108 Peach-Growing 



on the trees is also gradual, thus giving time and oppor- 

 tunity usually for the observing grower to correct or modify 

 his tillage practices with a view to correcting any unde- 

 sirable tendency in the behavior of the trees. So long as 

 the trees in an orchard remain vigorous and healthy, make 

 good annual grow1:h, develop good foliage with rich, deep 

 green color, and bear abundantly of well-colored and well- 

 developed fruit, the evidence is conclusive that nothing is 

 radically wrong in the treatment the trees are receiving. 

 On the other hand, if the trees fail in any of these particulars, 

 it may mean that the treatment is faulty at some point and 

 should be changed. It may require some experimenting 

 to locate the particular thing that needs modification. 



TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS 



Little need be said about tillage implements in this con- 

 nection. The particular style or make of harrow, culti- 

 vator, or plow best suited to accomplish the ends desired of 

 tillage should be used. The type of soil on which the or- 

 chard is located is perhaps the determining factor in the 

 case, but as a rule the implement that gives good satisfac- 

 tion in the tillage of other crops grown on the same type of 

 soil will serve the purpose well. Usually a spring-tooth 

 harrow, smoothing harrow, disk, or some of their numerous 

 modifications, may be used to advantage. 



As the trees become large, some of the extension types of 

 tillage implements are advantageous, as they make possible 

 the working of the soil under the branches without unduly 

 crowding the team into the trees. 



In one of the large mountain peach orchards in West 

 Virginia, where the broken topography of the land requires 



