THE SOIL 63 



tree spaces in such a way that a dead furrow 

 came in the center of each space, thus provid- 

 ing an artificial surface drainage. While this 

 treatment is a makeshift it is certainly better 

 than allowing the trees to stand in cold wet 

 soil. I have in mind one particular orchard 

 that was bought by a friend of mine several 

 years ago. It occupied a tract of particularly 

 flat land and had never been a financial suc- 

 cess. On my advice the land was plowed in the 

 manner mentioned and in the second year be- 

 gan to look like a different place and what was 

 more important it began to produce fruit in 

 astonishing quantities. 



The term "orchard cultivation' ' has been 

 used to mean so many things that I hesitate to 

 use the term lest I confuse my readers. It may 

 mean almost anything from a rough plowing of 

 the land once a year to the establishment and 

 maintenance of a dust mulch throughout the 

 season. 



Some orchardists have maintained that cul- 

 tivation was useless and that just as good ap- 

 ples could be grown in sod as under any method 

 of soil manipulation. Some claimed that the 

 fruit was even better in the sod orchards and 

 that cultivation reduced the color and quality 

 of their product. There is a reason for such 

 diversity of opinion about two widely different 

 methods, and I believe that when we realize the 



