106 Peach-Growing 



the position of the roots with regard to tillage, and the ap- 

 plication of fertilizers are suggested in Plate IX. 



Under what may be termed normal or standard conditions 

 in most peach-growing districts the advice applies generally 

 to begin the tillage in the spring as soon as the soil is in suit- 

 able condition to work. But in the case of bearing orchards, 

 some of the wisest and most experienced growers prefer to 

 wait until after the fruit has set before they begin, in the 

 belief that the results of earlier tillage may influence ad- 

 versely the setting of the fruit. The presence of a cover- 

 crop, its character, and the needs of the soil with reference 

 thereto are other factors that may influence the date of 

 beginning the tillage. The handling of cover-crops is dis- 

 cussed in Chapter VIII. 



Conditions should determine what the nature of the 

 tillage shall be. If the soil is hard or if there is a cover- 

 crop that has made considerable growth, it will be necessary 

 to turn the soil with a plow and follow with a harrow, culti- 

 vator, or such other tillage implement as best suits the needs 

 of individual orchards. If the soil is light, plowing in the 

 spring sometimes may be omitted, when some type of cul- 

 tivator is found adequate to pulverize thoroughly the soil 

 to a sufficient depth. Whatever the details followed may 

 be, they should be so directed as to keep the surface as level 

 as possible. For example, if the soil is plowed toward the 

 trees at one time, it should be turned away from them at a 

 later plowing. 



In general, the orchard should be gone over with some 

 kind of tillage implement often enough to keep the soil 

 thoroughly light and loose, or, in other words, in the con- 

 dition of a dust or better a "granular" mulch, for a depth 

 of at least three or four inches. If a crust forms on the 



