ORCHARD PLANS 107 



that can be accomplished is to see that the root 

 already in place is being given a fair chance. 



ATTENTION TO THE COMMISSARY 

 DEPARTMENT 



To this end the ground about the tree should 

 be cultivated with plow or spade, even at the 

 hazard of destroying a certain number of super- 

 ficial rootlets. The grass and weeds that have 

 been permitted to spring up in the neglected 

 orchard sap the ground and take the nourishment 

 that the tree imperatively needs. But if the 

 surface soil is turned under this vegetable matter 

 will in itself constitute a fertilizer. Unless the 

 soil is unusually rich this should always be sup- 

 plemented with artificial fertilizers, of which 

 nitrates, phosphates, and complete mineral fer- 

 tilizers often appear to have the best effect in 

 rejuvenating an old orchard. 



In case the soil is a sandy loam, subject to 

 rapid leaching, it may be desirable to sow a so- 

 called "cover crop" to prevent the too rapid 

 washing away of the plant foods in the rainy 

 season. If a leguminous crop is grown, such as 

 clover, crimson clover, cow peas, or vetch, these 

 crops will in themselves add to the nitrogen of 

 the soil, as their roots have the power of taking 

 this from the air. But it is urged by some east- 



