CULTURAL METHODS LY ORCHARDS 177 



146. Fall plowing the orchard. — If the orchard can be 

 safely plowed in the fall, it will result in a saving of time in 

 the spring when a great demand exists for teams and men. 

 This practice has been put to the test in many of the fruit- 

 growing regions and without resultant injuiy to the trees. 

 Fall plowing can be followed in both the North and South, 

 and with tender fruits such as the peach as well as with the 

 apple provided the soil will not erode. The land is usually 

 allowed to lie in the rough (without harrowing) over winter 

 and is harrow(Hl down in the spring. 



147. Use of explosives for tillage purposes.^ — Much has 

 recently been written in regard to the use of explosives in 

 the planting of young trees and also in the tillage of mature 

 ones. The experimental work on this subject is not exten- 

 sive, although these agencies have been extensively used 

 both as demonstrations and in conmiercial work. 



That a well-developed, extensive root system is correlated 

 with a vigorous productive top of a fruit-tree goes without 

 saying, and the theory of the use of explosives for this pur- 

 pose is well founded. Whether such extraordinaiy means 

 are necessaiy will depend on the nature of the soil, for if it 

 is hard and impervious, rocky or underlaid with hard-pan 

 or other resistant material, the use of an explosive should 

 be most helpful. There is, however, no virtue in the use of 

 dynamite other than what is gained by a better mechanical 

 soil condition, or else in the cost of the operation. The soil 

 should not be wet at the time of the operation or a pot-hole 

 is likely to be blown out which makes a basin for water and 

 is hence more harmful than other methods. It is usually 

 advisable to blow the holes some time before setting in order 

 to allow the soil to settle; othei-wise, the trees are likely to 

 sink a few inches which is quite undesirable. 



> "The Use of Explosives in the Tillage of Trees." Pub. by Institute of 

 Makers of Explosives, New York. 1918. 



