TILLAGE 



323 



be covered within a day or two with good paint, grafting wax or 

 other protective material. (7) When a cut is made it should be 

 in such a position or slope as to shed off water. (8) In pruning 

 to remove blight, canker, or other diseases, the tools should be 

 disinfected by dipping in corrosive sublimate water or other dis- 

 infectant. (9) In pruning small twigs the cut should be made 

 just above a bud, and the direction of growth may be governed 

 by the location of the bud where the cut is made. (10) For such 

 fruits as apples and pears the fruit spurs must be protected and 

 enough growth cut away to allow sunlight to strike them. 



FIG. 216. When trees are small and crops are grown between the rows, the two-horse 

 corn cultivator may be used to straddle the trees as here shown. (New Jersey Station.) 



Figure 215 is to illustrate the work of summer pruning; note 

 the small bunches of leaves on the ground that have been removed 

 with the fingers. This plan enables the grower to keep the growth 

 within his control with the utmost ease. 



Tillage. Young trees need tillage even more than old ones 

 (Fig. 216). The growth should be forced and clean culture is the 

 best method. To bring some returns for this work it is common 

 to grow some market crop between the rows of young trees. 

 Suitable crops for this purpose are much discussed by fruit growers. 

 In some states potatoes and other root crops are much used. Near 



