20 
soon as possible after every rain. The nearer this ideal is approached 
the better the results will be. A dust mulch is the best of all mulches 
for saving the water already in the ground and keeping the soil 
receptive for more. 
The pulverizing harrow is an excellent tool for shallow cultivation, 
and, used frequently enough, it is all that is necessary most of the 
time. Where weeds have made,a good start, an ordinary cultivator 
may be put in, or a shallow disking given, but the disk should be 
followed by a harrow to produce proper surface conditions. 
After the trees are planted a plow should never be used. Too often 
the plantation is neglected until weeds have formed a dense mass 
3 or 4 feet high, and then, in desperation, a plow is resorted to, with- 
out subsequent harrowing. This leaves the ground rough, increas- 
ing greatly the loss of soil moisture through evaporation, and forms 
a dead furrow between the rows, or throws the earth away from the 
base of the trees, and cuts many roots, both injuring the root system 
and causing the growth of sprouts. The man who is not willing to 
take proper care of his trees deserves to lose them, and probably will. 
The Rainbelt Experiment Station, at Cheyenne Wells, Colo., fur- 
nishes an excellent example of the extent to which cultivation can 
replace irrigation. This station was established in 1894 in a typical 
high plains region. The elevation is 4,200 feet, with water 260 feet 
below the surface. The annual precipitation is about 13 inches. An 
apple orchard was planted in 1895 with.trees of the varieties common 
farther east, such as Ben Davis, Janet, Winesap, ete., which are in ex- 
cellent condition, and produce good fruit. The intention is to give two 
shallow cultivations monthly if possible. The tools used are a 5-tooth 
cultivator and a dagger-tooth harrow with the teeth set slanting. 
There are some green ash trees around the orchard a year older than the 
apple trees, which are thriving finely. Young honey locusts are also in 
promising condition. There is no doubt that under the same method 
of cultivation several forest species could be successfully grown. 
The Pomeroy Model Farm, at Hill City, Kans., which has been 
practicing the “ Campbell system ” of cultivation since 1900, is a 
valuable experiment. While the main object is the production of 
wheat and other crops, fruit trees, Russian mulberry, silver maple, 
‘ and white elm have been set out. They are doing finely so far, 
although it is a very unfavorable situation for the maple, and only 
fair for the elm. Cultivation is given after every rain as soon as the 
ground can be worked. <A pulverizing harrow is generally used, pre- 
ceded by a disk if the weeds are too large. 
Cultivation should not be continued too late in the fall, for it tends 
to produce a growth of young shoots after the normal period, which 
may be too tender to withstand the winter. The wood should have 
time to harden before cold weather sets in. There is more likelihood 
[Cir. 161.] 
