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least objectionable cropping is a well arranged rotation of crops, in 

 which clover and hoed crops alternate frequently enough to keep the 

 ground in good condition. Some of these crops harbor mice, and when- 

 ever such occur in the rotation precautions must be taken at the approach 

 of winter to protect the trees from their ravages. 



During all this intercropping a strip must be left in which the trees 

 are growing for regular cultivation, and this strip should be widened each 

 year as the trees increase in size. No cropping should be attempted 

 under the head of the trees, and intercropping should be discontinued as 

 soon as the trees require all the space. 



Cultivation. 



It is only during the last decade that the cultivation of the orchard 

 has been considered a prol^lem worthy of special attention by the great 

 majority of Ontario fruit-growers. Even yet many have not abandoned 

 the old practice of leaving the orchard in sod. At nearly every meeting 

 of the farmers and fruit-growers someone asks the question : "Which 

 is the best, sod or clean cultivation with cover crops ? 



Cultivation improves the physical condition of the soil by breaking 

 up the soil particles and presenting a greater feeding surface to the roots. 

 By warming and deepening the soil, it permits of a greater depth of 

 feeding area. Every soil particle is surrounded by a thin film of mois- 

 ture, consequently the finer the soil particles the greater the surface area 

 to hold moisture. A dry earth mulch or dust blanket on top checks the 

 evaporation of moisture from below. Cultivation renders plant food 

 more readily available by promoting nitrification and the decomposition 

 of organic matter in the soil. 



Knowing this to be the case, many growers have given the new sys- 

 tem a fair trial, and have satisfied themselves that for most sections of 

 Ontario clean cultivation with cover crops is more profitable than sod. 

 There are indeed few cases where sod is more desirable than cultivation ; 

 these are where the soil is fertile and contains an abundant supply of 



moisture. 



As soon as possible after the trees are set, a strip on each side 

 should be cultivated to loosen up the soil which has been tramped down 

 during planting. Each year this strip should be widened, so that no 

 crop fntended for harvesting is grown beneath the branches of the trees. 



Cultivation should begin as early as the ground is dry enough in 

 the spring. The first tool to be used in most cases is the plow. It is 

 well to ptow the land about five inches deep during the first few years 

 after setting to encourage deep rooting. As the trees get older the 

 depth of plowing should be gradually lessened, until by the time the or- 

 chard is in full bearing three to four inches is suflficient. 



It is a good practice to roll each evening what has been plowed dur- 

 ing the day, particularly if the ground is inclined to be lumpy. The 

 soil is much more easily pulverized when freshly plowed than if allowed 

 to lie exposed to the weather for several days. 



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