40 The Bulletin. 



the corn should be kept some distance from the young trees. The first year it 

 should not be nearer than four feet and this distance to be increased from year 

 to year until eventually when the tree conies into bearing the entire space should 

 be given to the apple trees. The best method of cultivation is as follows: Plow 

 the ground in the spring or disc it thoroughly, then go over it at least once 

 every two weeks with a spring-tooth harrow until the middle of June. At this 

 time the tree has stopped or should stop growing so as to prepare for winter. 

 At the last harrowing sow in some cover crop. This will help to mature the 

 trees; it will protect the ground during the winter, keep it from washing and 

 prevent injury to the roots of the trees while increasing the plant food and 

 humus content of the soil. This is a splendid method of feeding the apple 

 orchard. In spring this cover crop should be turned under and the cultivation of 

 the previous season repeated. If the soil is rich in plant food and humus it may 

 be more economical to use this cover crop for feed and later return the manure 

 made from this cover crop to the orchard. 



What is the Best Cover Crop? — This depends upon the soil. Cowpeas, crimson 

 clover, red clover, soy-beans, vetch, rye, and oats are all good. Tlie red clover will 

 not grow on all soils, and another objection is that it is a biennial and will not 

 make very much growth during the first year. Where it is intended to leave it in 

 sod for two or three years there is nothing better than red clover; but this would 

 not allow of the method of culture suggested above. If cowpeas are used, it is 

 well to sow in some rye during the latter part of the season, so that the ground 

 will be covered with some growing crop during the winter months. 



There are many orchards in wliich it is impossible to practice the above 

 method of cultivation, since they are so steep that the soil would wa.sh badly 

 after plowing. In such case it is best to practice what is kno\\'n as the sod- 

 mulch method. This is to seed the orchard dowai, cut the grass whenever it is of 

 sufficient height and pack it around the trees. While the trees are young, of 

 course it should be immediately around the trunks, but as the trees grow older 

 the distance from the trunk must be increased. The roots are constantly spread- 

 ing out, and when the orchard is fully growm it is well to leave the grass where it 

 falls in cutting. Probably the best crops for this purpose are a mixture of red 

 clover and orchard grass. If any straw or weeds or poor meadow-hay can be 

 had it is well to put this into the orchard also. This method keeps the soil from 

 washing on steep hillsides, holds the moisture in the ground, and also protects the 

 ground. It has given splendid results in some orchards, but in the mountains of 

 this State it has not given as good results as cultivation combined with cover 

 crops. 



Apples require a large amount of potash, hence manures and fertilizers should 

 be rich in this compound. Stable manure by itself is sometimes sufficient, espec- 

 ially on the red-clay soils which already contain much potash ; but usually the 

 manure is rich in nitrogen and poor in phosphoric acid. Then the orchard should 

 receive a dressing of four or five hundred pounds of either bone-meal or acid 

 phosphate every year. The nitrogen can be supplied by the growing of leguminous 

 cover crops. 



Priming. — -Pruning should start the year the tree is planted, and should be 

 continued every year thereafter dTiring the entire life of the tree. The tree should 

 be open so that plenty of sunlight will get in so as to mature and color the fruit, 

 and if the head of the tree is too thick, the fruit will also be small. All dead 

 branches should be removed immodiatoly. \\'herever two branches seriously inter- 

 fere with each otlier, one of them should be removed. Large branches should be 

 cut off close to the main trunk or branch from which thoy originate. 



Spraying is absolutely necessary in successful fruit-growing. This is a large 

 subject, and I shall not attempt to cover it in this address. Any one wishing 

 information on fungus diseases such as rots, blight, etc., can receive same free of 

 charge by writing to Dr. F. L. Stevens, West Raleigli. and any one desiring infor- 

 mation on insects can receive same from Prof. Franklin Sherman, Ealeigh, N. C. 



One of the greatest lessons that fruit-growers in the mountains of this State 

 have to learn is how to properly harvest and market apples. Gi-owing the crop 

 successfully is only half of the operation. It is just as essential to market it 

 successfully as to grow it. Apples should be carefully picked, (traded, and p(icl:cd. 

 This whole subject is very thoroughly covered in a bulletin issued by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Riileigh, N. C, and any one desiring same can have it free 

 of charge by wiiting to the Department. 



