390 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908. 



the other of budding. If aiiv of these weaklings should prove unresponsive 

 to special treatment during the first couple of years they must be replaced 

 by more vigorous ones of the same varieties. There are other causes for 

 trees not thriving, but these become local problems, due, probably, to 

 local conditions, and must be solved by each individual grower for himself. 

 Every orchardist should aim at raising such a tree as will be capable, 

 on its coming to maturity, of giving the maximum return, so that during its 

 early life its potentiality should be considered, its health conserved, and 

 its frame developed to this end. 



Cultivation. 



In the spring succeeding planting plough away from the trees six or 

 eight inches deep. Plough not deep enough to injure the roots when near 

 the tree, increasing the depth as you get free from the roots. This method 

 tends to establish a deep root-system, and prevents injurv later on. The 

 whole of the orchard need not be ploughed, but a strip about four feet wide 

 on each side of the trees, as this is sufficient for root extension the first 

 year. To allow of further feeding area for the roots the width of this 

 strip must be increased, each succeeding vear, by a couple of furrows on each 

 side. The young trees will require thorough cultivation at regular intervals 

 during summer, so as to maintain normal growth. In autumn plough some- 

 what deeper and up to the trees, and leave it in a rough state, to permit of 

 the ameliorating influences of winds, rains, and frosts. 



Varying the depth of ploughing in autumn and spring enables the 

 grower to maintain the same depth of cultivation throughout plant life, 

 besides obviating the formation of a plough pan caused by constant!) 

 ploughing to the same depth. The subsoil is continually imbibing nourish- 

 ment and moisture from above, and the intervention of a plough pan pre- 

 vents the access of these to the root-system of the trees. The plough pan 

 also interferes with the interchange of heat that is constantly taking place 

 between the surface and subsoil. 



Cultivation of the young orchard must not be overdone. All that is 

 necessary is to keep the trees growing continuously, and moderately vigorous, 

 during the period of active growth. If the trees are making too rapid 

 growth cultivation must cease, as strong wood growth one year gives sub- 

 sequently small fruit crop. In order to permit the leaves to ripen cultiva- 

 tion should cease two or three weeks preceding the occurrence of frosts. 



There is a period in the bud's growth when it is waiting for food neces- 

 sary to define its character. Any stimulation to the roots due to cultivation 

 or other cause at this time will drive it into wood growth. The lowering 

 of food supply by the stoppage of cultivation or by cultivating so as to 

 dry out the moisture modifies sap flow, and thus causes leaves to ripen, and 

 form fruit buds. When sap is elaborated to form fruit buds there is little 

 moisture in the soil. So, by intelligent cultivation spur formation can be 

 controlled to a great extent, and trees that are making abnormal growth can 

 l>e brought into bearing. 



When once trees are bearing cultivation should be increased, for the 

 production of a crop entails a dual function on the part of each bud, 

 viz. the supply of nourishment necessary to the development of its fruit, 

 and the production and maturing of a fresh fruit bud to bear fruit the suc- 

 ceeding year. In order that the buds may be able to perform these functions 

 thoroughly they must have plenty of food, and therefore the plant-food 

 inherent in the soil must, by cultivation, be rendered available for the 

 roots to take up. 



