40 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



Cultivation of Fruit Plantations. 



In a state of nature, as in our primeval forests and groves, 

 where trees do well, they generally have the surface soil about 

 their roots covered with a loose accumulation of vegetable mould 

 that is shaded from the sun and wind. The deeper soil is filled 

 with roots more or less decayed and tending to keep the sub- 

 soil porous. This covering protects the soil from baking, drying 

 out and becoming too compact and gives the conditions aimed at 

 in the cultivation of the land. For this kind of treatment, there 

 must be a great accumulation of vegetable mould, which is in- 

 compatible with the light and air needed for the production of 

 cultivated fruit and with the opportunity to get at the trees 

 from all sides for gathering the fruit and for giving the pro- 

 tection that the trees need from noxious insects and diseases. 

 The nearest approach to nature's method of cultivation is ac- 

 complished by mulching the orchard, which is sometimes done 

 to advantage. 



The reasons for proper cultivation are: (a) To give our 

 favorite plants all the light, air and soil that they can use to 

 advantage by destroying all competitors in the shape of weeds 

 which would ordinarily make their struggle for existence more 

 severe, (b) To protect from drought by keeping the top soil 

 loose. In this way evaporation is prevented and the moisture 

 saved in the soil for the use of the roots. Soil that is compact 

 will transmit water upward to the surface by capillary attraction 

 where it can evaporate, but when the surface soil is loose evapo- 

 ration is prevented and the water thus transmitted from the 

 subsoil is retained near the surface. This is one of the chief 

 reasons for the cultivation of the soil. The extent of this pro- 

 tection is shown in the following table taken from "Soils and Fer- 

 tilizers" by Professor Harry Snyder and giving the result of 

 some examinations made in dry weather: 



Per cent of Water in Field. 

 With Shallow Surface Without 



Cultivation. Cultivation. 



Soil depth 3 to 9 inches 14.21 8.02 



Soil depth 9 to 15 inches ... ; 17.21 12.38 



