134 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Green Manuring. Another advantage in the use of the plow is, 

 as has already been mentioned, the turning under of the growth of 

 weeds, grass, and clover as a green manure. Many growers attach 

 considerable importance to this, and some, who have orchards in which 

 winter growth has been killed out by long cultivation, are seeking for 

 a quickly-growing crop which they can sow with the first rains and 

 secure growth enough to turn under with the winter plowing. This 

 consideration will be further presented in the chapter on fertilization. 



Plowing Hillside to Prevent Washing. Where the slope of the 

 land is sharp, there is much danger from washing during the rainy 

 season, if the hillside is not terraced or furnished with ditches carefully 

 laid out on contour lines to carry the water down on a gentle grade. 

 The old plan of plowing furrows one above another around the hill to 

 check the flow and let the water down easily, is often found treacherous 

 unless one is able to strike good grades, because of the liability to col- 

 lection of water at certain points and the subsequent breaking away 

 and washing. Recently some of the foothill growers have adopted the 

 plan of plowing furrows seven or eight feet apart straight down the 

 hill in the direction of its deepest descent. The rainfall is thus dis- 

 tributed over the ground so that not much water is collected at any one 

 place and the harm done by washing will not amount to much. Hillside 

 work differs according to character of soil and of local rainfall and 

 conference with experienced men in the region will usually afford the 

 beginner the best suggestions of method. In some localities, the plow- 

 ing of a few furrows at intervals to assist in penetration and the growth 

 of a cover crop during the winter to assist in binding the soil, will be 

 found better than any attempt at the early plowing, which may work 

 admirably on level lands. 



The Best Plow. For plowing orchards and vineyards many 

 kinds of plows are used, including the ordinary one- and two-horse 

 walking plows, single and double sulky or riding plows, and gang plows 

 of different kinds. Recently disk plows and harrows have become very 

 popular. In several of the leading fruit districts there are plows made 

 in the local shops which are patterned to meet the different soils pre- 

 vailing. Which is the best plow is a question which can not be 

 answered, it must be determined by local conditions, and the best way 

 to get information is to consult the experienced cultivators of the 

 locality. 



Avoiding Injury to Trees and Vines. The great problem is to 

 use the plow so as not to injure the trees and vines. Injury to the 

 roots is one ground on which those who advocate the banishment of 

 the plow from the orchard and vineyard base their opposition, as will 

 appear more fully presently. It is the usual practice to run the plow 

 shallower when approaching the stem of the tree or vine, and this is 

 easily done when using a riding plow or a two-horse walking plow 

 between the rows and finishing up near the trees with a single-horse 

 walking plow, which is a common practice. The injury by the plow, to 

 which especial reference is now made, is that to the bark of the tree or 

 to the vine stump. 



