Plowing Orchard and Vineygrd. 145 
METHODS OF CULTIVATION. 
In general terms the main objects of cultivation of orchard 
and vineyard are two: Winter cultivation for moisture reception, 
and summer cultivation for moisture retention. 
Wherever early winter plowing can be done without too 
great danger of soil washing, it affords the best available means 
of admitting water to the great reservoir in the lower levels of a 
deep soil. Too frequently large volumes of rain water, en- 
riched by air-washing as it falls and by fine soil-particles as it 
flows, are allowed to run off into the country drainage, with the 
double loss of fertility and moisture to the fruit grower. Deep 
penetration of winter rains should be, in all safe ways, promoted. 
Cultivation for retention has already been strongly urged and is 
quite generally recognized. 
To serve these main purposes there are two main divisions 
of practise in this State, each of which has variations of greater 
or less importance. 
First: Winter plowing followed by frequent use of cultiva- 
tor and pulverizer in summer. 
Second: Use of cultivator at intervals both winter and sum- 
mer, following, if needed, with pulverizer in the summer. 
It will not be attempted to render judicial decision as to the 
comparative merits of these two systems of cultivation. It is 
quite probable that each has claim to superiority under different 
local conditions. It will be enough at present to describe the 
main features of each division of practise, and perhaps to men- 
tion incidentally some of the claims by which each method is 
supported by its advocates. 
Plowing Orchard and Vincyard.—There is considerable vari- 
ation in the practise of plowing orchard and vineyard, in the 
kinds of plows employed, and in the times chosen for the work. 
Some plow but once, toward spring, whenever the ground is in 
suitable condition; and, if there is much growth of weeds and 
clovers, a looped chain is run from the plow to the end of the 
evener to aid in drawing under the tall growth. Sometimes, 
however, the growth gets so rank before the soil is in condition 
to plow that the weeds are mown before plowing. Where but 
one plowing is done, the soil is usually thrown away from the 
trees and afterwards is leveled back by harrowing or cultivating. 
If this practise is adopted, care should be taken that the soil is 
properly returned about the tree roots, for injury is sometimes 
done by bringing the roots too near the surface, which is soon 
afterward intensely heated by the sunshine. 
It is undoubtedly better practise to plow earlier, when the 
green stuff gets a good start, but is still not too high to turn 
