262 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the crops that satisfy the above conditions. The small grains are least of 

 all adapted to the successful growth of the orchard, as they not only 

 require large amounts of water and plant food, at the time when it is 

 required by the trees, but they allow the soil to bake, and thus a large 

 amount of water is wasted by evaporation. For the same reason grass and 

 most forage crops are not suitable for the orchard, especially while the 

 trees are small. 



Under ordinary conditions it will be well to give similar care to bear- 

 ing trees, until they become so large that hoed crops can not be grown 

 among them to advantage. After that time, if the entire land is given up 

 to the trees, the increased profits from the crop of apples will more than 

 equal the value of the hay or grain crop that could be obtained and the 

 expense of the cultivation they would need. 



While by the use of manure or fertilizers a supply of plant food could 

 be furnished both to the trees and the other crop, the amount of water 

 available would seldom be sufficient for the apple crop alone, were no 

 means taken to conserve it by frequent stirring of the soil. The trees 

 would then make a small growth, form few fruit buds, and the fruit crop 

 would be small in quantity and inferior in quality. 



While no deviation from the above rule should be made in the case of 

 young trees, there may be circumstances that will make it desirable with 

 bearing orchards to seed down the land for a year or two. The grain 

 crops should even then be avoided, but if the trees have reached a bear- 

 ing age and are making such a strong growth that few if any fruit buds 

 are formed, the land can be seeded to clover or grass and the desired check 

 can thus be given. Upon rich, strong land, especially if there is an 

 abundance of moisture, the sod will not be particularly injurious, and if 

 clover is grown it will add to the fertility of the land. It will seldom be 

 desirable to allow the sod to remain for more than two years. 



Upon light soils, where it will be difficult to secure a catch of clover, it 

 is not a bad plan to sow rye in the orchard in August and turn it under 

 the following May. This will be a slight protection during the winter 

 and will add to the humus of the soil when it is turned under. 



Where crimson clover is hardy it is an ideal crop for this purpose, but 

 it is doubtful if it can be successfully grown in most parts of the state. 

 As grown here for a number of years, very few plants survive the winter. 

 It may in time become acclimated and. even now, is perhaps worthy of trial, 

 sowing American seed grown as far north as it can be secured, at the rate 

 of ten pounds -per acre, in August. 



Upon many farms where hogs are raised, the orchards are used as hog 

 pastures. If the hogs are given plenty of food or have a considerable range 

 they seldom injure the trees, and as they keep the ground cultivated and 

 destroy the apple worms by eating the fallen apples they serve a good 

 purpose. If the range is so large that they can not keep the surface well 

 worked it is well to supplement their work with the cultivator. Sheep 

 can also be used in old orchards in a similar manner. 



Some advocate keeping the land in grass and allowing it to fall down 

 and remain on the land. While this will not direotly take plant food from 

 the trees, it will virtually have the same effect by lessening the amount 

 available for them by aiding in the evaporation of moisture from the soil. 

 The presence of the grass will also make harboring places for insects and 

 vermin. 



