218 



MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL RF.rORT. 



in spring and cultivate until the middle of June or first of July and then 

 sow to cow peas. This crop will greatly improve the fertility of the soil 

 even though the peas are cut for hay. 



The best tool for cultivating an orchard is Clark's Cutaway harrow, 

 wherever it can be used. In stony or stumpy land a cutaway could not 

 be employed. An Acme harrow is a splendid tool to follow the cutaway 

 to level and pulverize the soil. The Acme would be sufficient to use 

 after each rain to break the crust. Unless the soil was badlv baked it 



Fig. 5.— A 4-year-olcl peach tree before pruning. Beyond it is a tree "baled" and 

 ready for having cornstalks placed around it for winter protection. 



would not be necessary to turn the ground in spring, as spading up with 

 the cutaway would usually be sufficient. The idea is to keep the surface 

 soil stirred through the season until August, so that it Avill retain its 

 moisture. 



LATER PRUNING. 



In pruning peach trees, it should be remembered that it is always 

 desirable to keep the tree low and spreading, for convenience in picking 

 the fruit. When peach trees become six or eight years old or more, the 

 wood becomes very brittle and as the fruit is always borne on the new 



