THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



tillage, which is important, for setting young 

 trees in rough ground is worse than useless. 

 If the selected place for the orchard has not 

 been under cultivation, it would be really a 

 saving of time to postpone planting for two 

 years, especially if the soil is clayey or damp; 

 for, by subsoiling in the autumn, and planting 

 corn in the spring, rye in the fall, to be plowed 

 under the following spring, when it is pos- 

 sible to procure them, wood ashes should be 

 used as fertilizer before planting potatoes, 

 which crop will bring the soil into good 

 condition, and be off the ground in time for 

 early fall planting of the orchard; or, if 

 spring planting is preferred, seed the ground 

 with rye, to again plow under in the spring. 

 Personally, I prefer early spring planting; 

 it seems more natural. Dormant trees must 

 feel transplanting and the necessary root and 

 top pruning less than would trees in full 

 sap. 



Early in the winter we decided on the varie- 

 ties for the new orchard: Yellow Transparent, 



146 



