The Pulaskian., 1915-11-19
II. ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
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 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 al- ways a fair market for well grown fruit, ano the time Is past when one can grow first-class fruit without giv- ing his orchard proper attention.
 Tilage. One of the first problems that confronts the orchardist IS that of tillage and here is one point, the importance of which needs to be im- pressed upon the minds of the fruit growers of the state. It is by no means uncommon to sec 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 cover crop of rye, winter oats or | wheat is sown at this time, 1t will help to prevent the washing of the l 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 per 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 soil mulch established to break the capillary tubes which bring the moisture to the surface.
 In order to defray the expense Of cultivating young orchard, crops like beans, peas, sweet potatoes, tur- hips, etc, may be grown between the rows. In cultiyating 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 1t Is time to cease the cropping method, excepting of course the cover crop which may be sown every fall. Soil Fertility. In order to keep m orchard in good bearing condition 1t is necessary that we use some method of keeping up the fertility of the soil. A heavy crop of fruit every year ia bound to deplete the best of soils within few years time So if w0 expect to gather crop of fruit every l year Wc lluSt ScI oOIllC AiC0AS OA pA1V, ing this fertilizer back to the soil. l 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 fertiIi1r CTS that one car use. Do 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 1 foliage and general vigor of the trees.
 Pruning. The time to begin prun- l ing is before the young tree lg planted. All broken roots should be removed and in case of a two-year-old tree the branches should be thinned l cut to four or five and these cut pack considerably. It is generally conside cred best to cut to an outside bud rather than an inside bud as this will cause the tree to spread more and l thus give an open head, which is so l desirable in case of peach tree. The l branches should be equally distrib-E uted around the body of the tree and should be at least four or i've inches apart on the young tree. Trees should not be allowed to become f1veI or six years old before pruning is be- gun, because 1t is then necessary 6. remove some large branches, thus making wounds on tho tree that aro| hard to heal On the other hand. trees that are kept pruned from tho time they are planted have only tho' necessary branches left and all thak is necessary is to keep the eroWtk thinned out and shortened back