26 



The Bulletin. 



or worked in early in spring, for it does not gain anything for the land 

 by being left to flower and seed, and by the delay much valuable 

 moisture is lost. By the use of cover crops the land is kept full of 

 humus, which is so necessary to the holding of moisture. Orchard 

 slopes rich in humus will absorb and hold a great deal of rain before 

 they show any signs of washing. When lands begin to wash it is a 

 sure sign that they are deficient in humus and have not been tilled to 

 cover crops. 



Fig. 3.— Young Tree Protected from Rabbits by Veneer. 



As has been said before, it is best to cultivate orchards during the 

 early part of the season. Cultivation should begin as early in the 

 season as the land can be properly worked. If necessary, the land 

 should be plowed, and plowed shallow, but if it is possible to break up 

 the land and to work in the accumulation of vegetable matter with a 

 harrow or disc cultivator without plowing, it is best to do so. If the 

 soil is taken in time and the accumulation of vegetable matter is not 

 too heavy and green, it will usually be found that a disc cultivator 

 will do the work thoroughly and more cheaply than the plow. From 

 this earliest cultivation the orchard should receive numerous shallow 



