COVER CROPS AND TILLAGE 7 



offer inducements for trees to send their roots deep down and 

 fortify themselves against drought. The habits of orchards 

 are established according to their earlier treatment, hence this 

 should be done well. 



Generally speaking, all cultivation of fruit plantations 

 should stop as early as the latter part of summer. Our New 

 England winters are cold, and fruit trees should be well 

 matured to withstand them. By slightly rounding up the 

 soil, rendering good surface drainage at the last cultivation, 

 giving it time to become firm and well compacted, conditions 

 result by which the trees will come through the winter in 

 good shape. The sowing of some green crop, such as clovers, 

 vetches, etc., the so-called cover crop, for keeping the soil 



Fig. 5. — Burbank Plums (Japan). 



from washing, and serving as a protection in winter, is rec- 

 ommended. 



Can we afford to grow other crops in our orchards or fruit 

 plantations? When the plants are young and do not require 

 the full use of the land, good judgment seems to tell us that 

 cultivated crops are allowable, and will assist in paying for 

 the expense of cultivation and investment. Whenever the 

 crop grown is in any way detrimental to the fruit plantation 

 it is a mistake. A hoed crop is preferable to any cereal or 

 grass crop. The latter usually robs the trees of moisture and 

 does not allow of cultivation. Even hoed crops should not 



