THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



round them. The hole must be deep enough 

 to sink the tree about two inches deeper than 

 the old surface mark. It is well to allow the 

 tree to slant slightly toward the southwest at 

 planting time. 



When the planting is all finished, the entire 

 ground, to within two or three feet of the 

 trees, can be utilized for other crops. Corn, 

 potatoes, and other vegetables are all avail- 

 able, but none of the grain crops must be used, 

 except under special conditions, because they 

 interfere with cultivation. Fruit trees require 

 large quantities of nitrogen, which is best sup- 

 plied by growing some of the leguminous 

 crops, like Canada field peas, soy beans, and 

 clover, alternately with crops of the vegetable 

 class, which should be followed by rye or buck- 

 wheat for winter stands. 



If no vegetables or hoed crops are grown 

 in the orchard, it must still be plowed every 

 spring, and harrowed at intervals, until mid- 

 season, or, in other words, until the season's 

 growth is made. As with other crops, con- 



150 



