20 



soon as possible after every rain. The nearer this ideal is approached 

 the better the results will be. A dust mulch is the best of all mulches 

 for saving the water already in the ground and keeping the soil 

 receptive for more. 



The pulverizing harrow is an excellent tool for shallow cultivation, 

 and, used frequently enough, it is all that is necessary most of the 

 time.- Where weeds have made a good start, an ordinary cultivator 

 may be put in, or a shallow disking given, but the disk should be 

 followed by a harrow to produce proper surface conditions. 



After the trees are planted a plow should never be used. Too often 

 the plantation is neglected until weeds have formed a dense mass 

 3 or 4 feet high, and then, in desperation, a plow is resorted to, with- 

 out subsequent harrowing. This leaves the ground rough, increas- 

 ing greatly the loss of soil moisture through evaporation, and forms 

 a dead furrow between the rows, or throws the earth away from the 

 base of the trees, and cuts many roots, both injuring the root system 

 and causing the growth of sprouts. The man who is not willing to 

 take proper care of his trees deserves to lose them, and probably will. 



The Rainbelt Experiment Station, at Cheyenne Wells, Colo., fur- 

 nishes an excellent example of the extent to which cultivation can 

 replace irrigation. This station was established in 1894 in a typical 

 high plains region. The elevation is 4,200 feet, with water 260 feet 

 below the surface. The annual precipitation is about 13 inches. An 

 apple orchard was planted in 1895 with trees of the varieties common 

 farther east, such as Ben Davis, Janet, Winesap, etc., which are in ex- 

 cellent condition, and produce good fruit. The intention is to give two 

 shallow cultivations monthly if possible. The tools used are a 5-tooth 

 cultivator and a dagger-tooth harrow with the teeth set slanting. 

 There are some green ash trees around the orchard a year older than the 

 apple trees, which are thriving finely. Young honey locusts are also in 

 promising condition. There is no doubt that under the same method 

 of cultivation several forest species could be successfully grown. 



The Pomeroy Model Farm, at Hill City, Kans., which has been 

 practicing the " Campbell system " of cultivation since 1900, is a 

 valuable experiment. While the main object is the production of 

 wheat and other crops, fruit trees, Russian mulberry, silver maple, 

 and white elm have been set out. They are doing finely so far, 

 although it is a very unfavorable situation for the maple, and only 

 fair for the elm. Cultivation is given after every rain as soon as the 

 ground can be worked. A pulverizing harrow is generally used, pre- 

 ceded by a disk if the weeds are too large. 



Cultivation should not be continued too late in the fall, for it tends 

 to produce a growth of young shoots after the normal period, which 

 may be too tender to withstand the winter. The wood should have 

 time to harden before cold weather sets in. There is more likelihood 



