94 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



setting out raspberries is that when raw land is first 

 irrigated it almost always settles more or less in spots. 

 As irrigation is necessary year after year, it is important 

 that the land has the right slope and has a compara- 

 tively smooth surface." 



Subsequent tillage. 



The best tillage of planted areas is that which begins 

 early in the season, and which keeps the surface stirred 

 until late summer or early fall; and the best implements 

 are those that secure this result with the least expenditure 

 of time and labor. For the first few years, it is advisable to 

 turn the land rather deep with a plow at the first spring 

 working. For the subsequent tillage of the season, there 

 are many styles of clod-crushers, spring-tooth harrows, cut- 

 aways and smoothing-harrows, which adapt themselves 

 readily to the particular soil area in question. 



There is no single style of tool best for all soils or for 

 all years. As a general statement, it may be said that for 

 all heavy lands the fruit-grower needs four types of har- 

 rows, the cutaway or spading-harrow type for hard land 

 and the first spring work ; the spring-tooth type ; the Acme 

 or clod-crusher type; and the smoothing-harrow type. The 

 last is to be used only to make and maintain the surface 

 mulch after the land has been put in fine tilth. In all 

 friable or loose soils, shallow tillage is always preferable. 

 When the land is once in good condition, little effort and 

 time are required to run through the orchard. Crust 

 should never be allowed to form, and weeds should be 

 killed before they become firmly established. The entire 

 surface of the orchard should be thoroughly stirred as 

 often as once in ten days or two weeks while the tillage 

 season lasts. 



