CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 



83 



Fig. 45. 



exclusion of the mice, for which this is by far the most ef- 

 fectual method, if the surface is raised nine or ten inches 

 round the tree just before winter, fig. 45. 

 The grass no longer affords these animals 

 any hiding place, and when they reach the 

 bank of fresh earth, they are immediately 

 diverted from their course, and never attack 

 the stem. 



Such a circle of dug earth facilitates the 

 application of manure, which may be spread 

 about the tree late in autumn, when the 

 soluble portions are carried down among the 

 roots by the autumn and spring rains, after 

 which it is turned beneath the soil with the spade. Unless, 

 however, this circle is of large size, it can afford but very 

 partial benefit. The size should increase as the tree ad- 

 vances in growth. In very small trees, most of the roots 

 are within a foot or two of the stem, but their circumfe- 

 rence forms an annually increasing circle. Hence the fre- 

 quent practice of applying manure, or digging the ground 

 closely about the base, as exhibited in the annexed fig- 

 ure, (46,) is com- 

 paratively use- 

 less. Hence, too, 

 the practice of 

 plowing a few 

 furrows only on 

 each side of a row 

 of large trees in 

 an orchard, is 

 greatly inferior to 

 the cultivation of 

 the whole sur- 

 face. 



Among the crops 

 which are best 

 ^"suited to young 

 trees, are pota- 

 toes, ruta bagas, 

 beets, carrots, beans, and all low hoed crops. Indian corn, 

 though a hoed crop, is of too tall a growth, shading younpr 



