The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-08-31
TREATMENT Of ORCHARDS
CULTIVATION AND GROUND FEED.
ING QUITE NECESSARY.
BY J. c. Written, Professor Of Horti'
culture, College Of Agriculture,
University Of Missouri.


Apple orchards need cultivation
Just as do other crops, as corn or
potatoes. The cultivation should be-
gin early in the spring, so as to
warm and aerate the ground, stimu-
late the growth of roots, and let
the spring rains penetrate to the sub
soil where the water may be stored
till the hot, dry months of summer.
Clean and thorough cultivation of or
chards would have been great help
in some orchards this year, and
would have prevented much fruit
from falling off on account Of the ex-
IRENE dryness.
The object of cultivation is not so
much to keep weeds from growing as
to break up and pulverize the surface
layer of the soil and thus prevent
the excessive evaporation of water.
Various tools are used for the work.
The pillow is often satisfactory, and
the cutaway disk or disk harrow may
be used satisfactorily. The later part
OF the cultivation should be shallow
so that too deep a layer of soil will
not be dried out. A crust on the
surface should always be broken up
and a mulch of pulverized dry soil
kept on top to hold the moisture.
Especially in a dry year like this
one, cultivation will help great deal
to better success with apple orchards.
The proper time to cease cultiva-
tion in autumn is question frequent
ly asked. Some growers set def
mite date-say the first Of August,
after which cultivation is not to be
recommended. 1t is claimed by some
growers that cultivation after given
date will stimulate late autumn
growth and prevent the wood from
properly maturing for winter.
Experiment seems to indicate that
there is no fixed date upon which cul-
tivation should cease, but that this
should be governed by the condition
Of the trees. the weather and other
conditions. There is no doubt that a
late autumn growth which sometimes
induces trees to open flower buds and
wood buds that should have remained
dormant until spring is very undeslr-
able. 1t is probable, however that
ceasing cultivation too early may be
as conducive to this undesirable con-
dition of trees as is cultivating too
late. 1t is also probable that proper
cultivation at the right time may do
much toward correcting this tendency
toward late growth, which is some
times introduced by unusual weather
conditions.
When conditions for growth are
favorable throughout the season, and
-rees are making abundant growth,
it Is no doubt best to cease cultiva-
ton in ample time for the wood to
ripen, say the first OF August
II drouth comes on in late summer
or early autumn, it may be best to
keep the land In good filth in order
to conserve sufficient moisture to en-
able the trees to properly mature
their tissues
If trees are carrying heavy crop
OF fruit during dry autumn they
may require cultivation until the crop
is gathered. Cultivation at such
time, so far from promoting late
autumn growth, is usually necessary
to enableSthe tree to mature its fruit
without loss of vitality.
The more abundant the growth
early in summer, the later will cult
walton be necessary to properly ma
ture this growth, provided the wealth
or is dry and hot during late summer
and early autumn, or ii the trees are
heavily loaded with fruit.
One of the most favorable condi-
tons for abnormal autumn growth
is to cease cultivation just before
q dry, hot August. Under these cir
the trees suffer from lack
Of moisture and enter their dormant
state prematurely. If warm, rainy
follows in autumn, the trees
often begin spring-like growth and &C.
tivity at the time they should become
dormant for winter.
The value Of cultivation in the or
chard has been extensively tested by
the Missouri Agricultural Experiment
Station, and decisive results have
been obtained. 1t is found that in
those orchards which have been cul
tivated most the growth of the
young trees is the greatest. More
important than this, however, is the
fact that trees in a cultivated orchard
make a more uniform growth than
DO those in one not cultivated. And
It is decidedly true that trees in cul-
tivated orchards are much less af
Iected by drouth than are the others. |
The effects OF a drouth may not al
ways be seen in the orchard until a
year or two years afterward.
However important clean cultiva-
lion is, it Is not to be understood |
hat the ground should be left bare.
t is very desirable and almost es-
rental to raise some kind Of other |
.rop in the orchard. Corn may be |
grown to some extent, although this |
NOV ho ovordnuo Tho omnunt IF |