MY COMI\[ERCIAL ORCIlAKi). 



349 



I cut three swaths between rows with a six-foot binder, using 

 two horses, so as not to tramp down so much grain. I have only a 

 narrow strip of grain left in each row, and this I cut with a scythe 

 and stack loose as soon as dry. 



I plough the ground as soon as possible and do not plough the 

 same way two years in succession. I plough against the trees the 

 first year and the second year from the trees, using one horse and 

 an eight-inch plow with shift clevis, close to the trees, where 



Mr. J. F. Benjamin in one of his commercial orchards. A five year old Patten's 

 Greening in the foreground. 



I cannot safely use two horses or the gang plow, and then harrow as 

 soon as ploughed, first lengthwise and then diagonally. 



The scattered grain will then come up and make quite a protec- 

 tion for the trees. Young trees I also mulch w^ith coarse manure, 

 and the next spring sow with barley as soon as it can be well har- 

 rowed in. I do not scatter the mulching except wh^t the harrow 

 takes away, and after I finish harrowing I take a fork and replace 

 any piles of the mulching that will hinder the growth of the grain 

 and add more mulching where needed. 



