COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN HOOD RIVER VALLEY. 



23 



the case of mulch-crop orchards, the same crew will plow 1.61 acres 

 per day at a cost of $3.26 per acre. 



The orchardists of the lower valley begin to cultivate their or- 

 chards during the latter part of March or early in April. Following 

 the plow the cultivating tool first used on the clean-culture orchards 

 is usually the spring-tooth harrow, which puts the soil in good condi- 

 tion for succeeding cultivations. This harrow is run " both ways." 

 In some cases the disk or the light drag harrow may be the first tool 

 used, but in any case the soil is well worked up in the early spring. 

 Following the first cultivation comes either a disk or a spring-tooth, 

 these tools usually alternating with each other a few days apart. 



Fig. 7. — A float, or leveler, in use. This implement is commonly used after a thorough 

 cultivation to smooth over the soil and create a fine dust mulch. 



(See fig. 6.) After three or four cultivations, a spike-tooth is com- 

 monly used. This serves to fine the soil and create a mulch. The 

 ground is then often leveled down with a clod masher or float. (See 

 fig. 7.) This completes the first spring cultivation, which is given 

 as soon as the orchardist can get on the land. Other cultivations 

 follow every few weeks, especially after rain occurs. Beginning 

 about May 15, those who practice clean cultivation go over the 

 ground about once every two weeks until the middle of July. These 

 later harrowings are performed usually with weeders (see fig. 8) or 



