Corn in Orchards 



105 



west, and the cost of bringing an orchard to bearing, have 

 compelled the fruit-growers to make a careful study of 

 the best methods for reducing the cost of producing an 

 orchard. Every opportunity of resource applicable to 

 young orchards has been thoroughly tested and the effects 

 of the crops noted upon the soil, as well as upon the 

 young trees; and while crops have been found that will 



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Fig. 22. Cropping a young orchard. 



produce more money value per acre, none with an equal 

 amount of labor will give a more uniform tree-growth and 

 cause an orchard to come into bearing more satisfactorily 

 than com. Garden and small-fruit crops easily give greater 

 financial returns, but require more time and labor to pro- 

 duce them. Alfalfa has the advantage of being a more 

 sure crop, and one that will give larger returns per acre, 

 but is not adapted to very young trees; however, it is more 

 satisfactory among older trees." Care must be taken not 

 to plant com too close to the trees or bushes, so that they 



