28 FRUIT CULTURE. 



the surface and everything is stagnant below. 

 On the other hand, a light mulch upon a light 

 soil does undoubted service in modifying the 

 heat and moisture at the roots. Frequent stir- 

 ring and keeping the surface light is Nature's 

 mulch, which, for the majority of lands, cannot 

 be improved. 



PREPARING THE LAND. 



A thorough preparation of the land before- 

 hand is important. If springy, or in the least 

 inclined to be wet, it should be underdrained 

 with tiles, thereby not only relieving from an 

 excess of moisture, but also changing the char- 

 acter of the soil to that friable condition which 

 will induce capillary attraction, and thus secure 

 uniform humidity. 



It will save much after labor if the land is 

 ploughed two or three times and the subsoil 

 plough is run in the furrows, thus obtaining a 

 depth which will prove a great encouragement to 

 the roots. After this, a light run of the culti- 

 vator and the hoe will be all that will be required 

 to keep the land open and clean. Neither weeds 

 nor grass should be allowed to grow in the fruit 

 garden, but potatoes and other vegetables may 

 be planted between the rows, especially when the 

 trees are small. 



