234 
ject of the enterprising planter seem to 
have been to secure and plant all of the 
numerous varieties within his reach with- 
out considering the question of the adapt- 
ability of the variety to the conditions of 
goll and climate. For a time at least, 
while the soil was new and diseases and 
insects were less numerous, his efforts 
gave fairly satisfactory results. Now, 
however, conditions have changed and 
many of the sorts that were once popular 
and profitable are considered valueless. 
So that, notwithstanding the fact that the 
list of desirable varieties is greatly in- 
creased, growers find themselves com- 
pelled to study more carefully the adapt- 
ability of the varieties suited to their 
special conditions and purposes.” 
CULTIVATION 
Reasons for Cultivation 
We cultivate the apple orchard much as 
we cultivate any other crop and for the 
following reasons: 
It improves the physical condition of 
the soil. 
It tends to drain the soil, which is im- 
portant if the soil is wet, or is likely to 
become so. 
It breaks up the compact particles of 
soil and releases new plant food. 
It tends to mix more thoroughly the 
fertilizers that are in the soil with the 
soil itself. 
It conserves the moisture by forming a 
dust mulch on the top which lessens evap- 
oration. 
It kills the weeds that sap the moisture 
and fertility of the soil. 
Deep Plowing 
In the beginning it is not possible to 
break the ground too deeply. Deep plow- 
ing is the best in preparation of the land 
for planting an orchard, and it is the 
best later if it does not interfere too 
much with the roots of the trees. By 
this means the hard substances of the 
soil are broken up and the land aerated; 
it enables the soil to absorb more of 
the water coming from rains and snows; 
it brings to the surface stores of plant 
food not generally drawn upon; it turns 
under the humus in the surface soil, plac- 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
ing it within easy access of the roots of 
the trees; it hastens growth during the 
bearing period and increases the size and 
capacity of the trees. 
Illinois Experiment 
These principles herewith set forth 
have been learned by experience and ob. 
servation through generations of trial. In 
Illinois, for instance, we discovered that 
trench plowing was better in case of 
drouth and better in case of extreme wet 
weather which we often had in that coun- 
try. Trench plowing is what in some 
sections is called “sub-soiling,” but it is 
properly distinguished from sub soiling in 
that in sub-soiling one team hitched to 
a plow turns a furrow, another team 
hitched to another plow called a “gyp. 
soil plow” follows and loosens up the 
soil in the same furrow, and without 
throwing it out upon the surface leaves 
it to be covered by the next furrow. 
This method is intended to break up 
the lower stratum of soil which may have 
been hardened by years of cultivation of 
the surface or from other causes. Trench 
plowing is the same, except that the sub- 
stratum is turned out upon the surface 
and on top of the first furrow. At first 
it was doubted whether this was better 
in case of extremes of wet or dry weather, 
but later all doubts were dispelled by 
comparison of the quantities of crops that 
grew on soils that had been subsoiled. 
It was discovered that trench plowing 
tended to drain the soil in case of ex- 
cessive rain and to hold the moisture by 
preventing rapid evaporation in case of 
drouth. 
Kansas Experiment 
In Kansas we met new conditions. The 
question in that state was not so much 
how to drain the soil of the water that 
fell upon the surface, but how to con- 
serve the moisture. I made several ex- 
periments which determined the value of 
deep plowing as a check to rapid evap- 
oration. Near Dodge City, Kansas, I had 
40 acres of land in what was called the 
semi-arid belt. A controversy arose 
among the farmers in regard to the depth 
of plowing best suited to the growth of 
corn, wheat, millet and other crops. I 
