216 CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 



apart each way; but when we note the immense growth of 

 our trees the second year we see it is not long before the 

 entire space is utilized. Back of the house where we lived 

 in Holdrege, Nebraska, is a cherry tree that now measures 

 seventeen and a-half feet across from tip to tip of limbs. 

 You can readily see that in the twenty-two-foot distances 

 we only have four and a-half feet left. Now, if vou expect 

 the trees to make this growth, you must not interfere with 

 the roots of the tree, or in any way rob it of any of the 

 moisture or plant food in the soil. Besides, to plant a crop 

 of any kind would make the cultivation much more incon- 

 venient and expensive. A trip back to the old Eastern 

 States, even in Illinois, and then on through Ohio and New 

 York State, will disclose a radical change in methods of 

 handling orchards. The most profitable orchards in those 

 states, today, have no crops or grass growing in them; 

 while twenty years ago it was a common practice to seed 

 them down to grasses. If that kind of treatment is desir- 

 able and profitable in the east where the rainfall is more 

 than abundant; it is much more desirable in the west. 



We can now cite many instances of successful tree and 

 orchard growing in western Kansas and Nebraska and 

 eastern Colorado, but space will not permit. For further 

 evidence of the importance of frequent cultivation of 

 trees read the chapter on soil culture, and for more em- 

 phatic evidence of the marvelous growth that can be at- 

 tained by proper cultivation of both fruit and forest trees, 

 visit the Pomeroy model farm in midsummer and behold 

 the lofty and beautiful shade trees growing there. 



The truth is that all over the semi-arid region in the 

 past five to ten years there has been wonderful develop- 

 ment in the growing of trees and the care of orchards and 

 groves. Everywhere the fact is coming to be recognized 



