820 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY ix XEW YORK STATE 



FALL OR SPRING PLANTING 



Both fall and spring planting have their advantages. In fall, 

 planting can be given greater attention because other work is not 

 so pressing at that time. If planting is done in the fall, we should 

 always be certain that our trees are grown as far north as we 

 are located. Otherwise they may not be properly ripened and 

 will probably kill back more or less, since they do not have the 

 same opportunity to become acclimated as after spring planting 

 when the change from summer to winter is gradual. 



In spring planting, the things of most importance are: first, 

 that our trees have been properly wintered; and, secondly, that 

 they are well tamped at time of planting. A greater number of 

 spring-set trees are lost from improper tamping than for all other 

 reasons combined. There is usually moisture enough in our soils 

 for good growth in any season, if the soil is properly handled. 

 The only way the soil water can be conveyed to the roots of the 

 trees, however, is by capillary action, which means that soil water 

 must pass up from one soil particle to another. This it can only 

 do when soil particles are in close contact one with the other, and 

 such contact is attained by hard tamping. Air spaces cut off this 

 movement of water, and such spaces always exist when the soil 

 is not well packed. While tamping is desirable in the case of 

 fall-set trees, it is not so important because the ground settles in 

 spring and naturally takes on this condition. 



CULTIVATION 



As stated at the beginning, trees are dependent on the same 

 agencies for growth and development as are other plants, that is, 

 on available plant food and moisture. Under average conditions 

 these are in almost exact ratio to cultivation. That being true, it 

 necessarily follows that for the best results cultivation of some 

 kind should be given. How this can best and most economically 

 be practiced must depend somewhat on the individual orchard. 

 The young orchard lends itself readily to growth by intercropping 

 with small fruits or hoed crops. Wherever practical, then, culti- 

 vation may be given in this manner; or cover crops may be used 

 as set forth elsewhere in this bulletin. The point to be kept in 

 mind is that cultivation of some kind is generally desirable, and 

 necessary for satisfactory growth of the young orchard. 



