1 8 FRUIT FARMING 



defer the digging till February, but it is of great 

 benefit to have plantations roughly dug in time for 

 the winter frosts and snow to mellow the surface. In 

 all cases digging should be performed with a spud, as 

 it is important not to sever or injure the surface roots, 

 and therefore the digging must not be too close to 

 the trees or bushes, any weeds there can be skimmed 

 oif and be put underground. 



HOEING. The hoe is a far more important factor in 

 fruit cultivation than is generally supposed. Many 

 successful growers on light soils are discarding deep 

 winter or spring digging with a heavy spud, for 

 exclusive cultivation with the hoe. It is an acknow- 

 ledged fact that the surface roots of a tree gain 

 through hoe cultivation fuller advantage from stimulant 

 manure and greater benefit from sunshine warmth, 

 and thus become more fruitful. 



In dry times, too, it is absolutely necessary to keep 

 a fine surface tilth, as this alone will prevent evaporation 

 and consequent harm from excessive drought. It 

 becomes more manifest that surface cultivation, often 

 repeated, is a dependable sheet anchor for the fruit 

 grower, and that it will carry him through dry seasons 

 and bad weather better than anything else. This is 

 fully recognised and energetically practised by the 

 most successful growers. 



MANURE. Orchard standards do not require any 

 manure if the trees grow kindly and start regularly. 

 If however they cease to make new growth, or the 

 foliage is pale and unhealthy, a surfacing of half- 

 rotten stable or cow dung round the stem will be 

 required, say 6ft. wide, which should be applied in 

 December and be turned in just under the surface (if 



