Tillage and Fertilizing. 497 



orchard management is recommended. This plan is adapted to the 

 apple on soils ranging from sandy loam to clay, and on land which can 

 be cultivated. It assumes that the land has been in sod for a year with 

 previous cultivation, or that the sod can be plowed without injury to the 

 roots. 



First spring. — Plow the ground shallow, cut the sod with a disk, 

 and follow the disk with a spring-toothed harrow until the soil is in 

 good condition of tilth. Keep all weeds down and the soil well culti- 

 vated at intervals of about two weeks until July ist. About the middle 

 of July sow hairy vetch at the rate of one bushel, or crimson clover at 

 the rate of eight quarts per acre. 



Second spring. — Spread five tons per acre of barnyard manure evenly 

 over the whole orchard. Plow the ground in the spring and keep cul- 

 tivated until the first of July as above. About the middle of July 

 plant mammoth clover and oats, one bushel of oats and six quarts of 

 clover per acre. The oats will grow faster and form a protection to the 

 clover. 



Third spring. — Spread broadcast a chemical fertilizer of the follow- 

 ing proportions: 



South Carolina rock superphosphates 100 lbs. 



Ground bone 200 " 



Muriate of potash 200 " 



Leave the ground in sod during the summer. Cut the clover twice, 

 allowing it to lie as it falls. 



Fourth spring. — Apply barnyard manure again evenly at the rate 

 of five tons per acre. Leave the orchard in sod during the summer and 

 pasture with hogs or sheep. 



Fijth spring. — Plow early and shallow. Cultivate thoroughly as 

 before, until July ist. After plowing, harrow in the commercial ferti- 

 lizer of the same proportions and amounts as recommended above. 

 About July 15th sow a cover crop of rye, about two bushels per acre. 

 Mix a little buckwheat with the rye. The buckwheat grows more rapidly 

 and acts as a protection for the rye. 



Once during the five years add about twenty-five bushels of lime 

 per acre. Ground lime of commercial grade, or slaked stone lime may 

 be used. 



