CHAPTER IV. 



Orchard Management 



IT is supposed that up to this time we have only 

 got the orchard thoroughly established, the trees 

 are sound and making a growth of from one to two 

 feet per year, in apple trees. The roots are well 

 and deeply established and with a reasonable 

 amount of cultivation or even mowing the weeds 

 and allowing them to lie upon the ground, so far as 

 the soil is concerned the trees will generally take 

 care of themselves for a few years. 



If there are cherries and plums among them they 

 will begin to bear at this time, say at about four to 

 six years old; the apples will not commence for a 

 few years more. Some varieties such as the Duchess, 

 Wagner, Ben Davis, Iowa Blush and Yellow Trans- 

 parent, will show the first fruit. 



The question is now most frequently asked * 'What 

 shall we plant in the orchard ?" 



If the ground is strong, and the trees continue 

 to make a rapid growth, the land is near market, and 

 valuable for other crops, we may safely utilize it for 

 any crops that will not bar you from cultivating or 

 otherwise keeping the orchard in good growing con- 

 dition. Never plant small grain in any orchard. 



