ORCHARD CULTIVATION 57 



into the most desirable condition only by careful pre- 

 paratory cultivation. 



In cases where summer fallowing is not deemed best 

 the ground should at least be given to some light crop 

 which comes off rather early and which may be culti- 

 vated frequently during the summer. Potatoes, beets, 

 onions, cabbages, beans, cowpeas, and similar crops 

 should be given first consideration. Or, it is equally 

 good practice to sow cowpeas, beans, vetch or some 

 similar leguminous crop) early in the spring and plow 

 it under just before the time when the trees are- to be 

 set. 



Treatment after Planting The management of 

 the soil in an orchard during the first few years after 

 planting naturally differs more or less from the man- 

 agement given an old bearing orchard. The treat- 

 ment which the trees receive at this time determines 

 their future usefulness to a very great degree. One of 

 the most important considerations in securing a profit- 

 able commercial orchard is to see that the young trees 

 are kept growing just as vigorously as possible and 

 absolutely without interruption from the very first. A 

 tree which is stunted from any cause, which stops 

 growing for a time on any account, might as well be 

 abandoned at once. It is therefore a matter of practi- 

 cal necessity that an orchard should receive thorough 

 cultivation during the years of its beginning according 

 to some well-matured and judicious plan. 



The plan of cultivation that receives sanction of the 

 best experience of the day, and that also accords best 

 with modern theories of soil physics and chemistry, is 

 about as follows. The ground is plowed deeply and 

 thoroughly as early in spring as possible without dam- 

 age to the texture of the soil ; that is, as soon as it is 



