^6\ii — 



AEBOItlCULTURE — TREATMENT OF THE SOIL. 



over ground that has been kept finely and deeplj- pulverized by frequent stirring, we 

 find moisture even in the dryest times; while ground that has been left unstirred until 

 it has become hard on the surface, will turn up as dry and as warm as though it had 

 been baked in an oven. In our own grounds, a plot of Norway Spruce is planted in 

 beds of six rows each, with a distance of about eighteen inches between the rows ; 

 the plow and cultivator can not pass between them, and they have to be hand-hoed. 

 Between the beds, however, there is a space of three or three and a half feet, which is 

 regularly dressed with the plow and horse-hoe ; and the rows on either side of this 

 space have in three years grown nearly twice as large as those dressed with the hand- 

 hoe only. One year we took it into our head to grow a crop of Carrots amono- some 

 rows of young Apple trees. The rows were three and a half feet apart, and we sowed 

 one row of Carrots in the center. This prevented the use of the plow and cultivator, 

 and we could use only the hand-hoe. In the fall we observed that a portion of the 

 plot of Apple trees not cropped with Carrots, but worked in the usual way with plow 

 and cultivator, were about twice as large as the others, and they were really market- 

 able two years sooner. 



We find that deep culture has the same effect on root crops — Beets, Carrots, Tur- 

 nips, &c. — as it has on trees; the frequent use of the cultivator will produce twice 

 the bulk on the same ground as hand-hoeing merely. This is our experience, at least. 



But we will be told that it is impossible to use the plow and cultivator in orchards 

 and gardens, and on lawns, door-yards, &c. We know this; and our object in alluding 

 to them is to show the influence of deep culture around the roots of trees. Where 

 they can not be used, we must substitute some other implements that will serve the 

 same purpose. The common hoe will not; it is a poor implement, useful in a few 

 instances only, and far more popular in this country than it deserves to be. In the 

 case of young orchards, we would by all means advise cropping the ground with some- 

 thing that would require constant cultivation — Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, Turnips, &c. 

 Grain, Grass, and Corn crops, should be avoided as utterly ruinous to young trees. 

 Corn is less so than the others, because it is plowed and hoed ; but it smothers the 

 trees, if young, and puts a complete stop to their growth. Where a grain crop may 

 be absolutely necessary in an orchard, a strip should be left in a line with the rows of 

 trees, so that the plow and cultivator might be used. 



In plowing near trees, a slow and gentle horse should be used, with long traces, 

 which give steadiness to the plow. The whiffle-trees should be as short as possible, 

 and have on each end a piece of cloth or India rubber, so as to prevent injury in case 

 it strikes the tree. In this way a careful, handy man, can plow within a few inches 

 of the trunk of the tree. In plowing directly over the roots, the furrow should be reg- 

 ulated so as not to cut or tear them, and the plowing should always extend at least 

 two or three feet beyond the roots. 



Where the use of the plow and cultivator is 

 impracticable, 2, forked hoe, (fig. 1,) with long 



and stout prongs should be used repeatedly ^ LI Fig. 1 



during the season. This implement is much better than a spade, as it does 



