APPLE-ORCHARD CULTURE 



411 



(a) Consider the objects sought. 



(b) Consider the different soil-management systems which 



might be used. 



(c) Determine costs of soil management. 



(a) Consider the Objects Sought. The final object sought 

 in all orchard operations is excellent tree growth and the 

 yearly production of large yields per tree of high-quality fruit 

 at as low a cost as possible. Inasmuch as soil moisture, 

 nitrates, and organic matter are important factors in securing 

 these desirable conditions, and since they are decidedly influ- 

 enced by the manner in which the soil is handled, it will be 

 well to determine some of the objects sought in orchard soil 

 management. 



Some of these objects are: (1) the conservation of mois- 

 ture, (2) keeping up a good nitrogen supply, (3) the addition 

 of organic matter, and (4) maintaining a proper physical con- 

 dition of the soil. It is difficult to separate these four factors, 

 since it can readily be seen that, if a good supply of organic 

 matter is added, the physical condition of the soil would be 

 improved, the nitrogen supply probably would be increased, 

 and the water-holding capacity of the soil would be greater. 

 The great importance of organic matter in orchard soils can 

 thus be realized. 



Considering these points in relation to orchard culture, it i& 

 evident that certain soil practices might be better than others. 

 Likewise, a certain practice might be satisfactory under ono 

 set of soil, weather, and topographical conditions and unsatis- 

 factory under a different set of conditions. Although a system 

 of clean cultivation and cover crops is very satisfactory on 

 level land, it might be quite unsatisfactory on steep lands 

 where soil erosion would occur and where the cost of tilling the 

 soil would be very great. Although trees might grow well in 

 rough, rocky land, it would be very expensive to cultivate such 

 land, even if it was possible to do so. 



When organic matter, such as a green manure crop, is 

 plowed into the soil, it is decomposed and most of it is changed 



