The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-24

or dairy farming in order 10 grow
good fruit, but if good fruit is to be
produced in conjunction with these
other lines of agriculture, then the
farmer must recognize the fact that
there are certain things the orchard
demands which are quite as impor-
tant from the standpoint OF fruitp rO-
duction as feeding the COW or cult
waiting the corn is in the other lines.
-Four-fifths of the farm orchards
are operated at a loss so far as the
value Of the fruit is concerned. If
the orchard is used for farm crops
after the fuiting age is reached, then
the trees are a drawback to the pro-
| duction of these crops, not only be-
| cause Of the additional trouble in
| putting them in, but in the lessened
| yield. An orchard should be an
orchard, not a grain or hay field and
| an orchard combined. Sn the latter
| instance, neither crop has half
| chance. Either the orchard should
! be given the care and attention which
/ is necessary to make it a paying pro-
| position, or it had better be discard
| ed and the land used for something
/ else. There is general awakening
along the line Of proper care of
orchards, but in a great many in
| stances, the grower IS not conVerSant
| with what constitutes the best or
chard management. This requires
some study. but it is worth while.
The soil of the orchard should re-
| ceive special attention and several
methods of handling soils are now be-
ing practiced. Pasturing the orchard
is common in many sections and
shouldbe discouraged as should also
the growing Of hay or corn IN the or
| chard The clean culture cover crop"
system is preferred by the best grow
ers and consists essentially Of keep
ing the orchard under clean cultiva-
ton during the first part OF the sea
son and then sowing cover crop
which remains on the soil during the
winter By using legumincus crops
and ploWing them under, farulity may
| also be added. The soil Of the young
orchard should be treated differently
from that of the bearing orchard and
small fruits and same field and garden
crops may be grown between the rows
until the young trees are old enough
to bear fruit. Continuous cropping
| is the quickest method of depicting
soil fertility. In the orchard. rota-
ton is impossible, therefore the or
cnards should even be more alert con
cerning the preservation Of soil fer
tility than the grain farmer.
The fertility of the orchard needs
: to be kept up in order that profitable
E Yields of fruit may he secured. Eeee-
table matter should be added to the
E soil 10 keep it in good filth and pient,
, OF nitrogen fertilizers should be added
. to live strong growth OF wood. From
/ eight to ten tons of stable manure pei
acre once in two years Will be Sufh
1 cient on average soils In alternate
Y wears commercial fertilizers may bs
e used When 1egume cover crops ar'
| grown the amount Of nitrogen and
manure may be considerably reduced
Good cultivation is necessary at th'
same time as the land should Away
| be kept in good filth.
Pruning the bearing orchard should
= be regular and systematic. since tree:
D that are neglected when young never
: fully regain perfect form. The prun
q ing should begin when the tree Is Set
for the purpose Of forming lov