258 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For all it is conceded that the growth of the smaller fruits in young 

 orchards is not detrimental to the proper development of the trees, yet 

 there should be a reasonable amount of judgment exercised in the amount 

 gi-own as well as the care given them while under cultivation. The 

 amount of nourishment and water that are found necessary for these 

 crops must surely come from the soil, and where the earth is not overly 

 rich and well watered, the result might be inferred. 



Admitting that a crop should be grown within the orchard boundaries, 

 the question of the kind soon arises. A grass crop such as clover or 

 timothy, is often seen in orchards that adjoin pastures or meadow fields. 

 AVhen timothy is grown, the average farmer readily calculates the ex- 

 haustion of the soil occasioned by its growth, and can easily foretell the 

 drying of the surface during the heated part of the summer after the hay 

 is cut. Clover is far better and is often used to occupy the ground for 

 the first few years after the orchard is set out. 



Some injury might result in cutting the grasses either by the team or 

 the machine, as at the time of working in harvest, the trees are so easily 

 injured and the branches broken. 



Neglected orchards often grow up with weeds and briars and finally 

 become grassed over with blue grass and foxtail, which afford some 

 pasture. 



When the soil is turned, and oats or even millet is sown, then the con- 

 ditions are similar to those of clover; when sorghum (sown) is used as a 

 forage crop, only between the rows of trees, the drain upon the land is 

 considerable, especially in moisture, but not believed to be overly ex- 

 haustive. 



In considering level, bare, shallow cultivation, it is deemed a neces- 

 sity to turn under the oat mulch referred to above, which is not only en- 

 riching, but lessens the chance of the soil becoming hardened during the 

 summer. The number of cultivations by the harrow or cultivator depends 

 largely on conditions of certain localities. Some advocate from six to ten 

 times stirring of the soil during the season, whicli is found to be not only 

 necessary, but essential. Cross cultivation is of much assistance in keep- 

 ing the weeds in check and should be practiced whenever possible. 



Although the plan of continuous, bare cultivation is commendable, yet 

 this plan is not followed altogether. Too many farmers look upon the 

 project of such orchard treatment as a lack of proper utility of the land. 

 Too long a time is consumed in growing the trees to not have some thing 

 else between the rows, and cropping is tlie direct result generally. 



It is not material as to the kind of crop that is to be selected, when a 

 crop is to be added, so that it is of the vegetable class, especially those 

 known as hoed crops, for these are not of sufficient height to interfere 

 with the proper growth of the trees. 



Field and sweet corn being out-classed, potatoes, root vegetables, cab- 

 bage and melons have been generally planted with good results. They 



