PLANTING AND GROWING 



Preparation of Soil. — The previous con- 

 dition and treatment of a soil for an orchard 

 are important. If the soil has been in a good 

 rotation of field crops, including some culti- 

 vated crops, it should be in prime condition 

 for the trees. Old pastures and meadows 

 should be plowed up, cropped, and cultivated 

 for a year or two before setting to obtain the 

 best and quickest results. If one is in a hurry, 

 however, this may be done after setting the 

 trees. Good results are sometimes obtained by 

 setting trees right among the stumps on recently 

 cleared timberland. Where no stiff sod has 

 formed the trees start quickly in the rich soil. 



The best immediate treatment of land pre- 

 paratory to setting the trees should be such as 

 to place the soil in good tilth. Deep plowing, 

 thorough cultivation, and the application of 

 liberal amounts of manure — twelve to fifteen 

 loads per acre — are the most effective means 

 of doing this. The best crop immediately to 

 precede trees is clover. Sometimes an appli- 

 cation of one thousand five hundred to two thou- 

 sand pounds of lime will help to insure a stand 

 of clover and at the same time improve the 

 physical condition of the soil. Fall plowing Is a 

 good practice on the medium loams and more 

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