APPLE GROWING 



open soils, but on the heavy clays spring plow- 

 ing Is to be preferred, as when plowed In the 

 fall these soils puddle and become hard to 

 handle. Care should always be taken to keep 

 the orchard well furrowed out as standing 

 water Is decidedly Inimical to satisfactory tree 

 growth. Tile draining Is frequently advisable. 



Intercropping. — The question of Inter- 

 cropping a young orchard Is one to be carefully 

 considered. As It Is often practiced It Is very In- 

 jurious to the orchard, but It Is possible to man- 

 age crops so as to be of very little harm to the 

 trees. While the practice may be Inadvisable 

 In many commercial orchards, yet on a general 

 farm we should by all means think that It was 

 the right thing to do. Certain facts must be 

 remembered, however, which have a bearing on 

 the subject. 



Trees are a crop, as much as corn or grass. 

 If we grow a crop between the tree rows we 

 must remember that we are double cropping 

 the land and that It must be fed and cared for 

 accordingly. There Is absolutely no use In set- 

 ting an apple orchard, expecting it to take care 

 of itself, " just growing," like Topsy, as num- 

 erous dilapidated and broken down orchards 

 bear ample testimony. If orchards are to be 



44 



