58 BIGGIE ORCHARD BOOK 



NOTEBOOK JOTTINGS. 



Cultivation should be shallow two or three inches at most. 

 A rope or handle to the harrow helps to guide the implement. 



If you grow cultivated crops in a young orchard, never let 

 the crop come closer than four feet to any tree trunk. 



Many orchardists say : " Don't plow or cultivate fruit trees 

 while they are in blossom. May cause the embryo fruit to drop." 



When applying fertilizer, remember that a tree's root area is 

 usually as large around, or larger, than its top area. Don't pile 

 tree food around the trunk, spread it farther out. 



Use a one-horse plow for the first two or three rounds along 

 a tree row. Do this to all the rows. Then change to a two-horse 

 plow, and finish the job. This makes easier, closer work. 



If you decide to mulch, do it right. Don't permit yourself 

 to mow the grass which pushes through the mulch, and then 

 remove the clippings. I,et the mowed grass lie en the mulch. 



Why should cultivation usually cease about August first? 

 So as to allw the new growth to stop growing and harden up in 

 proper mature condition for the winter. The new wood on late 

 cultivated trees is more apt to winter-kill. 



Muzzle the horses when plowing or cultivating around trees. 

 Yes, and don't forget to pad the outer end of each whiffletree. 

 Pad the outer edges of the harrow, too. But if a tree is acciden- 

 tally " barked," bandage the wound with cow manure and burlap. 



Rules for thinning fruit : Remove all wormy, crooked or 

 otherwise inferior specimens. Only the best specimen in each 

 cluster should be allowed to remain. Remaining fruits should 

 not be closer together than five or six inches apart. Properly 

 thinned trees need no props. 



lyearn how to harrow an orchard so as to cover practically all 

 the ground. Harrow lengthwise one time, crosswise another 

 time, and diagonally the third time ; then repeat. A careful 

 driver will thus leave only a few inches of untouched ground 

 around each tree trunk and a hand hoe easily finishes that. 



Sometimes it is desirable to "seed down" to grass, for a 

 year or so, a thrifty, well-grown pear, apple or cherry orchard. 

 Plum, peach or dwarf pear, never. And, in any case, such a 

 course is seldom best until the trees have reached the bearing 

 age; then, a temporary seeding down maybe beneficial, first, 

 because it may induce quicker fruitfulness by checking growth ; 

 or, second, it may prevent the bark-burst or pear blight which a 

 too rapid growth sometimes promotes. 



