362 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



To produce a good crop of corn we cultivate the ground and 

 enrich it, and the orchard should receive no less care. It will do 

 its duty by us if we do our duty by it. Shallow cultivation is the 

 best way to obtain moisture. Just how much, or how little, or 

 how late, to cultivate depends upon the season and its varying 

 conditions. It is necessary to cultivate one's judgment in the 

 matter. After each rain, as soon as the surface has dried off it 

 should be stirred. This helps to retain the moisture and leaves the 

 soil in good condition to receive another rain. In dry seasons 

 it is necessary to cultivate oftener and later than in wet seasons. 

 No iron-clad rule can be given. If the ground is hard and the 

 weeds get too much of a start for the cultivator, use a plow. The 

 Clark cutaway orchard disc is an excellent implement to use. 

 The common disc and spring tooth harrow are also good. 



Row of Okabena apple tiees in orchard of Jewell Nursery Co. 



If trees are planted on a side-hill where the ground cannot 

 be cultivated, it should be prepared for each tree by taking from 

 the upper side and banking up the lower side to form a large, liberal 

 basin. Little ditches should be dug to direct the water from the 

 upper side into these basins. The ground around the tree should 

 be spaded over two or three times during the summer to furnish 

 the necessary cultivation. The grass between the trees can be 

 used for mulching. 



In protecting trees we find the best way is to wrap burlap 

 around the tree spirally from the ground to the branches. Time 

 and burlap will only cost the fraction of a cent. This will protect 



