The Prescott daily news., 1915-11-29
II. ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
J. $. Knox, Extension Horticulturist,
 University of Arkansas.

University of Arkansas.
 The question of orchard manage ment is one of primary importance to the fruit growers of the state, and al- so one in which every orchardist should be intensely interested. No matter how ideal the soil, location, rainfall, climate, etc, one is not likely to meet with success in orcharding unless the orchard is properly man. aged. As proof of this statement one has to go but a very short distance from his own home. The men who are devoting their time and attention to their orchards and keeping them in good growing condition by cultivating and combating the various insects and diseases are the ones who come out ahead every time. There is all ways a fair market for well grown fruit, ana the time is past when one can grow tirst-class fruit without giv- ing his orchard proper attention.
 Tillaee. One of the first problems that confrontS the orchardist Is that of tllage and here is one point, the importance of which needs to be i'm pressed upon the minds of the fruit growers of the state. It is by no means uncommon to see young or chards coming on where absolutely no care is being given them. Such treatment is bound to result in the destruction of the orchard before many years. or at least to prevent it's ever coming into very profitable bearing.
 Generally speaking, the orchard should be given at least one thor ough and fairly deep cultivation in the late fall of the year, and, if a cover crop of rye, winter oats or wheat is sown at this time, 1t will help to prevent the washing of the land and also help to hold some of the soluble fertilizers in place Dy taking them up and returning them again when turned under in the spring of the year.
 Cultivation during the growing pc, riod should be frequent, but shallow This can be done either by a disc harrow or by several makes of spring tooth harrow. The object is simply to keep down weeds and to hold the soil moisture by keeping a soil mulch established to break the capillary tubes which bring the moisture to the surface
 In order to defray the expense of cultivating a young orchard, crops like beans, peas, sweet potatoes. tur- nips, etc, may be grown between the rows. In cultivating the orchard the other crops will also be kept clean Do not try to cultivate too near the trees and generally by the time the orchard is from 4 to years old it Is time to cease the cropping method, excepting of course tho cover crop which may be sown every fall.
 Soil Fertility. In order to keep an orchard in good bearing condition it is necessary that We use some method of keeping up the fertility of the soil. A heavy crop of fruit every year is bound to deplete the best of soils within few years time. So if we expect to gather a crop of fruit every year we must get some means of add. ing this fertilizer back to the soil This can be done largely perhaps by the use of leguminous cover crops such as cowpeas, soy beans, etc Sta. ble manure is one of the best fertili, CTS that one can use. Do not spread the manure close around the body of the tree, but rather some distance from the tree especially on the older trees. One can tell when the orchard Is lacking in fertility by the growth, color of foliage and general vigor of the trees
 Pruning. The time to begin prun- ing is before the young tree is planted All broken roots should be removed and in case of a two-year-old tree the branches should be thinned out to four or five and these cut pack considerably. It is generally consid- cred best to cut to an outside bud rather than an inside bud as this will cause the tree to spread more and thus give an open head, which is so desirable in case of a peach tree. The