Early Plowing

Many people make the common mistake of thinking that

a green manure crop must be allowed to grow until late in June in

order to secure the maximum amount of growth. There are several

reasons why this is not good practice. In the first place cultivation

is most essential in the early spring as has been pointed out. Then

moisture is better conserved by plowing under the crop early and a

better physical condition of the soil secured. Plowing early in the

spring warms up the soil and sets plants to work more quickly. Lastly,

material rots much more quickly in the early spring when moisture is

more abundant, which is very important.



An apple tree is as much a crop as anything grown on the farm and must

be so regarded by those who would become successful orchardists. When

it is not properly fed and cared for, good yields of fruit may not

justly be expected. Especially is this true of an orchard which is

being intercropped. But because of the fact that an apple tree is not

an annual crop but the product of many years' growth, because its root

system is deeper and more widely spread out than those of other crops,

and because the amount of plant food removed in a crop of fruit is

comparatively small, fertilization is less important than many

persons would have us think. It is a fact that where orchards receive

good cultivation and a liberal supply of humus commercial fertilizers

give but medium results.