90 



FIG CULTURE 



returns, nor soil manipulation, will supply adequate 

 food; and when roots have well filled the ground 

 the trees will either decline rapidly or the grower 

 must make large additions of commercial and barn- 

 yard manure. 



In 1907 and 1908 an experiment, was made to 

 ascertain if there is a limit to practical tillage be- 

 yond which results are detrimental instead of bene- 

 ficial to trees. Burkett well says : ' ' The inter- 

 change of acids and gases always is taking place in 

 the soil, but it is more active when a disarrangement 

 of soil particles has occurred. :? This familiar prin- 

 ciple is the basis of tillage, and encourages us to 

 stir the ground, that by such disarrangement of soil 

 particles the interchange of acids and gases may 

 be encouraged, and plant solutions formed more 

 rapidly. Selecting a row of fig trees in all respects 

 similar to those which paralleled it, the ground was 

 plowed around them every week, or ten days, from 

 the beginning of the growing season until the mid- 

 dle of summer, when each experiment was discon- 

 tinued, the results being obvious. After each plow- 

 ing it was well harrowed to maintain a good earth 

 mulch. The rows had a natural slope toward the 

 south, adequate for drainage, and were not allowed 

 to suffer for moisture. About three weeks after ex- 

 cessive cultivation began the trees appeared more 

 active, and this difference increased as the season 

 proceeded. Fruit set as usual at the axil of each 

 leaf, but the joints were longer. By the first of 



