OCR Text |
Show SELECT BEST ORCHARD SITE Most Important Factor to Be Con-$idered Con-$idered Is Subsoil as Trees Are Deep Rooted. Bv an orchard site is meant the -xaet location of the orchard tin the farm. Location in general does not Interest the farmer since he has his farm, but the thing which Interests him is, "Where on the farm is the best place to set the trees?" One of the most important factors to be considered is the sub-soil, says D. C. Mooring, extension horticulturist horticul-turist of the Oklahoma A. and M. college col-lege A free Is a deep-rooted plant under favorable conditions, but under adverse subsoil conditions, the trees may be shallow rooted and consequently con-sequently short lived. Most of us recall that during the past few years during the dry years, many orchards, forests, and lot trees have' died. When they were grubbed out it was rather surprising to see many trees 10 to 16 inches In diameter whose root systems sys-tems were confined almost entirely to a stratum -of soil not more than 12 to If! inches deep. Thus it is rendlly seen why they were killed by drought, and the importance of an open porous subsoil Is readily suggested. Where a tree Is planted in a soil with an open porous subsoil the tree roots will not suffer nearly so much for '.ack of moisture and food. The subsoil may vary on a comparatively compara-tively small farm, hence the Importance Im-portance of digging down with a spade or, better and easier, bore down into the subsoil with an old wornout nood auger' on the handle of which has been welded a piece of iron or a piece of pipe. No doubt many have noticed lu passing pass-ing through a valley after sundown, that the valley Is much cooler than the , ny ''i t A t t r 1 t 1 . Few Peacnes, Pears, Plums ana Cherries Pdake an Agreeable Variety. sloping ground or the hill. This Is due to cold air being heavier than warm air and consequently having settled In the valley. Therefore, frost is more apt to be formed in the valley than on upland. So, in selecting an orchard site, avoid the valleys. In case of variation of surface or top soils, plant the stone fruits such as peaches, plums and apricots, on the Ught soil and plant the pome fruits such as apples, pears, etc.. on the heavier soil, giving peaches the preference prefer-ence of the lightest and pears of the heaviest soils. Since it very frequently happens Unit the women take part in the Harvesting of the fruit at Irregular times in order to prepare it for meals, it is important to have the orchard near the house. Another reason which might be advantageous is that the orchard could be better watched. In case of planting trees on city lots avoid planting too close to the side af the house on the north side. Too much shade lifts a tendency to cause lie trees to grow tall and slender. |