American Pomology. ApplesWarder, J. A. (John Aston)
Science
American Pomology. Apples
Warder, J. A. (John Aston)
Apples
the head where he wants it, out of the reach of his horse; a
calculation, however, which he will not realize.
THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIL for a nursery should be as deep and as
thorough as possible, for some things it is best even to trench the
ground; but generally, the thorough plowing, with a deep-tiller, or a
trench-plow, will be sufficient, and if followed by the subsoil
lifter, so much the better. One of the most intelligent
horticulturists, and most successful nurserymen in the country, finds
that he can produce a better result in depth and fineness of tilth, by
using the Double Michigan plow, than he can with the spade. A piece of
clover-sod thus plowed in the fall, and subsoiled at the same time,
will be in fine order for nursery purposes, after a thorough
cross-plowing and harrowing in the following spring. If the land has
been under-drained, so much the better. There is little good land that
would not be much improved for nursery purposes by tile draining.
If manure is to be applied, it may be spread upon the clover-sod
before plowing, or it may be thrown upon the plowed ground at once or
at any time during the winter, to be worked into the soil by the
spring plowing; if composted, it may be spread just before the spring
stirring.
LAYING OUT.--In laying out the nursery, some taste may be exercised
by the planter; the sections and blocks should be distinct, and alleys
should be located at convenient distances, so that all parts may be
easily accessible with the wagon. The rows should be laid out
straight, and they ought to be far enough apart--four feet might be a
good average for nursery trees; cuttings and seedlings may, of course,
be nearer. The trees should not be set too closely in the rows, one
foot apart is plenty close enough for most kinds, and that is little
enough room for the development of good lateral branches, or for those
which have to remain three or four years before transplanting. For
peaches, for dwarf pears, and indeed for any of the varieties that are
to be taken from the nursery as maiden trees, a less space may be
allowed--say eight inches apart. Apple stocks for budding, or for
collar grafting, may be set ten inches apart, and they will have room
to make very good plants, even should they remain until two years old.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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