i6o 



THE APPLE 



2. Small fruits. Small fruits are well adapted for companion 

 crops with a young orchard. Owing to their smaller structure and 

 spread, they do not rob the trees of sunlight nor, to any great ex- 

 tent, of the plant food or moisture. They may also remain longer 

 in the orchard than the larger tree fruits. 



Strawberries seem to be the most desirable small fruit to use. 

 They are planted between the rows of trees, usually in either the 



Fir,. 74. Intercropping the young orchard 



Orchard showing strawberries between rows of trees, all under irrigation. (After F, 

 Bulletin No. 404) 



matted row or the hedge row, with enough space near the young 

 trees for cultivation. Some orchardists do not permit planting closer 

 than 3 feet from the trees the first few years, perhaps increasing 

 this distance to 4 feet the third year, to 5 feet the fourth year, and 

 so on, until the clean-cultivated strip forces out the intercrop. 



Strawberries as a companion crop are very profitable in many 

 sections. Sometimes as much as from $300.00 to $500.00 per acre 

 may be received from the sale of the fruit, but ordinarily the returns 

 are less. The length of time that the strawberry bed is allowed to 

 remain is but two or three years, and only two years are fruitful. 



