322 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK. 



this will require two or more repetitions of the plowing, 

 according to the character of the soil, and the abundance 

 of weed§ and grass. 



Cultivation of the soil among the trees should, if possi- 

 ble, be continued for some years, to secure and promote 

 the rajDid and healthy growth of the orchard, even should 

 it be objected that such a thrifty growth of the trees is 

 not followed by early productiveness. Lay a broad foun- 

 dation for future bearing of large crops, and the coming 

 years will not have to blame you for stinted trees, unable 

 to produce a liberal yield. The plow is the great agent 

 of culture, upon which we depend for the comminution of 

 the soil, and its subversion, when we desire to bury the 

 weeds and expose the earth to the influence of the atmo- 

 sphere, which is ever ready to impart its aerial treasures 

 of gaseous manures, from which, indeed, the chief element 

 of woody fiber is to be derived. Two or more ^^^owings 

 of the soil will be found necessary, and will maintain the 

 requisite mellow condition and freedom from weeds. 



In all cases, the use of the plow and cultivator, espe- 

 cially the former, should be guarded with great care, to 

 prevent the injurious contact of the trace-chains and 

 whiffle-trees with the bark, that would be otherwise 

 bruised and often removed, to the great injury of the 

 growing trees. The single-trees should be as short as 

 possible, and as the team ajDproaches the rows, an assistant 

 should watch and guard the young trees, by lifting up the 

 projecting portion. Some persons prefer oxen for this 

 culture among trees, upon the supposition and belief that 

 they are more readily controlled in their steady gait, 

 slower than horses, and because the yoke alone is liable 

 to injure the trees, and this is more perfectly under con- 

 trol of the driver. For heavy plowing, the oxen would 

 be preferred by most operators ; but for the light, continu- 

 ous culture among young trees, the horse, or, perhaps, 



