| Show GOOD TILLAGE IS ESSENTIAL TO BEST BES ti development OF ANY PEACH 0 1 7 11 1 0 zv K 4 V tw sif s if A 3 fars ff rs w i a r k ao vy y cr jl A 33 for tillage of orchard where an efficient outfit topography 1 i broken and draft Is heavy mia generally speaking a peach orchard hould be tilled throughout its entire life beginning with the first season after the trees are planted if for the sake of economy or for other reasons it Is impracticable to work the entire area between the trees it Is usually feasible to confine the tillage for the first year or two to a narrow strip along each row but the width of the tilled strip should be extended each season and by the third year the entire surface should receive attention by this time the roots of the tree extend biond beyond the spread of the branches and the entire space space between the rows where the trees have been planted the usual distances apart Is rapidly becoming filled with small rootlets rootless root lets and root hairs through which moisture and plant food in solution are taken up time for tillage under normal or standard conditions in most peach growing districts the advice applies generally to begin the tillage in the spring as soon as the soil Is in suitable condition to work but in the case of bearing orchards some odthe most experienced growers wait until offer after the fruit has set before they begin in the belief that earlier tillage may influence adversely the setting of the fruit the presence of a cover crop its character and the needs of the soil with reference thereto tire are other factors that may influence the late date of beginning of tillage if the soil is hard or if there Is a cover crop that has made considerable growth it will be necessary to turn the soil with a plow and follow with a harrow larrow cultivator or such jtb other HI 6 age ge implement as best suits ill the nis of f individual orchards if I 1 the ami li gb son light ight plowing in the spring canzi 01 ll 11 times be omitted as some type 0 m otcel vator will be lound found adequate adequate to tors derize thoroughly tile the so soil to a si ifflA depth the surface should be kept imi befi nearly level as Its possible aorl for liisi U ij if the soil Is plowed toward the tr ve crt at one time it should be turned aim treet 10 ti from them at a later blowin plowing b 1 it keep soil light in general the orchard I 1 gone over with some kind hind of 0 a implement often enough to keep soil thoroughly light and loosed loose or li other words in the condition of 0 a ia mulch for a depth of at least three three 01 four inches it if a crust forms on t surface or if the dust mulch bemm compact evaporation of the moa axt that Is in the soll soil will become KI ext rapid and an unnecessary ul perhaps serious loss of moisture aia Is needed by the trees will occa bant li the surface is made compact ly by nl tillage Is advisable as a rule ruie ate all each rainy period or after heavy I 1 ers also as much more frequently frequent lyu a the impaired condition of the du aa mulch may make necessary inina la gated orchards tillage should genoa follow soon after eael each application d water end tillage operations tillage operations are usually col BB linued until the lasts last fi july or the first of august betti time the growth of the trees foru tor hi season will have been largely vast ilk fruit buds for the next nest seasons season ss B will have begun to form the fruit 1 the varieties tt ill have a pieced a large proportion or 0 its grom and the later varieties will finish tw development during a period ish eoles moisture Is required for the barlou functions of the tree than earlier it the season where cover crops of it green manure crops are desired NJ should be sowed bowed in many cases by til this time As the trees become large some the extension types of tillage malt ments are advantageous as they the bit possible the working of the soil umer the branches without unduly crowdle the team into the trees |
