INTERCROPPING 159 



determination to go into the orchard and cut down trees that are 

 producing, in some cases, their maximum crop, but for the good of 

 the future apple orchard it must be done. 



Some fruit-growers go so far as to advise using the same variety 

 for fillers and permanent trees ; that is, Ben Davis with Ben Davis, 

 Baldwin with Baldwin, etc., having the permanent trees 40 feet 

 apart and the intercrop arranged so that there is a tree every 

 20 feet. The filler trees are kept " cut back " by pruning, so that 

 they do not infringe so quickly on the space required by the per- 

 manent trees. Sometimes it is wise to give the permanent trees 

 a start of a year or two before the fillers are planted. The author's 

 experience, however, has shown it to be best to plant the fillers 

 first and the permanent trees later, this method giving quicker 

 and longer returns from the fillers. 



Some orchardists prefer either the peach or the plum as a filler 

 for the apple orchard. These trees have a tendency to fruit early 

 and are usually of little real value by the time the permanent trees 

 need the space which they occupy. In some cases where the plum 

 and the peach have been used, it has been possible to pay for the 

 whole investment to date with one or more full crops from them. 

 Not everyone likes these trees for filler purpose, however, one 

 reason being that their requirements are in some respects different 

 from those of the apple tree, which means two different orchards 

 on the same land at the same time. This may mean extra care, 

 extra expense, and, at times, unsatisfactory results. However, if 

 there is a market for this class of fruit and the fruit-grower has 

 intelligence enough to manage the two propositions at the same 

 time, there is greater chance of success than of failure. 



Pears, because of their characteristic demands as to soil, fertiliza- 

 tion, and culture, do not offer so many advantages as fillers as do 

 the other larger fruits mentioned, although in some cases they 

 may be used advantageously. 



The cherry tree seems to be as well adapted for filler purposes 

 as any tree thus far mentioned. It has not, however, been used as 

 commonly as either the peach or the plum. The slower-growing 

 habit of this tree and the occurrence of the harvest period at a 

 time when the orchardist has more or less leisure are two great 

 inducements for its utilization by the more intelligent orchardist. 



