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Show HINTS ON PLANTING YOUNG FRUIT TREES Important Suggestions Given by Missouri Expert in Order to Secure Success. - (By J. C. WHITTEN, Missouri College Agriculture.) After many years of careful observation obser-vation of the different methods of planting, the agricultural college at Columbia suggests that the following points are exceedingly Important in order to secure success: Young trees rather than old, large ones, should he selected for planting. One-year-old fruit trees are for the most part preferable to two-year-olds. They transplant more readily and more safely. The proper depth to plant is the depth at which the tree stood in the nursery. Young trees planted in this central section frequently have a tendency to subsequently tilt toward the northeast north-east and stand crooked. This Is due to the fact that our prevailing winds during the growing season are from the south tiid southwest, and to the partial sunscnld of the south or west sides of the tree, which results from heating up of the sunny side of the trunk during sunny days in lale winter win-ter and subsequent sudden freezing at night. The tree should be set so that its heavier side is toward the southwest and so any sway In the trunk will bend toward the southwest. south-west. In this position the tree Is much more resistant of bending away from the southwest wind, Is shaded by the heavier branches on the southeast south-east side, so It Is less liable to sun-scaid. sun-scaid. In order quickly to determine which side Is the stronger, better developed, de-veloped, stlffer side to set to the soul Invest, balance the tree across ;he hand as It Is caught up for planting. The tree will roll over In the hand until It comes at rest with the heavy side toward the palm of the hand. Plant this side to the southwest. Before setting, trim any ragged wounds on the roots and shorten ary long roots so they will not be cratnpcH in planting. Tramp the soli (irmly from the bottom of the hole up, In setting. set-ting. When the hole Is filled, spread an Inch of loose soil over the tramped surface so as to prevent baking and drying out. Peach trees should be pruned back most severely of any of our orchard fruits when set. All the side branches should be cut off close, thus trimming the tree to a single whip. This whip should then be shortened to about two and a half feet in height. Cherry trees should be pruned least severely of any of our orchard fruits. If well branched, cut out the central stem of the tree so as to leave an open center. Leave three to five main outward out-ward spreading limbs well distributed around the trunk. The reason for pruning the poach so severely Is because It readily puis out strong new limbs' from the main trunk. On the other hand, the reason why the branches of the sour cherry should not be shortened Is because they start growth readily from the active buds near the tip of the limb, but will not produce vigorous growth from the dormant buds of the mala stem or base of the limbs. |
