tillage is one of the means by which this productive power may be 

 increased. Moisture is an important factor in fruit-growing. The 

 importance of water to the apple and peach tree was very clearly 

 shown by the experience of last summer. The rainfall throughout 

 central l^ew York was much below the normal amount for the 

 months of July, August and September. What was the result in 

 untilled orchards as compared witli that in well tilled fruit lands ? 

 As a rule the apples in sod orchards were undersize ; they lacked 

 color and were often deiicient in natural juiciness. This fruit pre- 

 sented a marked contrast to that grown in orchards that had been 

 tilled carefully throughout the season. 



The fruit-grower' s jpTogr am of cultivation. — Of what should 

 this consist ? In the spring his object is to get his soil laboratory 

 in working condition as early as possible. To do this he plows the 

 orchard land. The plowing of the ground does several things. It 

 lowers the water-table ; it .increases the water reservoir ; it allows 

 the air to permeate ; it encourages the nitrifying processes. "While 

 as a rule the plow should be the first implement introduced in the 

 orchard in the spring, there are conditions which prohibit its use. 

 Obviously it is not the ideal implement with which to carry on sum- 

 mer cultivation. In spring it not only releases and tends to remove 

 soil water, but it adds to the soil's capacity for holding water. In 

 later summer the energies of the fruit-grower should be directed to 

 saving for the use of the tree as much moisture as well drained land 

 will naturally hold. The disc harrow is probably the most effective 

 implement to follow the plow. This pulverizes the clods and tough 

 lumps of soil and leaves the land in good condition for the smooth- 

 ing harrow which should follow the disc. 



The primary objects of tillage are to save hioisture and release 

 plant-food rather than to kill weeds. A farmer may ask, " Should 

 I use the cultivator just often enough to keep down weeds or ought 

 I to cultivate at least once a week \ " Weed growth may not be 

 looked upon as a reliable guide to the orchardist in the matter of 

 cultivating. Tlie character of the soil and the amount of rainfall 

 together form a nmch safer standard to guide our practice. If a 

 heavy rain storm should follow within twenty-four hours of culti- 



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