The Neglected Orchards 67 



been forced — ^by the weeds; yet, whilst we have outgrown 

 the need of weeds, we should not despise them, but remem- 

 ber them kindly for the good they have done the race. 

 They have been an inexorable priesthood, holding us to 

 duty whilst we did not know what duty was, and they 

 stand ready still to extend their holy offices. 



The case of the early apple plantings. 



Orchard trees are capable of sending their roots so far 

 and deep into the soil in search of food and moisture that 

 they are able to five and grow under the most indifferent 

 treatment of the surface soil. This fact has obscured the 

 importance of tillage and fertilizing, so much so that there 

 is a widespread opinion that orchards thrive and bear 

 quite as well in sod as in tilled land. The greater part of 

 the few apple and pear orchards that are kept in good 

 tilth were put under such treatment only after the trees 

 had attained some age and all the ill effects of early neglect 

 had become established. Even those orchards that have 

 been tilled from the first may have been quite as im- 

 properly managed as those that are left to sod. There- 

 fore, there is no undisputed body of popular experience 

 touching the value of thorough tillage of apple orchard 

 lands; but there are abundant experiences with the tillage 

 of peach and plum orchards, and other fruit-plantations, 

 which show unequivocally that such treatment is essential 

 to the largest results. It is a significant observation that 

 those fruits from which the farmer expects the greatest 

 profits — as the stone-fruits — are the ones that everywhere 

 receive the best care; whereas the apple, from which less 

 is expected, commonly receives no attention until all other 

 crops have been served. The apple-grower has cheapened 

 his efforts by conceiving of a low estimate of value. 



