SUPPLEMENTARY PLANTINGS IN THE ORCHARD. 97 



SUPPLEMENTARY PLANTINGS IN THE ORCHARD AND 

 THEIR ROTATION. 



O. M. I^ORD, MINNESOTA CITY. 



The conditions of orcharding in Minnesota are quite different 

 from those farther east and south. There may be little difference in 

 the elements of the natural soil, but the climatic conditions of life and 

 growth are quite dissimilar. Here, with a newly planted orchard, a 

 partial shading of the ground or some mechanical method of keeping 

 the soil moist and cool during July and August is an absolute neces- 

 sity. Taking into consideration the price of land and labor, for a 

 large commercial orchard thorough shallow cultivation will probablv 

 be found to be the cheapest and most reliable method to secure these 

 conditions. For the smaller orchards, for home use, where cheap 

 hand labor is available, very good results may be obtained by sup- 

 plementary plantings while the trees are young. 



It is assumed that the soil has been thoroughly subdued by culti- 

 vated crops before planting the trees, and if old ground is used an 

 application of manure may be necessary, at least a system of fine til- 

 lage should be secured for best results with trees and with the sup- 

 plementary crops. For first planting squashes are an excellent crop. 

 They take little or nothing from the fertility adapted to the trees, _ 

 shade the ground completely and keep the surface in fine condition to 

 conserve the moisture during the heated term. 



If the soil is of such a nature or texture that more working is 

 required, a crop of potatoes or of beans may be grown. If the or- 

 chard ground has been highly manured or if it is nearly new, straw- 

 berries may be profitably grown between the rows, leaving ample 

 room next to the trees for cultivation. Very good results may be 

 had with red raspberries, with no detriment to the trees and an ad- 

 vantage of partial shade for the berries. If the trees are far enough 

 apart, a row or two of blackberries may be grown very profitably ; 

 though as the trees begin to bear fruit, these are more in the way 

 than raspberries or strawberries. Rows of currant bushes serve a 

 mutually beneficial service. 



For the small or home orchard any or all of these supplement- 

 ary plantings are entirely practicable and desirable. If they interfere 

 with the trees, they are easily removed, and clover may be substi- 

 tuted, especially as the trees come into bearing ; but clover should not 

 be removed from the ground. It should remain as a mulch. Under 

 no conditions should timothy, wheat nor oats be sown in the young 

 orchard. Buckwheat is sometimes advantageous, especially if the 

 ground has become weedy or infested with quack or with fine grass. 



