( I07 ) 



summer drought. We have to make use of the energy of the 

 sun as much as possible and to take advantage, in every pos- 

 sible case, of its benefits. 



Aeration of soil should be encouraged by every means. 

 Drainage is the first thing to be considered for the welfare of 

 fruit trees. Our orchards generally have excellent open drain- 

 age. Gutters run regularly beneath the horizontal trellis of 

 our pear orchards. On stiff loamy soil, good results are obtain- 

 ed by planting trees on mounds or on ridges, so as to secure 

 good drainage and active aeration. Underground drainage 

 also answers well in this case. All these processes are impor- 

 tant in regions with heavy precipitations, as in the south, and 

 in the cold regions of the north in particular. 



CULTIVATION AND HOEING. 



These operations are done only by hand with small tools. 

 Horse power and large implements such as are seen on the 

 Continent, are never used in fruit plantations in this country. 



The frequent rain and hot summer increase the trouble 

 of weeding more than on the Continent. A large amount of 

 labour is necessary to keep down the weeds in summer, espe- 

 cially in the rainy season. Farmers therefore strive to finish 

 hoeing before the rain season sets in. The cultivation of or- 

 chards is also carried on by hand. It is performed in order to 

 loosen the surface soil and assist in its aeration, and not to 

 lessen the evaporation and prevent drought. Frequent rains 

 are indeed apt to harden and cement together the surface soil, 

 which is harmful to the well-being of fruit trees. 



MANURING. 



The application of manures to fruit trees has been long neg- 

 lected, although manuring has been an important item in rice 

 growing. Only recently, with the rapid progress of our fruit 

 industry, experts have begun to pay attention to this subject 



