28 
INTERCROPS 
method very successfully, and his peaches have paid him large profits 
over and above all expenses before the apples came into bearing. (See 
illustration, page 26.) 
Intercrops Both fillers and intercrops can be grown in the orchard. 
Strawberries are one of the best intercrops. Prof. Albert 
E. Wilkinson, New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell Univer- 
sity, in his helpful book, "Modern Strawberry-Growing," says: 
"The strawberry is a fine plant to use at the time of setting 
out a young orchard. Strawberries can be planted between the 
rows of trees and thereby give returns to the grower long before 
the trees could possibly produce any. The strawberry is consid- 
ered by some people to be the very best crop for interplanting in 
an orchard for the following reasons: 
"1. It does not rob the trees of plant food. 
"2. It does not rob the trees of sunlight. 
"3. It requires good cultivation; the trees are bene- 
fited through working of the land. 
"4. It requires fertilizing or manuring. 
"5. Strawberries require some attention. At the same 
time the grower becomes acquainted with the trees." 
If the everbearing strawberries are used, a moderate crop can be 
picked the first season after planting. Rows of currants and gooseberries 
are especially good grown as an intercrop. Black raspberries are also 
satisfactory. Asparagus and rhubarb can be grown in the same way. 
All of the above are especially good, for they will bring moderate returns 
the second season, and there is very little extra expense because the 
permanent trees get full benefit from the cultivation and fertilizers 
used on the intercrops. 
The general farmer who is also developing an orchard can often 
raise such crops as cabbage and mangels, which be can feed to his live 
stock. Garden truck and early potatoes can also be grown between the 
rows, but no crop must be sown that requires late cultivation, or requires 
digging the last part of the summer, as cultivation at this time will stimu- 
late the growth of the young trees so they may suffer from winter injury. 
Corn is also used, especially in the Northeast, where they raise the Flint 
corn; Flint corn does not shade the trees as much as the Dent corn. The 
rows of corn should not be within 4 to 8 feet of the tree, for the trees 
should have good cultivation. 
Never plant grain, hay or any other uncultivated crops in the young 
orchard. They are not good at any time, and especially bad in a young 
Intercropping — Strawberries Planted In the Orchard Rows. 
