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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THK.M 



First : Winter plowing followed by frequent use of cultivator 

 and pulverizer in summer. 



Second: Use of cultivator at intervals both winter and summer, 

 following, if needed, with pulverizer in the summer. 



The main features of each division of practice, and some of the 

 claims by which each method is supported by its advocates, will 

 be noted. 



Plowing Orchard and Vineyard. There is considerable varia- 

 tion in the practice of plowing orchard and vineyard, in the kinds 

 of plows employed, and the times chosen for the work. Some 

 plow but once, toward spring, whenever the ground is in suitable 

 condition ; and, if there is much growth of weeds and clovers, a 

 looped chain is run from the plow to the end of the evener to aid 

 in drawing under the tall growth. Sometimes, however, the growth 

 gets so rank before the soil is in condition to plow that the weeds 

 are mown before plowing. Where but one plowing is done, the 

 soil is usually thrown away from the trees and afterwards is leveled 

 back by harrowing or cultivating. If this practice is adopted, care 

 should be taken that the soil is properly returned about the tree 

 roots, for injury is sometimes done by bringing the roots too near 

 the surface, which is soon afterwards intensely heated by the sun- 

 shine. 



It is undoubtedly better practice to plow earlier, when the 

 green stuff gets a good start, but is still not too high to turn under 

 handily. In this practice the weed stems are less woody, and 

 they easily decay and act as a fertilizer. Where early plowing 

 is practiced, it is usual to plow again when the second growth of 

 weeds reaches the proper state in the spring. When two plowings 

 are given, the earth is usually thrown away from the trees in the 

 first plowing, and returned toward the trees in the second plowing. 

 But this order is sometimes reversed in situations where rainfall 

 is heavy and the soil retentive, for the dead furrow between the 

 rows often acts as a surface drain to carry off surplus water, which 

 is thus prevented from standing around the tree roots. In all 

 modes of plowing it is desirable that before the summer heat comes, 

 the surface be leveled as completely as possible. 



Too much stress can not be laid upon the importance of plowing 

 when the soil is in good condition and not otherwise. To dis- 

 regard this is bad enough in all soils, but it is a grievous mistake 

 to work any of the clayey soils when they are out of condition. 

 If too wet, they are puddled by the plow and dry down in hard 

 clods, impenetrable by air, and even resist water itself for a long 

 time. When clods are thus formed, it may require long effort to 

 bring the soil back to a good friable condition. The cultivation 

 of adobe is one of the problems of California agriculture. The 

 more refractory it is, the more particular care is needed to take it 



