62 



Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



of work. No weeds were allowed to grow. About two and a half inches 

 of the surface was kept constantly loose and fine by the use of the Acme 

 until July, when a second double discing was applied. The object of this 

 occasional discing was to cut deeper to prevent even the slightest degree of 

 crusting beneath the mulch. Then the Acme was used, going at right 

 angles each time with the previous cultivation until September 1st. Up 

 to this time we had been inclined to follow the ideas of most orchard and 

 tree men and horticulturists, which was to discontinue cultivation after 

 August, the object being to check the growth of the tree and allow the 

 new wood to mature before freezing time. This idea presumedly is correct 

 in the more humid portions of our country. But in the semi-arid section 

 we are inclined to discredit this theory in its full extent. We believe the 

 cultivation should be continued, but less frequent. We must not lose too 

 much of the moisture from around the main roots and their branches, if 

 we would carry our trees safely through the winter. This question is a 

 nice one and must be treated with care. It is proper to reduce the sap in 

 the body and limbs slightly, but there is danger in going into the winter 

 with soil too dry about the roots. Much attention has been given to this 

 point by most of our agricultural colleges the past four or five years. 



From Bulletin No. 52, issued by the University of Illinois in 1898, 

 we take the following. We quote it especially because it corresponds to 

 our own experience and is the result of several years of observation: 



"Throughout large sections of Illinois may be found the rotting 

 remnants of once extensive orchards, representing large original expen- 

 ditures of both labor and money. The frequency with which such locali- 

 ties are met would almost seem to justify the statement usually heard in 

 the neighborhood where such worn out orchards are found that the soil is 

 not fitted for the growing of fruit. On the other hand the enormous apple 

 and other fruit production in other parts of the state, and frequently in 

 localities not far distant from those mentioned, makes it evident that the 

 reason so often assigned cannot be the correct one. 



' On examination and inquiry it will be found to be almost invaribly 

 the case that the true cause for the failure or the dying out of an orchard 

 is the lack of proficient, or the entire absence of proper cultivation and 

 care. While the Illinois agriculturist has been devoting his time and 

 attention to the care of his field and garden crop, it is too often the case 

 that the orchard has been left to care for itself, with the above mentioned 

 result. The commonest cause of failure in orchards in Illinois may be 

 traced direct to the ill effects of summer droughts, though perhaps it is 

 more commonly referred to freezing in winter. The connection really 

 existing between these two destructive agencies has not been often recog- 

 nized. The fact that certain varieties of apples usually accounted hardy 

 even to our most northern limits, and in exposed situations sometimes fail 

 after a winter not noted for severity, has at different times attracted atten- 



