Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-04-09

element in itself, forming, as IL does, the
greater part of the bulk of many vege-
tables, as well as dissolving the plant-food
in the soil, and then becoming the medium
of transmitting it through the living or
ganism, it must be apparent that supply
is one of the requisites Of success In all
departments of fruit culture.
Too much moisture may be as injurious
as too little, and as cultivated soil per-
mits the surplus to pass off by percolation
as well as evaporation, the importance OF
cultivation is evident to prevent extremes
in either direction. If we sow;wheat, rye,
oats, or any OF the cereals among trees,
they abstract large amount of moisture
from the soil, and usual y at the very time
when the trees need it the most conse-
quently such crops are more or less IN
furious. To seed down the land to grass
is even more Objectionable practice, be-
cause the soil is not disturbed once IN
season which would be of some benefit to
the trees growing therein. 1t is not only
for the purpose of regulating the supply
of moisture, that cultivationis recommend.
ed, but frequent manipulation of the soil
assists in its decomposition, thereby fur
nishing the requisite amount of food to
the trees.
For the first few years aftera plant
| ing the trees, the soil around them
should be thoroughly cultivated, and
as few people will do this unless an i'm
mediate return for their labor can be Sc
cured, such crops as beans, potatoes, or
other vegetables, may be grown in the
orchard, but as much fertilizing material
should be added annually as is removed in
the crop. There are without doubt soils so
rich and deep that they will support trees
without any of these precautions, but they
must be considered as exceptions to the
general rule; but no weeds, grass, or
other plants should ever be allowed to grow
near the stems of young trees, especially
apple trees, because, as is well known, the
parent of the apple tree borer will de-
posit her eggs more frequently In trees
thus surrounded than in those not fur
nished with such q convenient retreat.
Mulcbing the soil around newly planted
trees is sometimes practiced with benefi-
cial results, but if continued for several
years in succession, it will cause the roots
to grow near the surface, where they are
! more liable to be injured in severe WIN
tiers, as well as in long protracted drouths
in summer, than if deeper in the SOIL
In cultivating an orchard with a pillow,
some care is requisite to prevent injuring
the roots, and the soil should not be
worked so deep near the trees as at dis
lance from them, but if an occasional root
or number of them are destroyed, it will
be far less injurious than total neglect of
cultivation. When the trees become so
large that they shade the soil under.
meath them, then cultivation may be dis,
pensed with, and the land seeded down to
clover or grass, or, what would be still
better, used as a pasture for hogs, but in
no case should cattle or even sheep be al
lowed in an orchard. AS a rule, orchards
should be cultivated for the first ten or
fifteen years, but should circumstances
show that this system can be dispensed
with in less time, then adopt such a plan
and adhere to it for the alternate system
of blowing for a year or two, and then
seeding down the land among trees is
scarcely to be recommended for any soil
on location.-Hearth and Home. 81. 81