1 6 FRUIT FARMING 



CHAPTER II. 



CULTIVATION MAN URE. 



PREPARATION OF LAND. A point that must be well 

 considered is the thorough working and preparing the 

 soil before planting, not trusting to after cultivation 

 when the trees are planted ; it is infinitely easier and 

 cheaper to cultivate open land than to do so after the 

 trees are set. Manure heavily for Strawberries and 

 bush fruits ; steam cultivate or double-plough ordinary 

 soil, but trench stony ground thoroughly 2 feet deep; 

 the stone found in trenching will partly pay for 

 labour. With a clay subsoil it is not advisable to 

 trench, the trees are better fed by manure on the 

 surface. 



ORCHARDS. TREES ON GRASS. Starting a fresh 

 orchard, to be in time laid to grass. In Kent this is 

 generally done among hops, but if it is intended to 

 plant an arable field, let the trees be put in at regular 

 distances, that the ground may be afterwards worked 

 in the usual way with horses and ploughs, such an 

 orchard can be cropped between the trees with potatoes, 

 mangold, turnips, or any crop except corn. In plant- 

 ing trees on grass, holes should be dug ijft. or 2ft. 

 deep and 3ft. over. (See also chapter on planting). 



No fruit orchards in grass should be left for hay, 

 the growth of tall grass is very detrimental to newly 

 planted trees ; always take care to give young standard 

 trees a 6ft. circle round the stems, free from crop or 

 weeds, this space must be kept clean and be regularly 



