FRUIT ON THE FARM 



153 



in the fall, may be grown. Corn and early potatoes are 

 often planted; and in some eastern states, where there is 

 a great demand for tomatoes for the canneries, this crop 

 is profitable, and the cultivation beneficial to the orchard. 

 Mulching. — There are arguments for and against mulch- 

 ing. Where cultivation is impossible, a mulch of straw, 

 hay or any coarse material, should be maintained. A mulch 



Figure 67. — A well kept apple orchard. 



of stable manure is beneficial to young trees, but should 

 not touch them. 



Where mulching is practiced, it should be renewed when 

 grass begins to grow up through it, and should cover as 

 large or a larger space than the roots are likely to permeate. 



Each spring the mulching should be removed, the ground 

 around the tree well spaded, and a mulch replaced. 



The chief objections to mulching are that it tends to 

 encourage growth of roots towards the surface, and fur- 

 nishes a home for injurious insects. These objections 

 may be oversome by removing the mulch in the spring and 

 replacing it in the fall. 



Pruning. — The objects in pruning are to direct the growth 

 of the tree, to admit sunlight, and to maintain the vigor 

 and vitality of the tree. Trees well exposed to sun and wind 



