214 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



exposure where we will have the best possible chance to suc- 

 ceed. 



Now as to cultivation. I believe we cultivate too much. 

 I believe that nine-tenths of the cultivation of fruit is too 

 deep. What we need is to stir the surface. I am happy to 

 say, although I always avoid speaking of any particular im- 

 plement or advertising any particular manufacturer or per- 

 son, yet I believe that we have right here in Connecticut one 

 of the best implements or tools ever made for orchard culti- 

 vation, and that is the Cutaway harrow. It works the soil 

 deep enough. We do not need to stir it any deeper than that 

 machine does. There is nothing in competition with it. I 

 think if we will stop and reason about this a moment it will 

 be convincing. By what means does the plant gets its food? 

 It does not get it by the large roots. It is through the small 

 roots that the plant takes up its nourishment from the soil. 

 Where will these little fibrous roots that spread out go to? 

 Why, they go where they can get food, that is, soluble food, 

 which these rootlets are able to take, and that is the only 

 condition in which they are able to take up their plant food. 

 These little rootlets spread themselves out near the surface. 

 If they are cut the plant is injured. Now if we continue 

 deep cultivation it is going to cut off these little roots. Just 

 keep the surface stirred, keep it stirred up so that the water 

 does not pass off into the air. It wants it at the roots, where 

 it can be taken up in the form of soluble plant food. That is 

 one of the reasons why the cultivation of the black-cap rasp- 

 berry in Connecticut has not been successful. There has been 

 too deep cultivation. I believe in just enough surface culti- 

 vation to turn the weeds under and get rid of them. Get 

 rid of the weeds, and then keep the surface stirred so as to 

 let the air into the soil. Plow early in the season. 



Over-crowding. There seem to be a great many who 

 think that if they plant a large number of fruit trees or 

 plants they are sure to reap a larger crop. Well, it is only 

 one man in a thousand who can succeed in that wav. As a 



