The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-02
Work in the Orchard.

Now that summer is approaching. and the
grass and weeds are growing. Wnat Will you
do about the orchard Too often n II @ is som j e; !
he fruit do not know all about orchards.
Indeed, few do. But II wonld certainly be do
ing the right thing TO plow the orchard care
fully and well, II that has not been done s ear r.,
| lier in the spring. II the trees are planted In
rows. as they usually are, this will not be
very difficult. But II the orchard is one of
those in which the trees are stanotnG irrses- 2,
cult to plow, az the limbs OF lhe trees WILL be
In the way.
When the trees are In rows. this difficulty
will be partly removed. In plowing. the dirt
should be thrown n towards The trees, u II away
from them, 30 that when the worn ls nulshed
the rows OF trees will atand In the center OF
wide landa, with furrows between. II Will be
hest not 10 plow very deep near The trees.
Further away, It, will not hurt to plow some
deeper. 1t is always safe 10 ploW quite deep
In young orchard. AS the trees grow older
the pIowing should not be discontinued, but
he depth should be lesa, for the tree roots
have taken possession OF the soil, and deep
plowing would break them unnecessarily. II
the trees are In rows two ways, IL Will oe pos
slble to break the groupd between tne trees
AN unbroken square OF soil around each tree.
This unbrok en- ground should be Kept clear OF
weeds with the hoe or grass scythe. AS tne
trees grow and the limbs reach out, u VIII not
be possible 10 plow near them any longer, but
IL will not then be peeded The open spaces
between rows should still be plowed, as the
earth mulch thus formed Will be valuable as
a means of checking evaporation after rains.
Water Is essential in the sum mer, and easily
lost Anything that will help to keep 1t IN
the ground where IL will reach the tree roots.
will be beneficial. So 1t Ia evident that tht
top soil should be kept broken. II possible, a.
ter heavy rainR, throughout the growing
season, lust as In the f. Id crops. This will
make good deal OF work, but cultivation ie
just as helpful to growing trees as to growing
crops.
Since, then, 1t is best to Keep the top soil
fine and broken, IT. is generally good plan 10
plant some allow growing sun mer crop among
the trees. Cotton. potatoes, peanuts, or peas
will be good. Then In giving these crops The
necessary cult ration, we would also be work-
Ing the trees. But always The trees should De
left wide ed.
Corn and cane are not hest planted among
/ e"s, as they requir- much mo stu'e, and
viii tax etco much { o n tho trees at the time
when hey most ne d 1t. Il IL Is not possible TO
have cultivated crops in The orchard, IL VIII
he good man TO SOW peas broadcast, and
they will help protect the ground from The
summer sun, apd will gather nitrogen
rhrongn the growing period II the soil is
not very rich, ibis nitrogen will be needed;
These things suggest themselves at this
time OF year. To others some other usein'
thoughts Will occur. This we should remem-
Der, thut the orchard will respond TO careful,
intelligent treatment as much as W IL tht
field crops. Good cultivation will make the
trees more vigorous and more resistant TO
disease. What Is true Of fruit trees is
equally true Of grapesand other small fruits;
The frat and deepast plnwing might we'll
have been done earlier. II not, then do II
now. The later work, whatever is given.
should be Rballower. as 1t Ia intended az an
earth. mulch to conserve the raiL fall. X.