56 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 
the trees have been planted. Cross cultivation is de¬ 
sirable, because a continual turning of the earth in one 
direction will build ridges. 
If a crop is to be grown in the orchard, a cultivated 
crop is the best, because it provides some animal feed 
and may be the means of keeping down weeds. Cow- 
peas, soy beans, or peanuts planted in rows, provide 
Fig. 37.—Cultivating an orchard. 
excellent orchard crons. They are not so large as to sap 
the soil, the roots provide nitrogen, and some hay or 
feed may be harvested. T+ 
Pruning Fruit Trees is the process of removing 
branches and twigs. Old orchards provide excellent 
material for learning the best methods of pruning. By 
carefully removing dead limbs from the tree, fungous dis¬ 
eases are prevented from spreading. There is a tend¬ 
ency of trees to become crowded and thickly branched 
