist any more than he can become a suc- cessful stockman, lawyer or physician. So we should study our likes and dislikes. If we find we love the busy streets of a crowded city rather than the quiet field, then work in the city. If the windows with their displays of bright colors are more attractive to us than the trees with their delicate wreaths of blossoms, then be a merchant. If the jewelry and clocks in the show cases have more attraction for us than those lovely colored and beautifully fin- ished cases, which we call fruits, then listen to the tick-tick of the clocks. If the building of houses is more attractive than the building of plants, and especially trees, then use your saw on dry boards rather than on living trees. If the hum of the factory and machine shop has greater charm than the song of the birds, go there. If we like the rush and the roar of Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 1 \ the railroad train rather than the sound of the spray pump and engine, there is work waiting for such. In short, if we do not love to see the swell- ing buds, and if the unfolding leaves of our trees do not interest us in their quiet but im- portant task, from early spring until late au- tumn, when they take on their gorgeous colors, thereby showing that their work is nearing completion, if we cannot see beauty even in the falling leaves, if we do not love nature and her wonders as they are daily shown in things about us, but simply attempt to grow fruit for the dollar and the dollar only, we may succeed; but we will lose much pleasure and encouragement that should be ours, for it is the love for one's work that gives birth to hope within his breas.-a„d hope's as a brigh. star that beckons us on and on until we reach the goal "Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, Through showers the sunbeams fall, For God, who loveth all his works, Has left his hope with all" Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 23 THE APPLE ORCHARD. "Of the great beauties of the farn^- The one that has the foremost chaim The apple orchard leads them all, From early spring to latest fall. The budding trees of pink and white, The whole world shows no fairer sight. An apple tree's full bloom will stand Beyond all rivals, broad and grand. The honey bees, rejoicing find Its blooming sweetness to their mind, They come from far, they come from near — The early harvest of the year. At length the baby apples show Amid the green leaves, growing slow ; A promise of a tempting treat. Which rain and sunshine kindly greet. Those red-striped apples, tempting, rare; No golden orange quite so fair Though tropic trees have long been mine — For apple orchards still I pine. That orchard to my childhood known. No tropic fruits can half atone. The early bloom — the red-cheeked fruit, Are visions which my dreams salute." — Coleman's Rural World, ORCHARDING ON THE MOUNTAIN Courtesy Leo Jellinek CHAPTER II. ORCHARDING AS A BUSINESS. "It Is not just as we take it, This mystical world of 'ours, Life's field will yield as we make it, A harvest of thorns or flowers." — Alice Cory. There is never a more serious time in one's life than when he attempts to decide upon his life work. That this decision or choice should be carefully studied from all view points will be accepted without argument. While this is true in the choice of what are commonly known as professions, namely law, medicine, 26 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. etc., it is none the less true when we come to choose among the branches of agriculture. Whether we are to grow grain, breed and feed stock, or to spend our time in the study of the soil and the various plants that it will grow. These are all recognized as professions today just as much as law or medicine. In order to succeed in any one of them we must apply bus- iness methods just as surely as must the banker or merchant. While this is true of all the var- ious lines of agriculture we believe it is par- ticularly so of ORCHARDING AS A BUS- INESS. There is a vast difference in growing fruit for home use and attempting to produce it to supply the great markets of the world. That there is a fascination in the production of fruit with which to provide one's own table none will deny. This pleasure seems all the greater if we have planted and cultivated the trees with our own hands in our own garden or orchard. As has been so well said " 'Tis strange how we learn to love the things we plant and tend, Every tree in that whole orchard seems like some dear old friend." It seems to be the desire of every man — whether he lives in the country or city-to Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 27 grow, handle and eat fine fruit. We can scarcely enter a bank or store or ride on a rail- road train but what we hear the men engaged in these various lines of work express a desire to get out on the farm and grow fruit. We find the merchant, the lawyer, the banker and the man in the shop who by years of hard work and rigid economy have laid by a few thousand dollars looking forward with great pleasure to the day when they may either have an orchard all their own, or at least hold some stock in one. This is a day of specialties, and while we find men of all classes and professions interested to a certain extent in the production of fruits they — many of them — ^would fall far short of making a success of orcharding as a business. While this interest in rural life, especially In fruit growing has existed for a long time it is even more noticeable today than ever before. City men who have made their millions in other pursuits are forming stock companies, buying large tracts of land and preparing them for planting fruit trees. This preparation difiFers in character as to the section of country in which the land is located. In some cases it has been the arid lands of the west where tfie large scattering stones have to 28 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. be removed and the land levelled ready for ir- rigation. In many cases a great ditch must be constructed in order that the water may be brought from some stream which is fed by the melting snow on top of the mountains. Again we find these companies taking rough and roll- ing lands after the most of the forests have been cut away by the lumbermen and clearing them by the hundreds of acres and planting great orchards. Such plantations have increased greatly in the last few years, both in size and in numbers. This increase has not been re- stricted to any particular section, but is very noticeable all over the fruit belts from north to south. So general has been this increase in planting Aa. ifrge nursery companies have bee/fonned in the various sections of the country in the at- tempt to suppy the constantly increasing de- mand for fruit trees. The nurserymen and their work are very important factors in orcharding as a lousiness. The question is often asked, and very natural- ly too, if we do not believe that fruit produc- tion will be over done? And we are ever just as ready to answer "no." There will always be room at the top, or sale for first class fruit at fair prices. We should not fear over-produc- Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, 29 tion, but let us rather guard against over-plant- ing. Neglect or carelessness in the methods em- ployed may cause the markets to be filled with fruit of such poor quality that it may find slow sale at such low prices that will not prove pro- fitable to the grower. A GOOD TIME TO ENTER THE BUSINESS. When we consider orcharding as a business there never has been a time that it seemed more promising than the present, and surely there is no country or section that offers to the young, wide-awake business man better inducements to enter the field than our own United States. Especially the eastern section, where land is cheap as compared with other fruit sections and yet so productive of fruits of good size, fine color and splendid quality. This is a section which has been considered by many as almost if no. quite worthless-onr rough Ind rolUAg lands — until in recent years when the success attained by some persistent, hard working mtn who have made orcharding a business has at- tracted the attention of the on-lookers. So we find men from all ranks and stations in life entering the field of fruit growing, some com- ing with hopes of great gain and little labor, others are seeking a safe and profitable invest- ment, taking for their basis some phenomenalj 30 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, or at least more than average crop, often not stopping to consider the time, money, or above all, the experience necessary to bring about such results. Others are entering the business with a view^ of getting rich quick and we find them borrow- ing money on prospects that are years in the future. Then we have those whose health de- mand the open air and they are attracted by the beautiful sweet scented blossoms, the green leafy bowers and the red and golden fruits, all of which they think point to a good bank ac- count, so they leave the ojffice and the school room and embark in orcharding as a business. Frequently taking up their work as though they thought the only thing necessary to success was to plant the trees and the rest would naturally follow. Then we find men engaging in fruit growing because they love nature and want to come in close touch with her, by living among and watching the growing trees. They seem to get pleasure out of all their labor, from the planting of the trees to the gathering of the fruit. They watch with interest every change from the bursting of the buds to the falling of the leaves. As we pass through the country we find a great many people engaging in orcharding in Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 31 one way or another with almost as many and varied results as there are individuals. It is only when business methods have been applied that a high degree of success has been obtained. Orcharding as a business must be studied in all its phases, and when it is we should have no fears of failure. It is then that the most pleas- ure and profit can be realized. We should study our location, soil and site as well as our means of transportation, then choose our varieties accordingly. We should give care- ful attention to the choice of the nursery stock, to the planting, care and cultivation of the trees as well as to the building of our trees, for we should think of pruning as the building of the orchard, and upon this depends our suc- cess. Our trees should have constant protection from insects and fungous troubles by thorough applications of the latest and best tried rem- edies given by our Experiment Stations and practical orchardists. If we are to make orcharding a successful business we must not stop here, but we shall have to study the problems of picking, packing and marketing. Realizing that if we should fail in any of these, all that has gone before would be lost Orcharding as a business then means a care- 32 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. ful study and constant watching of every de- tail, just as is necessary in any other business. THE ORCHARD. "Fve planted trees, and these I call An orchard yet to be. I wonder oft if e'er there'll fall Those apples ripe for me. The trees are small, but growing fast, An orchard yet to be; But as they grow the years fly past, And shorten life for me. I picture to myself these trees, Grown large in coming years, Their branches waving in the breeze. Red-coated fruit appears. If they should ne'er bear fruit for me, I have two boys small, And hope that they may live to see, Red-coated apples fall." — Frank Monroe Beverly, ORCHARDING ON WEST VIRGINIA HILLS Courtesy J. H. Hutchinson 7 CHAPTER III. LOCATION. "How grand is the apple that grows by the gate, We welcome the apple, be it early or late, Yes, welcome the apples, its sweetness or tart Outrivals all efforts of labor or art. We may tire of oranges, bananas and grape But never of apples, be they early or late." By location is meant that particular part or section of the country in which the planting is to be made. Orchardists, when choosing a location, should not lose sight entirely of the geography of fruit growing, as the industry thrives best in certain geographical sections. That is, the business is ' not capable of equal development in all parts of the country. The chief factor in determining fruit produc- tion is climate. We recognize three great fruit zones, and while there are no plainly marked lines which determine their boundaries, they are .33 34 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. marked in a way by the kinds of fruits that are found in them; for instance, the cocoanut, the orange and the apple. We find the apple zone divided by Prof. Waugh into five great belts; these in turn are indicated by certain characteristic varieties. For example, the Mississippi Valley section, comprising Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois has the Ben Davis as its characteristic variety; while the Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Willow Twig, York Imperial, Rome Beauty and many others sue- ceed. The Allegheny section comprising the slopes of the Allegheny mountains, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, western Virginia, eastern Ten- nessee and western North Carolina, has as its characteristic variety the York Imperial, while Winesap, Grimes Golden, Mammoth Black Twig, Ben Davis and others succeed admirably. The Lake Ontario section comprises north western New York, adjacent parts of Ontario and south eastern Michigan. Here we find the Baldwin, Northern Spy, Greening and Rox- bury Russett at their best In view of the fact that climatic conditions are a ruling factor in the production of the var- ious fruits, and the diflPerent varieties of fruit, we should decide upon the varieties we wish to Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, 35 grow, and then choose the location, for it would be a mistake to attempt to grow an apple re- quiring a long season for maturity (such as Ben Davis) in a section suited to the Spy or Baldwin, while the Baldwin, if grown too far South, will ripen early and fill the place of a late fall rather than of a winter variety. Climate should have the most careful consid- eration of the planter when choosing a location; remembering if he wishes to grow certain va- rieties he should choose a location where the conditions are congenial to the development of that variety. Neither should the would-be planter lose sight of the fact that sections do not produce fruit equally well all over their entire area. For example, we find in certain fruit sections, localities where there is scarcely enough fruit grown for home consumption, while in the same section there may be localities in which there are large commercial orchards, often times some local conditions being largely accountable for the success of that particular section. The choice of a location for any business should receive the most careful consideration, and especially that of orcharding. As an or- chard cannot be moved from place to place, as could many other enterprises when we find a mistake has been made in regard to the sur- 36 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, roundings, whether this mistake is on account of climatic or other conditions. Transportation. — ^This is one of the most important considerations when locating the orchard. It is very expensive to haul large crops of fruit a long distance^ as well as being injurious to the fruit. A long haul over bad roads is often the cause of the fruit reaching the consumer or storage in bad condition. So we should consider carefully our means of transportation in connection with the study of our markets. If possible, we should be near a good home market, one that would take our ^^seconds" at a fair price, for we are sure to have some of the "seconds" no matter how care- ful we are in growing our crops. Then we want a home market that will be willing to ap- preciate and pay for fancy fruit as well. It is absolutely necessary that we have easy access to the great markets of the world. If two lines of transportation were available, it would make the location all the more desirable. Competi- tion is the life of trade Water Supply.— The water supply for spraying purposes should be carefully planned for, as we have long since passed the day when the question is asked "will it pay to spray?^' We have now arrived at a point in fruit grow- Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 37 ing where the absolute necessity of spraying as a protection of the foliage as well as the fruit is recognized, not only by the orchardist but also by the storage man, and the consumer. Hence, water has come to be recognized as one of the necessary factors in the production of fruit, as it is the means of application or car- rier of insecticides and fungicides, as well as the carrier of food materials that are taken by the roots from the soil in the form of moisture. The grower should not fail when selecting a location for his orchard to take into considera- tion how much the demand for water for spray- ing purposes will increase as the trees attain age. When young a few hundred gallons will spray quite a number, but after they have grown fifteen or twenty years and are loaded with fruit, they may require more frequent ap- plications. This, together with their large tops and heavy foliage, will necessitate the use of many times the amount of water that was used early in the growth of the orchard. Sometimes this kind of an oversight proves very expensive in after years, as it may mean a complete change of the water system. The water supply is much more of a problem on rough, steep lands than on those that are more level, as it is not prac- 38 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. tical to haul it any great distance, especially up hill. This subject of water supply has been brought home to us so forcibly in our own orchard management, that we wish, if possible, to em- phasize the importance of a bountiful supply in the beginning. As has already been said, it is hard for the beginner to realize how the de- mand will increase with the growth of the trees, and we are apt to depend upon most any supply that may be at hand, not thinking of the future. After drilling a well, erecting a wind-mill, and building reservoirs, which are located on the orchard hill, 2000 feet distant from the well, and have a capacity of 3000 gallons, for the spraying of 75 acres of orchard. Then after es- tablishing mixing stations on the various hill- sides, where they would be the most accessible, and laying two feet below the surface a system of galvanized pipe with brass fittings, we thought we had one of the most complete water systems for orcharding in the country. But after a few years' experience, together wiA the growth of the trees, we found we had made several mistake,. Firs,, the main pipe, which was one inch, and had to carry the water from the well in the low land to the reservoir, Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 39 150 feet above the well and 2000 feet away, was too small. There being too much friction to overcome, thereby increasing the tax on power and pump. Then, wherever a stop and waste was put in, they should have been from a quarter to a half inch larger than the line, as the openings were too small to allow a full flow through the pipe. This has been particularly annoying in the distributing pipes between the reservoir and mixing tanks, as the pressure in these lines is not sufficient to force a strong enough flow through the smaller openings to furnish water as fast as the spray pumps could use it, thereby often retarding the work. In former years this mistake was not noticeable, but with the growth of the trees and the nec- essary use of more spray rigs, the mistake be- comes more and more apparent It is well when possible, to choose a location with springs on the same level, or better still if the springs are on somewhat higher ground, so that the water may be carried by gravity over the orchard to the various mixing places. This will prove to be one of the advantages that the steep lands possess over the level sections. If the springs are on lower ground, or if running streams are to be resorted to, the hydraulic ram may be nfeed to lift the water to tihe storage 40 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. tanks. Storage tanks or reservoirs will be nec- essary no matter where the supply comes from, for there should always be a quantity of water at hand ready for mixing. If the ram is to be used, it should not be overlooked that it lifts only a small percentage of the water afforded by the stream, the rest being lost in the working of the ram. Sometimes wells are drilled from which the water is pumped, either by windmill or gasoline engine and forced to the reservoirs or tanks. If the windmill is used it will be nec- essary to provide larger storage tanks than if the engine is the lifting power. The engine can be started at any time, but the windmill should be allowed to run, so as to insure an ample sup- ply of water whenever the weather is suitable for spraying, as one cannot afford to have any delay at this all important season. Site. — ^The site is that particular piece of ground upon which the trees are to be planted. In thinking of it there are many things to be taken into consideration. First, should be adaptability. Does the soil suit the varieties to be grown? This is important, and its import- ance is recognized more at present than in former years. We realize the fact that certain varieties succeed on certain soils. How are we to know whether or not the soil will suit? This is a hard question, and when we begin to search Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 41 for information, where better shall we turn for more striking lessons than nature gives us in the forests. We recognize white oak land or black walnut land when we see it, simply by seeing certain kinds of timber growing on this particular soil. So as we go through the country and observe this fact we come to recog- nize these soils as adapted to the growth of cer- tain trees, shrubs and vines. Then a good plan would be to examine the old trees or orchards where there are trees of the varieties decided upon, and after considering their location, soil, altitude, etc., draw a comparison, (for it is by comparison that we should study all these things) with this soil, and the soil of the site to be planted, and then be governed accord- iagly. This will prove much safer than the haphazard plan of planting any varieties on any soil, regardless of their likes or dislikes. If the varieties are not just what are wanted, then take some member of the same family, whose color, size, etc., may suit better. For instance, if the Winesap is succeeding, but if you object to them on account of the fruit growing smaller as the trees attain age, so that they are too small to meet the requirements of your market; then do as the stockman who likes Short Horn cat- tle. The strain he has may not be his ideal Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 43 type, but he does not cross with another breed. Instead, by continuous selection of the type wanted, he wiU ultimately build up a herd of the desired type If the Winesap suits the soil but does not suit the orchardist, then he has the family of Winesaps to choose from, such as Black Twig, Kinnaird's Choice, Stayman's Winesap, etc. If the Ben Davis suits the soil, but the name js distasteful to the grower, as it is to some, then choose Black Ben or Gano. The successful fruit grower of the future must pay more attention to the selection of the soil, and its adaptability to certain varieties. We find whole orchards of Ben Davis being planted where Baldwins would succeed, and vice versa, as well as many other varieties that might be mentioned. In the future it will not be enough to simply know that pears grow best on clay, while peaches succeed best on sandy Qr gravelly soil, but we shall all come to recognize the adaptability of certain soils to certain varie- ties of apples, just as surely as we have for years, the adaptability of 'the various varieties of strawberries to certain soil. RecognitioB of this fact has been more general by the grow- ers of strawberries tihian by the growers of tibe tr« frtiits, perhaps, on account of die fre- Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. quency of the plantings. As well as because of the few years necessary to produce new genera- tions of the same varieties. Or e^n entirely new varieties, from seed which may be the result of crossing some that did not exactly suit the soil upon which they grew, while the new one (or the seedling) may suit it exactly. There is no doubt that each family of apples (so to speak) has its likes and dislikes. This opens to the young man of the present and future generation a vast field of investigation — a field rich with opportunities for the careful, studious, observant orchardist, in which he may do a great work, not only for the orchardists of the present, but for the hosts of horticulturists that are to follow. There is no place in the country that furnishes greater variety of soils than the rough or mountain lands. Often show- ing several distinct kinds of soil on one hillside, and where such is the case it may pay to change varieties accordingly, even in the same row. Altitude. — Among the many advantages of rolling lands for orcharding are the varied alti- tudes from which to choose. The grower may humor his own likes or dislikes in regard to varieties he may be desirous of planting. For instance, if he should wish to grow the Bald- win, Northern Spy and Greening, he should Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 45 choose the higher altitude, approaching as nearly as possible the same climatic conditions under which we find these varieties succeeding. (Say New York conditions.) If some of the varieties which succeed in more southern sections and consequently longer seasons should suit his fancies, then he should choose his location in a section of lower al- titude. Again the season of ripening of the same varieties of fruit may be much prolonged by the difference in the altitude of the plantations. For example, it is possible, by taking advantage of the varying altitudes, to gather the same varieties of apples or peaches over a much longer season. The varying altitudes not only give a fruit region a larger range of varieties which may be grown successfully, but also pro- long the ripening season of the same varieties^ Thereby avoiding competition in the home mar- kets from the various parts of the same sections, while the consumer who lives in such a dis- trict is fortunate in that he may have the fresh fruit of the same variety for a longer season than those dependent upon more level sections for the production of their fruit supply. ^^Some sing of the yellow apple That grows so large and fair, Thqr tell of its many qualities 46 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. Which are seemingly so rare. And yet, I have been thinking, That no matter what's been said Tho' they may choose the yellow fruit That I prefer the red. In the early part of summer, How pleasant 'tis to me, To see the bright red apples All growing on the tree. For 'tis when we have the 'Duchess' And the 'Astrachan' so red, How can any one, I wonder, Choose the yellow fruit instead? The Strawberry and the Snow apple Come later in the fall; Oh, yes, you'd better try them For they're sure to please you all. And there are many otheis Whose praises we could sing, The famous * Seek-no-further' And the 'Tompkins County King.' So now you see the reason Why, as before I said, Tho' they may choose the yellow fruit That I prefer the red. And if you make the red your choice You need not have a fear, The 'Wagner' and *Ben Davis' Will last through all the year. When you're in search of fruit trees, Remember what's been said, And although you plant the yellow fruit Pray don't forget the red." — F. M, Tme, A WELL DRAINED ORCHARD SITE Courtesy J. H. Hutchinson CHAPTER IV. DRAINAGE. "Over the orchard the raindrops fall, Playing hide-and-seek round the old stone wall, Sparkling like gems in the sunbeam's bright, Kissing the daisies with lips so light. Chasing the shadows that come and go, As the dew laden trees nod to and fro, Then, as if tired with the morning's play, They run to the brook, and are swept away, Whirling and rushing with never a rest, Till clasped to their dear Mother Ocean's breast." —Will F. Stephens. There is no one thing that should receive more careful attention when selecting the orchard site than the subject of drainage. When we speak of drainage when applied to our farm crops, we naturally think of the draining ofif of the surplus water, in order that our crops may not be flooded or drowned out There are few operations which are so generally recognized as being essential to good farming, and few, if 47 48 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. any, that pay a larger percent on the amount invested than drainage. We all recognize the fact that roots of plants must have air as well as water in order to pro- mote growth. How quickly corn will turn yel- low in the wet spots over the field. It is not necessarily because of the lack of fertility in the soil, but it may be, and frequently is, because the air has been excluded from the soil by the excess of water. We should recognize the difference between a moist and a water soaked soil. While moisture is necessary to the growing plant, on the other hand we cannot expect the plant to even live, much less grow, in a soil which is water soaked. If it has paid to drain lands for a crop that may be renewed each season, and it has, (as some of our great swamp sections stand ready to testify by the production of their enormous crops, where but a few years ago only swamp grass and cat-tails flourished,) then it will cer- tainly pay to see that our orchard sites, where we expect the trees to grow for years, are properly drained. At first thought one might say, what has drainage to do with orcharding on rough lands? There are a great many places, even in rough or hilly sections, where we find trees dying from Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 49 the effects of wet feet It frequently happens that when the timber is removed from these hills that a great many spouty places, or wet weather springs as they are commonly called, make their appearance. If they are not taken care of by means of some sort, the trees will not only suffer, but landslides often occur, car- rying the trees with them, and they sometimes get things, such as fruit trees, stumps, boulders, etc., very badly mixed. While a line of tile could have been laid which would have carried off the surplus water, and prevented its gather- ing in some low places and soaking down to the sub-soil, or to a ledge of rock, and thereby caus- ing a slip. Such cases, while not common, sometimes occur; and the damage is very great A site that is naturally rolling, with a sub- soil which is open enough to admit of a free passage of water, is the site that would be pref- erable, as the trees will root more deeply, live longer, and consequently be more profitable, than on hard-pan soils. As has already been said, plants and especially trees, do not reach Aeif highest degree of perfection in wet soiL Also we find tibat some varieties suffer more severely in Ais r^pect than others, for instance, Ae Grimes Golden seems to suffer from €i€ trouble called (for want of a better eame) 50 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. Root-Rot This is particularly noticeable in orchards where water stands around the trees in the winter or during the early spring. Ben Davis suffers occasionally in the same way, while the Spy and Baldwin seem to be able to stand more water without damage than many others. Root-rot may be recognized by the bark around the crown of the tree turning dark and coming loose from the wood, and when ex- amined there will be found a slimy substance under the bark. This trouble may appear only on one side of the tree. The tree may linger along for a season or two, but sooner or later will succumb. There are many other reasons why wet soil should be avoided, such as a severe freezing of the soil and roots. The difficulty in getting and retaining cover crops, such as clover, on account of the lifting of the plants during the freezing and thawmg weather Many orchards have been failures because the soil has been too wet and the planter has not considered the drainage of enough importance to warrant the necessary outlay of time and money. Again it has often been because of the thoughtlessness of the planter, never having had his attention called to the importance of drainage. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 5 1 Surely those who want to engage in tree planting will have too much love for their trees to plant them where they can only linger and die. We should remember trees cannot move about, but must remain where we put them. Then we should see to it that the soil in which we expect them to grow and become a source of pleasure and profit is at least well drained, thereby making it favorable to their growth in this respect at least Air or Frost Drainage. — Among the advan- tages of rough or rolling land for orcharding there is none of greater value to the fruit grower than air or frost drainage, as it offers us protection from late spring frosts. These conditions are more marked some seasons than others. However, the difference between differ- ent locations may be noticed almost any spring to a certain extent We see the effect of frost drainage frequently even in our pasture fields, when we get out early some morning and find the grass frosty and even frozen on the low lands, while on the higher ground there is not the slightest trace of frost We have often seen the leaves and even the young shoots of the hickory and pawpaw killed in the hollow and on tfie hillsides up to a certain place, while from there up, all would be green. Sometimes Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 53 we see a whole mountain side covered with a peach orchard, and a late spring frost will kill all the fruit for a certain distance up the mountain side, the rest of the trees being loaded with fruit. This is sometimes so marked that there may be seen a well defined line just at a certain level where the work of the frost has ceased. We are reminded of frost or air drainage frequently when driving through the country after nightfall, and notice how much cooler it is at the mouth of a hollow than it was just be- fore we came to it. All these instances show how the cold air (which is heavier than the warm air) is settling to the low lands, or draining off just as water would. Now we would not be misunderstood in the matter of air drainage and leave the impression that altitude is the necessary factor. An or- chard site may be on the top of a mountain at an elevation of acoo fee. above Ae .ea level, and yet not have good air or frost drainage. Again it is possible that an orchard site may be located at an elevation of only 500 feet above the sea level, aad yet escape the frost more fre- quently than the one at an elevation of 2000 feet. Because in the case of the one on the high mommin, it might be situated on a large 54 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. level plateau of several thousand acres, and there may even be slight depressions in the land, which would tend to act as frost pockets While on the other hand the site which is only about 500 feet above the sea level is probably located on the top of the hUl or ridge, with an abrupt descent on one or more sides, thus enabling the cold air to escape or be drawn ofif to the lower lands. So when considering air or frost drain- age let us look for abrupt descents and not high elevations, always remembering that it is the comparative elevation of the surrounding lands and not the altitude of the site itself that counts in the matter of frost drainage. We should note the difiference between a frost and a freeze. Frosts occur on still, clear nights. We often say it will frost tonight if it should clear off an,d the wind stop blowing Then frosts are more or less local ; while freezes fre- quently come with or on the heels of a storm, so are not infrequently accompanied by a high wind and very often occur on cloudy nights. A freeze is more general over the whole section and will not play as many pranks of ski|)^ hop and jump as does the frost. Then Jack Frost always wears a white coat Air drainage may protect against frost but not against a freeze, such as swept over many 56 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. fruit sections the season of 1910, as late as the sixth of May. There are other things that may enter into the matter of frost protection, such as large bodies of water near the orchard site. Then the direc- tion of the wind from such bodies, whether toward or from the orchard. But these do not come up for consideration in the discussion of orcharding on rough lands. Here we have only to deal with air drainage, the value of which is being recognized more of late years than for- merly. Frost drainage, together with a more careful study of the various aspects afforded by our rolling lands, will enable us to take advantage to a certain extent, of the uncertain weather conditions, and thereby avoid many failures in seasons of late frosts. The successful fruit grower of the future will be the man who has fruit when his neighbors' orchards fail, and in order to do this we must grow our fruit and not allow it simply to grow itself. Then let us choose carefully not only the site, but consider thoughtfully the aspect as well. By so doing we may take advantage of some of the opportunities afforded by our rough and rolling lands. ORCHARDING WHERE CHOICE OF SLOPES MAY BE HAD Courtesy R. L. Hutchinson / CHAPTER V. THE ASPECT. "Under the cloudless blue they He, Golden hills in the golden sun; Rising up to the mountains high, Reaching down where the rivers run. Up to the springs of youth they lead, Under the edge of the purple pines; Ways untainted by toil or greed. Paths where peace in its fulness shines." —Mabel Earle. The aspect of the orchard is a subject upon which there has been a great deal both said and written. A very great difference of opinion exists as to the advantage and disadvantage of the aspect or slope of the land upon which the orchard is planted. Some prefer a Northern, others a Southern, many choose the Eastern and quite frequently we find paying orchards which have a decided Western exposure. So it be- comes a question as to whether there is any real . 57 58 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, difference, and if so what should govern us in our choice. We have found in our experience and observation that no one slope or exposure proves the best under all circumstances. The surroundings of the particular location, together with the varieties of fruits to be grown, with special reference to the demands of the markets for which it is to be produced, should largely govern us. Whether it be a demand for early, high-colored fruit, or a late maturing variety. For example, in our orchard, the highest colored (and it naturally follows, the best quality) dessert apples have been grown on a Southern or a Southeastern slope, while the most bushels per tree during single seasons have perhaps been slathered from the more Northern exposures. However, these trees did not come into bearing as early in life as those on the Southern and Eastern slopes, and had consequently grown much larger. That expo- sure counts for much, especially to the grower of early, tender fruits, none will deny. In order that we may understand more fully the reasons for these varying results, conse- quently choice or rejection of certain aspects, we should consider some of the advantages that may be gained in the choice of the aspect of the orchard. It is well to give this a little space, especially as we are studying orcharding on /' 60 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. rough land, where we may have choice of the various slopes, for it is hard to find any two of them that will be exactly alike when we con- sider them from the following viewpoints. First, we should consider the strength of the soil, for after all that is the foundation upon which we must build. As a rule we find certain hillsides in some localities or parts of the country much more fertile than the opposite sides of the same hill or mountain. We have in mind timbered sections. This can generally be accounted for by the direction from which the prevailing winds have blown. For example in our own experience, we have found the Northern and Northeastern slopes much richer than either the Western or Southern, as the pre- vailing winds in the section in which these plantings were made are from the West and Southwest, so that for years and years the leaves had been blown over to the North sides of the hills. By their decay they have made that side the richest; while the Southern and Western sides of the same hill have been robbed (by the wind) of their just share of fertility by this constant loss of leaves. Next let us consider the matter of moisture holding capacity of the two soils, for upon the moisture "content of the soil largely depends its power of production. We all recognize the Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 61 facjt that without moisture the plant food (no ijnatter how much there might be in the soil) could be of no use, so that moisture becomes an absolute necessity to the growth of plants. When we speak of rich and poor soils we should not lose sight of the fact that often times the one we call poor may be just as rich as the other in its stores of plant food, but this plant food is not available. For instance, take the great desert, as we think of and call those irpmense tracts of lands west of the Rockies, which were made productive simply by the ad- dition of moisture. We should think of the availability of the plant food in the soil rather than of it as a rich or poor piece of ground. We prefer to say unproductive soil rather than poor or worn-out soil, as it is so often expressed. The one thing that counts for more, not only in the retention of moisture, but in setting free the plant food that is already in the soil, as well as adding to it, is decaying vegetation, or as we say, humus. This is why we find some of our hillsides, as haVe been mentioned, the richer because of the coiistant drifting of the forest leaves, the decay of which has not only added plant food but has increased the humus as well. Humus acts as a sponge that takes up and holds fhe moisture for 62 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. the use of the plants. There may be orchards where there is an excess of moisture, or too much at the wrong time, thereby causing wood growth to be made at the expense of the forma- tion of fruit buds. For this reason we find trees continuing to grow on the North hillsides long after those on the South have ceased. Again we often find the trees much larger at a given age, and just as frequently they are late coming into bearing. This will be discussed more fully under *e head of Cul.iva.ion. The Warmth of the Soil.— The w^armth of the soil will be governed ; first, by the character of the soil; and secondly, by the slope of the land. Where the soil has a great deal of sand or gravel in it, we call it a warm or early soil. A warm soil is especially valuable in the growing of strawberries, early fruits and vegeta- bles, but has likely claimed more attention from the berry growers than any other class of horti- culturists up to the present time. When we wish to produce the extra early varieties of ber- ries, we look for Southern slopes with a warm soil. If we want to furnish a late market we use a late variety and choose a Northern slope, ftus recognising' *e difference in Ae warm* of the soil a$ determined principally by the aspect Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 63 Protection from Winds.— The protection of fruit plantations from heavy winds is another phase of the question that should not be over- looked when considering the aspect, as it may mean much to the grower. For instance, a Western slope may be so mugh exposed to con- stant winds that the trees may suffer by being blown or worked around during soft, open weather in winter. Then the snows will be blown off much worse, thereby depriving the soil of a supply of moisture which it would have received from the melting snow. Not only has the soil lost the moisture supply, but the cover crops, if there be any, have lost the pro- tection that the snows would have afforded them, and the soil is frequently left bare during long cold spells which follow windy snow storms. Sometimes the roots of the trees suffer from freezing. Again we find that the leaves are all blown from our orchards. This is a loss of fertility; or they are drifted into the low places, and this is a source of danger when allowed to pile aroutid the trees, as it is almost impossible to keep the mice from harboring in them and barking the trees. Frequently, even when the bodies of the trees are protected we find the mice burrowing down under the leaves and peeling the entire root system. 64 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. Sweeping winds not only carry off the mois- ture from the soil, but our trees often suffer severely from tlie loss of moisture given off from their branches and twigs. This is frequently over looked by the planter, and after setting young trees in the fall on very windy exposures, he is surprised to find when spring comes that many of them are nearly or quite killed to the ground. Especially if the trees are young, (say yearlings), as the moisture may be given off more freely from trees with young bark than those whose bark has become thick and heavy. This is discussed more fully under the head of Wind-breaks. ORCHARD WHERE TIMBER SERVED A^ A WINDBREAK Courtesy W. E. Rumsey • CHAPTER VI. WINDBREAKS. "In patient, silent ranks they stand, a wall Of purple shadow 'gainst the sky*s dull gray, Not dead, but only dreaming of the day That once again shall voice the sweet spring's call." There used to be almost as many diflferences of opinion as to the advantages and disadvan- tages of windbreaks as there were different orchardists. Much emphasis has been placed upon the subject, and large expenditures of money have been made to grow windbreaks. But of late years the orchardists do not con- sider windbreaks of as great importance as many other things which are to be considered in the location of orchards. In level sections where there are almost con- stant sweeping winds they might be a means of protection, both to the trees while growing and to the fruit, thus lessening the windfalls. 65 66 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. Or in holding the leaves on the ground in the fall, and the snow in the winter, as a protec- tion to the roots of the trees, as well as to ^afford protection to any cover crop that might be growing in the orchard. Windbreaks might afford some protection for the work of spraying; also be worth while for heavily loaded trees, thereby lessening the dam- age that often occurs by the breaking of limbs in severe storms. These are some of the arguments that we have used when trying to convince ourselves that artificial windbreaks were worth while, and we believe under certain conditions they may be useful. On the other hand there are objections that to our mind are well founded, and what we shall say in regard to this, as well as along all other lines, will be from our own practical experience. We planted an orchard of twelve acres in the spring of 1896. The location was a front river hill, with a level stretch of bottom land a mile wide between it and the river which was directly west of the site. The site was a large cove opened to the east This opening was almost at the half way place in the east line of the site, also being the lowest point. The land then rose rather steeply from Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 67 this point, or opening, in three directions, mak- ing three distinct exposures; one to the south, one to the east and one to the north. All these slopes culminating at the top of rather a sharp hill or bluff, which formed the rim of the cove. This rim, so to speak, is timbered on the entire west side of the site, the timber being a second growth of black oak, chestnut oak, ash and black locust. The timber grew from the crest of the rim over the entire west face of the hill, which is probably 200 feet wide. Having some faith in artificial windbreaks we were glad to find ourselves so well supplied with this one placed there by nature. The trees were all removed from the top of the rim far enough to admit of the planting of the first row of apple trees right on the crest This left the tops of the remaining trees in the windbreak 20 to 30 feet higher than the crest of the site. Conditions seemed ideal, but results have not been. There has been greater losses by late frosts directly under the shelter of the wind- break (owing to the lack of circulation of air) than there has been even at the lowest point of tfie site. We all know how much the wind is broken by belts of timber. We frequently see stock seeking such sheltered places during storms. 68 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. This is because the wind rises when it strikes the timber, and thus leaves a quiet space, or as we say, a dead air space next to the timber. It is in such places as this that the frost frequently does its most harmful work. While a little distance from the windbreak, where the air is in motion, the fruit will likely escape damage. Then we have not been able to get the wood growth in the first row of trees that we have in the remainder of the orchard, although the roots of the trees which form the windbreak are down on the hillside many feet below those of the apple trees and should not interfere with them, but this row seems to suffer from droughts much more than any others in the orchard. There has been more poorly colored fruit against this windbreak than in any other portion of the orchard, and fungous troubles have been hard to control in the lee of the trees. The leaves from the windbreak are blown over this ridge and lie in great drifts around ,h= firs. Jo rows of trees. It has proven almost a hopeless task to prevent the mice from breeding among the roots of the trees of the windbreak. Then during the win- ter they work under the leaves to the fruit trees and bark them, frequently killing trees that have reached bearing age. 70 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. While the orchard has had some protection from severe storms, and probably the windfalls have been lessened, we are satisfied that the advantages have been overbalanced by the dis- advantages. If you want the advantages of windbreaks you can find most desirable ones already for use on the rough lands, by choosing locations where advantages may be taken of some still higher hills. Or hills of practically the same height whose covering of timber has not been removed, even if this hill is some dis- tance from the orchard site, you will see the protecting effect In fact, we should prefer that it be slightly removed, as our experience and observation has taught us that without a fairly good circulation of air in the orchard it is hard to keep down many of our troubles, even with a spray pump, and we have con- cluded that it is better to have windfalls than wormfalls. From experience we have decided that it is better to build the orchard so it will be able to stand the winds of the section in which ijt is to grow, excepting, of course, such storms as up- root the mighty oak. The way we have tried to do this is first by planting closely, so that each tree may help to protect its neighbor. Then try to avoid alley ways for the wind to Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 71 sweep through, by not allowing the rows to run the same direction of the prevailing winds. We prefer to have the prevailing winds strike the rows cross-wise of the broad middles, that is, when any difference is made in their width. Occasionally we find orchards laid off in blocks with wide driveways between, and these drive ways prove (as the orchards grow larger) to be wind-sweeps through the plantation. If they had been laid off with this in mind, and been al- lowed to run so that the prevailing winds would have blown across rather than with them, the good and comfort that they were intended to afford might have been enjoyed without this harmful effect. We should not only plant for protection, but we should prune the trees so as to fomi low heads. Low enough that the wind would pass over rather than under them. The heads should be left more dense than is often practiced in more sheltered localities, so that each branch, in time of storm, may to a certain extent protect the other. In pruning, make the cuts short, so that the branches will not be long enough for the wind to thrash them against the ground, or break them by swaying back and forth with their heavy load. We believe if these points are kept in mind 72 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, that we may grow good orchards and reap abundant harvests without any other, wind- breaks than are afforded by the natural con- tour of the rough and rolling lands, if we have this in mind when choosing our site and make our choice accordingly. Orchard Site Where Stumps Have Been Removed. Courtesy G. T. Leatherman y/ PREPARING THE ORCHARD SITE Courtesy E. R. Lake CHAPTER VII. PREPARATION OF THE SITE. "The dark brown earth's upturned, By the sharp pointed plough — And I've a lesson learned. My life is but a field Stretched out beneath God's sky, Some harvest rich to yield." The preparation of the orchard site is a mat- ter which should and must have more thought and study by the future fruit growers if they expect to succeed, and not as it frequently is, be ignored and treated lightly. The average corn grower of today prepares his seed bed most thoroughly, although the crop to be planted 73 ■ 74 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. will only occupy it for a few months. Then the land may be refitted, and sown or planted to something else. If careful preparation is necessary for quick maturing crops, how much more careful should we be in the preparation of the orchard site, for it is only once we shall have the opportunity to prepare this land. After the trees are in place we can only cultivate the surface, so the preparation for tree planting should be most thorough. The preparation of an orchard site is a task that should be a source of great pleasure to the tree lover, for he should have in mind that he is beginning a work, laying the foundation, if you please, for a building, the beauty and use- fulness of which will largely depend upon, as in other structures, the thoroughness with which the work is done. While it is important that every detail be con- sidered carefully in the preparation of an orchard site, this work, like a great many other things the orchardist is called upon to do, can- no. be done according .o any se^ rules. Every orchard site may present to the planter an en- tirely different problem The contour of the land may be the first factor to be considered, lor if it is fairly level you might proceed one Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 75 way, while if the site is steep an entirely dif- ferent line of preparation would be followed. If it should be an old worn field, then you could plow thoroughly and might even use a sub-soiler to an advantage. While on the other hand, if it is new land just cleared, the method suggested for the old field would not suit at all. So we should study our conditions and choose our methods accordingly. In the prepara- tion of woodlands the question may be asked as to whether the timber should be removed by grubbing, or simply by chopping it off. Here, as in many other farm preparations we find a very great difference of opinion. We shall not try to settle this or any other disputed point But let us keep in mind the object in view, namely, getting rid of the brush, roots and stumps of the forest, and preparing the land for tihe roots of the fruit trees. Any method that will accomplish this in the shortest time and with the least labor is the one that should be adopted or practiced. In our experience we find that we can accom- plish this quicker and cheaper by chopping off than by grubbing. The explanation we have to offer is that when we grub a bush or tree, we likely remove the first six or ten inches of the growth below the ground. Then the stump (f6r that is what it is), of the root sends up 76 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. sprouts, which are most likely cut off at or near the surface, thus leaving a stub below the ground. This stub sprouts, and is probably cut off in the same manner. This being re- peated time after time, forms a stool just be- low the surface that is much harder to kill than the stump above the ground would have been. When sprouts are removed from stumps there are no new stools allowed to form. Then when decay begins above the ground it soon extends to the root system, and the stump is not only dead, but out and gone before you have been able to kill the sprouts and stools in the land that was grubbed. In preparing the orchard site we should re- member the one object is to enable the roots of the trees to occupy the entire area. It is best when possible to plow the entire surface, al- though many thousands of trees are being set on rough mountain land, with only a few fur- rows thrown out for the tree row, and the re- mainder of the surface to be broken up later. When this is done there should be just as thorough preparation of the place where the tree is to stand as possible. This practice may be satisfactory on land that has an abundant supply of stone or gravel in it, or land that has a very porous subsoil, so that there would 78 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. be no danger of washing. It would be some- what dangerous on clay lands that were rolling, as the water is likely to gather in the furrows made for the tree rows, and then when it breaks over, as it is sure to do, it will cause washing which we can never afford to allow. The orchard site should be thoroughly plowed in the fall or early winter, so as to get the action of the frost on the soil, as well as to hasten the work in the spring. The tree holes should be dug as early as possible in order that the sub-soil should be allowed to freeze during the winter. This freezing and thawing loosens up the sub-soil in a way that nothing else will, as well as allowing the water to soak into it which acts as a reservoir the follow- ing season in supplying moisture for the young tree. This will not be necessary on gravelly or porous soils. On such land the holes may be opened at planting time with perfect safety. The size of the holes should be governed by the kind of soil in which you are planting. If it is loose and rich, then a medium size hole will be suflScient If you are planting in thin, heavy soils, then you will be well repaid by a better growth, for the extra labor in digging the larger hole, say three feet square and eighteen inches deep. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 79 "Dig three feet deep, each planting hole, Fix 'plumb' each stem with twine and pole, The loose sward underneath you cast, Fill up with earth and tread it fast; Then leave your tree, but don't forget How much the loosened soil will set, To catch the rain the earth about Should like a dish be hollowed out.''' There are some sites which are so very steep that the plow can not be used to advantage in their preparation. If these soils are filled with stone or gravel so that the roots of the trees may- penetrate it easily the planter may succeed by digging the holes without plowing the surface at all. This method will require more hand labor (or digging around the trees) than if the surface had been plowed. This plan does not succeed so well in tight clay soils, as the water frequently gathers in the holes on account of; lack of drainage. It will be found advantageous when digging the holes to pile the top soil to itself, so it may be at hand when setting the trees. On steep land it has proven to be a good plan to pile the dirt on the upper side of the hole, so that the washings may be caught in the hole below. We should not lose sight of the fact that it is the lightest and best of the soil that is carried away by the washing, (erosion), and when once out- side the boundaries of our deed it is gone for- ever, so we should be very careful about its loss. 80 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, The matter of drainage has been spoken of, but we wish to call attention to its importance again. After the holes are dug in the fall or early winter, so that we may have the benefit of the action of the frost which has already been described, they should be visited occa- sionally during the winter. If the water is found to be standing in any of them, drainage should be provided; if by no other means than by sinking another hole on the lower side and deeper than the one intended for the tree, and the water drained into it. This will prove all the more effective if the hole is filled with stones, stumps, or rubbish of some kind before it is covered over or filled with dirt. This in- sures its remaining open until the trees become established, after which the tree roots tend to act as conductors, which prevent the collecting of water about the bodies of the trees. Much valuable time may be saved in the rush of spring by this winter work. Besides we are able to plant much earlier where the holes are ready, and the dirt — if it is piled where it will drain properly — ^will be in condition to work several days before that of the level surface. It is even more important to have the ground in good condition for tree planting than for or- dinary farm crops. A thorough preparation of Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 81 the entire surface will eventually be necessary in order to get the best results, unless it should be in very open, stony soil, as already described. The fact that we figure as to how many trees can be planted to the acre without crowding should be enough to convince us of a fact which so few seem to realize, that we expect the roots to occupy the entire surface. If so, then we should see to i. that Ae soil is prepared in such a manner that the trees may be able to take en- tire possession. THE OLD PLOW. "By the fence in the orchard the old plow stands, Slowly rusting and rotting away, While the days go by with their dropping sands And the world grows dull and gray. It did its work in the long ago As it tumbled the stony soil. And the harvest waved with a goldai ^ow With a crown for the brow of toil. It seemed to shout like a warrior bold As it entered the stubborn field, And the wind-swept clouds above it rolled And the sun smote its shining shield. But now it stands by the? faice alone, With its share all brown with rust, And its oafcen feai:» with wwds o'er grown A^lJ ^oiiMfeirbg ^^^ to dust. Ap^'ioott' 1 ikov^- inik the lowing tide TBiat furrows the! sfl^red brow, % ^b, will be tmdearlf laid aade 'Id moulder like an out-worn plow/^ — Ri^. George Crofts. AWAITING SPRING Courtesy Leo Jellinek CHAPTER VIII. LAYING OFF THE ORCHARD. "Be careful not to plant too close, Your profit not from numbers flows, Your trees require both light and space That they may grow and thrive apace; Set them, w^ell, thirty feet apart — In rows arranged with studious art ; For years to come the orchard will Attest the planter's taste and skill." Laying off the orchard is one of the opera- tions that should be well outlined in the plant- er's mind before the work is commenced. There are many things that should be taken into con- sideration. The contour of the land should be studied, as it is necessary that the rows be made so that when the time of spraying arrives the planter may be able to drive over the orchard with the greatest possible ease. The direction from which the prevailing winds may 83 84 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. come should govern the course of the rows to a certain extent, as we prefer to have the wind blow across them the narrow way, when there is any difference made in the space between the rows, (as described under windbreaks). In cultivation it will be necessary to follow the rows, and at the same time endeavor to make all furrows in such a way as to prevent washing as much as possible. This would not have to claim the attention of the planter when de- ciding upon the plan of laying off his orchard if his land were level, but when orcharding on rough and rolling land we become more and more impressed with its importance. The plan of setting should next be decided upon. There are two general plans, xthe old square and the new triangular. The latter plan has grown in favor very much of late among planters, especially on rolling lands. It is a plan which enables the orchardist to take ad- vantage of the contour of the land, as much as any we have practiced. This plan places the trees of one row opposite the space in the next row. In the square form every tree stands in the corner of a square and equally distant from four others, while in the hit and miss, or triangular, every tree stands in the angle of a triangle of Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, 85 equal sides and in the center of and equally dis- tant from six others. So in the latter plan there is a greater space left for the admission of light and air, although the trees are planted at a less distance than in the other plan. The difference in the number of trees which may be planted on an acre under the two methods, the old and the new, — the square and the triangular — is shown by the following table: Old New Trees planted 30 ft. apart each way, 49 to acre 59 Trees planted 24 ft. apart each way, 75 to acre 90 Trees planted 20 ft. apart each way, 108 to acre 128 » One great advantage to be gained by this tri- angular method, as shown by the table is the ability to grow more trees per acre, as well as more completely shading the ground, which should not be overlooked. The nearer we may approach forest conditions under our trees, and not interfere with the production of fruit, the nearer we have solved the problem of the cultivation of that much of the surface. The operation of laying off the orchard in triangles may seem a little more complicated than in squares, but when we once get die plan clearly in mind we shall not have any trouble. We have found that this hit and miss, or tri- angular plan, may be best carried out in the following manner. After deciding how far 86 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. apart the trees are to be set, cut two wires — No. 9 is a convenient size — the desired length, then fasten a ring on each end of both wires; this being done, we should next establish a base D U U Q O- D. U ■O Q. U O a ■c -JC line from which to measure. Choose a straight side of the site, if there be one, if not, stake out a line. Then with a man at each end of a wire, with a good stout stajff passed through the rings, measure off the distance desired between the trees by stretching the wire tight from staff to staff, always having them in line with the stakes which have been established. Each meas- ure should be marked with a peg which will Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 87 indicate the places for the trees in the first row or base line. We are now ready to lay off the second row. Having our base line established, we shall now use both wires and the third man, who will take one end of both wires and pass the rings over his staff, the other men will stand each at a peg established in the other row, retaining one end of a wire, and holding it in place by the ring which passed over their staff. The third man now moves in a direction that will stretch both wires and when they are tight he places a peg at the place marked by his staff; this indi- cates the first tree in the second row. If the ground is steep and the third man is on the up- per side of the hill, he should allow the rings to come nearly or quite to the ground on his staff, while the men who are at the pe^ estab- lished in the base line, should slip their rings up on their staff far enough to approach as nearly as possible a level. If the man start- ing the new row is down hill from those on the base line, he should slip his rings^ — ^and they should be fastened together — ^up while the men in the other row should lower theirs, the nearer the wire is kept on a level the truer or more exact will be the rows. After tihe jSrst tree in the second row is Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 89 located all move back along the base line one peg; this places the man who stood at the end peg at the second one, where the other man stood who is now at the third peg in the base line; while the third man with the ends of both wires is tightening them again. When this IS accomplished, and a level is approached a peg is placed at the base of his staff, when all move up as before, forming another angle, so to speak, with the two wires and the base line. When a row is thus completed it becomes a base line from which the next measurements are made. This plan will work over almost any kind of ground. Every operator should be care- ful to have his staff perpendicular when the wire is leveled and measurements made. For if they are held at an angle they will tend to shorten the distance between the trees, or get them out of line. Rows may be lengthened at any point in the plantation by making meas- urements just as in establishing the base line, using the pegs which indicate places for trees to site to as die stakes were used to establish the base line. THE Distance Apart.— Having decided as to the pl^n of setting, tfie distance apart that the frees should be set would next claim considera- lU should be largely governed, first 90 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. by the contour of the land, for the steeper the site the closer the planting may be made, as the rows are terraced, so to speak, one above the other. While if on a more level site it would be necessary to give them more room both for spread of branches as well as for better circu- lation of air. The strength of the land should also have careful consfderation. Thin, shaly ,oU could not be expected to give the growth that would be obtained on deep, rich soils. So if the land should be thin and steep the trees may be planted much closer than on the rich level site. It should be the aim of the planter to grow just as many trees per acre as possible, so long as they will not interfere with each other^s de- velopment. Remembering that the more trees we have on a given area the more divided the risk, consequently the more chance for profit, with practically the same expense of cultivation per acre. Varieties and their habits of growth should have an important part to play in the decision of this question. The casual observer cannot fail to recognize these characteristics. For ex- ample, look at the yellow Transparent with its upright top, almost as much so as the pear; then the Mammoth Black Twig with a great open sprawling head, the one requiring almost as Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 91 much more space as the other. Shading of the land should be considered when deciding upon the distance for setting the trees. This is of special importance on many of the steep shaly southern exposures which are being planted to orchards, as we find it is absolutely necessary to shade these lands in order to get best results. This will be more fully explained under the head of Pruning. This may be best accom- plished by the plan of setting the trees hit or miss as already described. Fillers. — ^The practice of setting early bear- ing trees between the permanent ones as fillers has been practiced largely in some sections of the country, and has some features to recom- mend it. Especially when using high priced land, or when the grower is in need of early returns to help develop the plantation. We have known of a case where peach trees were used as fillers in the apple orchard, there being two peach trees set for each apple. The rows of apple, thirty-two feet apart, then a row of peach between them one way, setting the peach sixteen feet apart. When this orchard was si? years old the peach had borne three crops and had paid the whole expense of growing the apple trees and the peach orchard up to that time. When the peaches were cut out at six Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 93 years of age the apple orchard was turned over to the grower absolutely free. So it would seem that the planting of fillers should be recom- mended for general practice. But our expe- rience and observation would not warrant rec- ommending the practice generally. First, as land is cheap, there is no excuse for crowding the plantings. Secondly, we can come nearer choos- ing soil that is suited to one rather than suited to both apples or peaches. Third, the cultivation required in order to succeed in each is so very different. Then again when we come to spray- ing, we find it almost impossible to make the ap- plications to the one without allowing some of the mixture to fall on the other. It often hap- pens that it is necessary to use a mixture for the apple that would be entirely too strong for the foliage of the peach, and we can never af- ford to do anything that injures the foliage of our trees. We are apt to allow the fillers to remain too long and thereby injure the permanent trees. It is after a test of this kind that we wish to emphasise how hard it is to go in and cut out good healthy bearing trees, even if we do think there may be danger of checking or stunting the growth of the orchard proper by leaving them. This they could easily do to such an 94 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. extent that the future usefulness of the orchard would be damaged more than all the crops of peaches had amounted to, while if they had been taken out at the right time, although it might have seemed to be a sacrifice, the peaches would have proven a. source of profit The hardest days orcharding we ever did was to cut out 1500 fine, healthy six year old peach trees which had paid for the whole planting both of apple and peach. But it proved to be a profit- able operation, for today it is a fine apple orchard which has, and promises to be a source of profit for years. A neighbor left his fillers in, and neither the peach nor apple give any promise of being a profitable investment, al- though the one plantation was as promising as the other in their early years. If the planter feels that he MUST use fillers, then use apples, choosing some of the early bearing sorts which have an upright habit of growth, such as Transparent and Wealthy. The latter, however, is more of a spreading head, but a good early bearer. The great ad- vantage of the more upright growers is that they may remain longer. without crowding. By using apples as fillers it will enable the planter to cultivate and spray the whole orchard with- out interfering with the growth, or running any Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 95 risk from the use of sprays, as might be the case if peaches were planted, as their cultiva- tion should differ from the apple. No matter what is used, we should not forget the great danger of allowing them to remain too long. For, as Judge Samuel Miller, of Bluffton, Mo., so well said, when asked his advice upon this subject, "Fillers may be a good thing in the hands of the grower who has the nerve to take them out at the right time." There is more in this advice than the inexperienced fruit grower may think. Another point which should not be overlooked is the proportionate expense of growing the fillers as compared with their per- iod of usefulness. The first cost and early care of the trees will be as great as though they were to be permanent This is of special importance on rough land, as we cannot economize in labor as we could on more level lands. In view of all these facts we believe that on our rolling lands which are cheap as compared with land in many other fruit sections it will prove more profitable to make the plantings permanent, even if we do have to wait a little longer for a large return per acre. There may be orchard sites on steep hillsides which consist of series of benches, or narrow fiats that run about the same level or altitude. 96 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, on or around the hill. In some of these cases, where the driving with the spray tanks will all have to be done with strict regard to the contour of the land, it may be advisable to run the rows with the contour of the land or with the benches. Then all working and hauling may be governed accordingly. Location or arrangement of varieties was mentioned under the head of planting. We should not forget, however, that a great deal may depend not only upon their arrangement in regard to the time of blooming, but great advantage may be gained in the matter of haul- ing, by not mixing varieties when loading, which causes confusion. We find it to be an advantage to begin loading on the high land and gather the packages as we go down the hill, the orchard should be laid off accordingly. . GROWING THE NURSERY STOCK -^ Courtesy M. Schwartzwalder CHAPTER IX. SELECTION AND CARE OF THE NURSERY STOCK. V "Be sure and choose a thrifty tree — . het it not spoiled or stunted be; - Straight, tapering trunk; bark smooth and round, Well shaped, fair sized the limbs around, From top to base in prime condition ; Buy good home stock and save commission, Plant few varieties, but choose The very best — the rest refuse." There should be no more important question that the prospective orchardist is called upon to consider than the selection of the Nursery Stock. Too many fail to realize how very im- portant a matter this is, and frequently it re- ^ ceives little or no thought or study. In the past the average planter has paid but little at- tention to any of the various points that should 97 98 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. be considered in the purchasing of trees except to try to get the cheapest that could be found. The successful fruit grower of the future will plant nothing but the very best regardless of the price. We have passed the time when we can aflford to allow fruit to grow itself, and are living in the day when we must GROW the fruit if we expect to have it. In order to do this we must have a good tree. Where to Purchase.— Where to secure the proper kind of nursery stock is indeed a serious question. Generally speaking it will be best to get it from the nursery nearest home, thus obviating the long haul and at the same time lessening the danger of damage or possible loss of trees by being out of the ground so long. The home nurseryman will be more interested in the success of the planting than the man who never saw or expected to see the grower or the orchard. Another advantage in getting the trees near home is that the nursery may be vis- ited and the trees selected. This means a slight expense, but we should be willing to go to some extra trouble and even expense in order to get the very best stock. The average farmer would not think of purchasing a lot of work horses or mules without seeing them. He expects them to serve him for three or four years, so is will- ing to go to considerable expense to select them. Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 99 This same careful business man will buy thou- sands of trees without seeing a single one of them. These trees are to be a source of profit or loss for years. He expects — or should expect — to bestow years of labor on them and yet he has not given them the thought or consideration that he did the work stock which could only last a few years at best. Poor nursery stock has done more to retard the development of orcharding all over the country than any other one thing. The farm- ers and fruit growers are largely to blame for this. As has already been said they have been willing to buy the very cheapest trees that could be found. Not only have they been willing to buy, but they have demanded cheap nursery stock. We find in all lines of business when- ever a cheap article is demanded some one is ready to furnish it Nurserymen are no ex- ception. In order that they may furnish the stock at the figure demanded and still realize a profit — and they would be foolish to attempt to do business without a profit — they simply put in enough trees that should have gone on the brush heap to enable them to fill the order. In this way the fruit growers are to blame for the poor trees they have received. They fail to realize that a poor tree might be dear as a gift, 1 00 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, while a good one may prove a paying invest- ment at what may seem at the time an extrava- gant price. It would be hard to say how much a planter could afiford to pay for good trees rather than set poor ones. For example, a good Rome Beauty tree after twelve years of care yielded $30.00 worth of fruit in a single season, besides some former crops. Alongside of this stood another of the same variety which was planted and cared for exactly as the other, yet it had never produced a single bushel. The one a good tree, the other diseased. The careful planter should not only figure as to the number of trees necessary to plant per acre, but should just as carefully con- sider the quality of those to be planted. A Good Tree, — A good tree is one that has a good root system and should be well grown according to variety. Free from Insect Pests and Fungous troubles. The root system is im- portant. By a good tree would be meant one with roots extending in all directions. The first purpose of the roots is to hold, or anchor the tree. This is shown by the acorn that is noticed among the leaves in the woods. Its first effort is to fasten or anchor itself to the ground by sending down the tap root. After which the tiny oak makes its appearance. Whenever trees Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 10! have to be staked in order to keep them in place that orchard has many chances against it. When selecting nursery stock and examining the root system thmk of them first as anchors, and secondly as the means of gathering: plant food from the soil. In order to succeed in either or both of these functions it is necessary that the roots extend in all directions. Should be Well Grown According to Variety. — Planters are frequently to blame foi the poor trees delivered to them. They have demanded trees of a certain size^ regardless of the variety and their habit of growth. It should be kept in mind that all yearling trees are not the same size. For instance, a one year Stark may be as large as a two year Trans- parent. The habit of growth of the diflferent varieties should always be taken into consider- ation. The orchardist who orders Stark, Trans- parent, Grimes, Jonathan, York and Rome Beauty two years old and expects or demands that they all be one size is not only making it possible but is almost forcing the nurseryman to put in a lot of three-year-old trees of the weaker growing varieties in order to have them near the same size, so as to please his customer. The difference in habit of growth of the different varieties should claim more attention of the 1 02 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. prospective planter when choosing nursery stock. The small willowy Jonathan may be just as well grown according to its habits of growth, as the straight heavy Stark, which is much larger. Free From Insects. — There are manv trees that are infested with scale when set, notwith- standing the fact that the States' Inspectors are as diligent as possible. It is almost an utter impossibility for every tree to be carefully ex- amined. The time and money at the command of the inspectors will not permit of it. So the examination is necessarily general. Every planter should see that the trees received are free from scale of all kinds. Examine closely around the buds for the stragglers. Aphis Knots. — The roots should be free from aphis knots which often cause them to look like strings of beads, when the tree is badly infested. In bending a root covered with these knots it frequently breaks as the constant punc- turing of its tissues by the insect as it fed on the sap has made many wounds, thereby caus- ing these knots. Although they had healed over, the fiber of the roots remained weakened. This should not be mistaken for or confused with some of the fungous troubles, as it is the effect of an insect, and not a disease. Trees T3 ^3 ^^ ^Q o c/1 a> W fc- X i- —