8 FRUIT GEOWING FOR HOME USE IN THE GREAT PLAINS. 



By taking advantage of such conditions as these with regard to 

 sites it is often possible to make results reasonably certain where 

 otherwise there would be much risk. 



PREPARING THE LAND FOR PLANTING. 



Generally speaking, the primary aim should be to so manage the 

 soil that it will contain the greatest quantity of moisture possible 

 when the trees and other plants are set out. This is for the purpose 

 of insuring a sufhcient supply to enable them to start into vigorous 

 growth at once. 



So far as possible, the preparation of the land for planting fruits 

 should be begun two years before they are to be set out. A course 

 suggested in the present connection by one of much experience in the 

 Great Plains is as follows : 



The first step should be to thoroughly prepare the land for a crop 

 of corn, potatoes, beans, or some other cultivated crop. Sorghum, 

 however, should not be used in this connection, as it is likely to take 

 too much moisture from the soil. 



This preparation should consist of deep plowing; that is, to a 

 depth of 8 to 10 inches. Then thorough cultivation should be given 

 before planting the crop, followed by frequent and thorough tillage 

 throughout the season. This treatment under fairly favorable con- 

 ditions should result in a good crop, and will also aid in keeping the 

 soil in that condition which best permits deep plowing in late summer 

 or early fall. During the next season the land should be thoroughly 

 summer fallowed to conserve in the soil to the fullest extent possible 

 the rain that falls during the warm season. This treatment consists 

 of disking or harrowing every few days. By this means vegetation 

 of all kinds will be kept down and a good surface mulch maintained. 



If the soil is heavy or becomes very compact below the surface 

 mulch during the summer fallowing, it should be plowed again in the 

 fall before the planting, which should be done in the spring. 



A practice that has given good success at the time of this plowing, 

 or during the fall if late plowing is omitted, is to lay the ground off in 

 narrow lands so that there will be a dead furrow where each row of 

 trees is to stand. These furrows serve to hold rain that might other- 

 wise be lost. It is a good plan, after these dead furrows have been 

 made, to open them still deeper by plowing as deeply as possible. The 

 soil should then be harrowed thoroughly and compacted. 



To sum up the foregoing suggestions, the best preparation of the 

 soil for fruit trees consists — 



FIRST SEASON. 



(1) In thorough preparation for a cultivated crop, such as corn and potatoes. 



(2) In thorough cultivation of the crop throughout the season. 



(3) In deep fall plowing after the crop is harvested. 

 [Cir. 51] 



