CHAPTER IV 



ORCHARD CARE INTERCROPPING 



PRUNING PARASITES 



TREES for nut bearing and trees for timber re- 

 quire separate treatment. They are to be set far 

 apart or near together according to our wish to 

 obtain fruit or timber, one or the other, not both 

 from the same tree. Trees of any sort when grow- 

 ing closely together have to keep an eye on each 

 other; neighbors will run off with the food and 

 water belonging to any one tree that does not take 

 care to keep ahead in growth. A tree standing 

 alone by itself and not obliged to be alert for self- 

 protection is not fully occupied with getting what 

 the world owes it. There is time for breeding, to 

 give more generously of itself to the cause of the 

 species. When we set young nut trees far apart in 

 anticipation of what they will be to-morrow in the 

 mind's eye a great deal of idle land lies in between 

 them. The question of intercropping for profitable 

 occupation of ground in the spaces between young 

 nut trees may be considered. Trees like the Persian 

 walnut, pecan, and black walnut should really not be 

 set less than one hundred feet apart. Adult trees of 



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