THE POME FRUITS 



463 



method of orchard development is the use of tilled intercrops followed by a 

 winter cover. Potatoes, corn, vegetables or buckwheat are usually satis- 

 factory for the intercrops, and rye or rye and vetch are good for the winter 

 cover. When buckwheat is used, the rye and vetch combination can be 

 sown at the same time, as it does not grow much until the buckwheat is 

 taken off. In the other cases, the winter cover should be sown after the 

 intercrop is removed, which should not be later than the 15th or 20th of 

 September for best results. 



Where the above plan is not desirable, the mulch system is generally 

 best, especially for the home orchard. Strawy stable manure, at the rate 

 of six or eight tons per acre annually, is probably the best mulch, unless the 

 blight becomes too prevalent. Any other kind of vegetation is satisfactory, 

 however, and it should be put on frequently and heavily enough to keep 



Tools for Use in Removing Roundheaded Apple-Tree Borer from Burrows. 1 



down most of the grass or other growth above the principal root-feeding 

 area. Its chief function is moisture conservation, though it naturally also 

 adds some plant-food as it decays. Any such mulch should extend out 

 at least as far as the tips of the branches, and a clear space of at least six 

 to twelve inches should be maintained immediately around the trees. 



In many places all the mulch needed for the first eight or ten years can 

 be grown between the trees by the use of alfalfa or other similar plants. 

 When it begins to fail, manure or other outside resources should be drawn 

 upon. 



Fertilization. — The necessity for fertilization is largely a local problem. 

 In general, young trees respond to it much less than those in bearing. In 

 either case one of the safest and best applications that can be made is 

 stable manure. On mature trees it can be applied at the rate of 6 or 8 

 tons annually per acre, while on young trees it may be reduced to as little 

 as 50 or 100 pounds per tree. 



1 Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Farm Bulletin 675. 



