180 



The Principles of Fruit-growing 



additional crops, are likely to injure seriously the shape 

 of the trees of the main planting (Figs. 28 and 29). 

 The growers of the latter class are advised to set their 

 trees at moderate distances and to grow among them 



some kind of crop 

 such as potatoes, 

 corn or vegetables 

 that require culti- 

 vation during the 

 early part of the 

 summer. Even 

 then, there is danger 

 of growing these 

 crops too near the 

 trees and of not 

 supplying the neces- 

 sary plant-food to 

 make up for that 

 removed from the 

 soil by the second- 

 ary crop." 



Speaking for 

 Washington State 

 conditions, Thorn- 

 ber writes: "Whether or not it is advisable to use fillers in 

 an orchard depends entirely upon the ability of the planter 

 to remove them before they do serious if not permanent 

 injury to the trees. Fillers never do any damage in an 

 orchard until they begin to contend with the permanent 

 trees for food, moisture, sunlight or space. This being 

 true, it is possible to grow fillers in an orchard for several 

 years and do no injury, and at the same time harvest 

 good crops of fruit that will help maintain the necessary 



FIG. 29. A thirteen-year-old apple tree injured 

 by leaving fillers in the orchard too long. Observe 

 the long, slender, upright branches. 



