FRUIT GROWING ON THE FARM 267 



of orchard cultivation are used by fruit growers: sod culture, 

 sod mulch, the mulch system, partial cultivation, and clean 

 cultivation with cover crops. Sod culture is least desirable of 

 all for young orchards, for trees do not make proper growth 

 and are much more likely to suffer from rodent and borer 

 injuries. Sod mulch consists in cufting the grass and leaving 

 it under the trees. It is a little better than the first unless 

 a good growth of grass is provided. The mulch system con- 

 sists in piling about the trees any organic matter, such as 

 manure, straw, weeds, etc., which will rot down. If a con- 

 siderable amount is used, and it is not piled close up to the 

 trunk, this system is very good. In partial cultivation the 

 trees are set in plowed strips and the balance of the space 

 left in sod. Clean cultivation with cover crops is without 

 doubt the best one for the orchardist to follow. By this sys- 

 tem the young orchard is plowed or harrowed, and a soil 

 mulch maintained by harrowing at intervals of ten days or 

 two weeks until the cover crop is sown. Cultivation should 

 usually cease about the middle of July, and a cover crop 

 of cow-peas, soy beans, clovers, or even rye may be sown. 



Young trees make their wood growth during the period of 

 cultivation, and the cover crop coming on later hastens the 

 maturity of the wood and mulches the ground as a winter 

 protection. When this is plowed under the next spring, the 

 physical condition of the soil is improved and elements of 

 fertility added and made available for the young fruit trees. 

 It should be understood that the main purposes in cultivation 

 are to keep the soil loose, to conserve moisture near the sur- 

 face, and to facilitate fertilization. 



