The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-03-29
Crops Between Young Trees.


A California exchange discusses at
some length a subject that from time
to time has claimed the attention of Flor
ida orange growers-plantiDg crops be-
tween the rows of young fruit trees.
The exchange discusses the subject, of
course, from California standpoint still
many suggestions are throw out that
will be of interest to Floridians. The
AGRICULTURIsT has frequently referred
to this matter and has cited numerous
instances where large and profitable
crops of corn have been grown between
the rows of young orange trees. Of
course when crop is planted sufficient
fertilizer must be supplied to feed both
the crop and the trees. The California
paper says:
The question of whether we shall grow any
crop in young orchards not is one that
creates considerable discussion pro and con- Al
ter considerable observation and experience we
have concluded that not only may crops be
grown profitably among young trees, but that
those orchards, rule, most thrifty where
some sort of crop has been cultivated during
the season However much may be said by the no
crop advocates about leaving the orchard clear
for thorough cultivation, it is undoubtedly q
fact that the additional incentive of securing
some kind of a crop has given much
better cultivation to the orchard than it might
have had otherwise. The question OF what to
plant must be determined chiefly by local condi-
uob cOi1 arfzo of
hoed crop may be planted, although corn must
be planted so far from the trees as to not allow
much of crop. This, of course, excludes grain
or broadcast sowing of any kind.
The next important consideration and one
that is frequently overlooked by many is the
manner in which the crop raised is utilized or
made profitable. Last season one locality plan
ted peanuts only to find after they were gath
cred, that the local market was overstocked, and
that freight rates prevented their exploration.
Another locality had a similar experience with
potatoes. These occurrences point emphatically
to the need of greater diversity in our agricult-
ural work. If we cannot readily and successfully
reach a market with these smaller crops or by
products, we must convert them into a more fin
ished product or raise those things which we can
turn into food products like poultry, pork, NUT
from between the trees on three acres of prune
orchard enough pumpkins to feed thirty hogs
and six dairy COWS all winter, besides giving sew
eral colts and work horses frequent feed We
also found profitable for the early potato
crop in fattening summer pigs. This season we
expect to plant all of young orchard to
pumpkins, beets and potatoes, to be marketed
through hogs, COWS, perhaps fat steer or two
ard feed for the young horses, and our trees
compare favoraby with those where no crop is
grown. With beets and potatoes cultivation
can be continued all summer Pumpkins need
not be planted until Ju the orchard may
be cultivated several times before planting and
before the vines spread to prevent it. Pumpkins
are also excellent on landwhere alkali has a ten
dency to appear, as the vines shade the ground
and prevent the evaporation of the moisture di
recty from the surface.