METHODS OF CULTIVATION. 
SOIL AND STOCK. 
The soil required for prunes depends largely upon the stock used, or 
rather, perhaps, the stock should be selected to suit the soil. A light, 
deep, sandy loam, not too moist, and well drained, is adapted to peach 
stock, which does well on the sedimentary deposits of the higher valleys. 
Such soils are warm and light, and experience has proved that peach 
stock will do better here than on the heavier, clayey lands of the 
bottoms. 
In the heavier soils plum stock does better than peach, and the 
Myrobalan, or wild plum stock, is the favorite. It is hardy, forms a 
good union with its graft, and does not sucker as other plum stock will. 
The almond stock is a favorite with many growers who have a rocky 
subsoil, as it does well in such land—even better than the peach. 
The preparation of the soil depends largely upon its peculiarities. If 
heavy, it should be deeply plowed and subsoiled. If there is a hardpan 
subsoil, this should also be broken, which can be done with any good 
subsoil plow; in any event the ground should be plowed deep and well 
stirred up for ventilation. It is well, where practicable, to begin the 
preparation of the land for an orchard some time before the planting of 
it. It should be thoroughly and deeply plowed early in the fall, leaving 
the surface rough and exposed to the air during the winter. This facil- 
itates the access of air to the lower layers and gives vitality to the soil. 
Following in the furrow with a subsoil plow is desirable, especially in the 
conversion of old grain lands into orchards, as it breaks up the old 
hardpan which has probably formed through years of shallow culture. 
The preparation may continue through the following summer, and, 
where practicable, hoed crops can be grown, or the land can be left to 
summer-fallow, care being taken to keep it thoroughly pulverized and 
free from weeds. If it is desirable to fertilize the land, manure can be 
applied in the winter, before the trees are planted. If this is not done 
then, the work should be left until the trees are planted, and the manure 
should be evenly spread over the surface during the winter, to be plowed 
under in the spring. Care should be taken to spread it evenly and not 
mass it around the young trees, unless it is to be applied as a mulch to 
prevent evaporation after spring cultivation. 
If it is desired to plant the land immediately after breaking up, the 
work should be commenced as early in the fall as it is possible to do 
deep plowing, and the ground should be stirred to a depth of ten or 
twelve inches or more, if practicable, and should afterwards be thor- 
oughly harrowed. If it is still early, cross-plow deeply and follow with 
a subsoil plow, working to a depth of fourteen inches or more. Harrow 
again thoroughly and the land is ready for the trees. 
PLANTING THE ORCHARD. 
In laying off the orchard it is desirable to have it symmetrical and to 
economize the land. A little thought and care displayed at the com- 
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