TILLAGE 



147 



the covering has a tendency to hold water and let it soak into 

 the soil, thus storing it up for the next season as well as keep- 

 ing the land from wash- 

 ing. The covering also 

 prevents the evaporation 

 of moisture early in the 

 spring, and when it is 

 turned under it adds hu- 

 mus to the soil, which we 

 have learned is useful. 



Where the land is 

 planted to vines and 

 small fruits it will not 

 be desirable to try to 

 grow any kind of crop 

 between the rows, but 

 the plants themselves are 

 cultivated all through the 

 growing season, except 

 during the season of 

 fruiting. Cover or mulch- 

 ing crops, however, are 

 desirable for winter pro- 

 tection. 



Many fruit growers after their trees have become large 

 enough to produce fruit, stop cultivating and let the land be- 

 come set in grass. Other growers keep their orchards bare 

 and do not let anything grow under or between the trees. 

 Growers of fruit should not forget to fertilize and manure 

 their trees. Too many farmers believe that a fruit tree does 

 not need anv manure or fertilizer. A load of stable manure 



27. A BASKET OF FINE PEACHES 



The large size and uniformity were secured 



by judicious thinning 



By courtesy of Ohio Experiment Station 



