Sur Face -rooting: Soil Management.-Fruits thrive over a wide range of soils so that this requirement is somewhat less exacting. It has been found, however, that "trees, which by deep and extensive rooting, have the greatest soil and moisture resources, give the largest and most consistent yields and fruit of the best quality." The basic requirement then is a soil which is retentive of moisture, but well-aerated and favorable to deep rooting.
To obviate this danger, growers often set the plants rather deeply and for the first few years work the soil away from them so as to induce deep rooting. They always use shallow rooting cover crops. It is another popular misconception that the plants do best in undrained soil. The best orchards of western New York, where the quince is an important crop, are upon well-drained land.
The tree seldom grows more than 20 feet tall. It should be trained in bush form, that is, with several stems, though some growers prefer the tree form with only one stem.
in Getting Ready For Planting. (See Chapter 5). While it is true that with expert attention, including careful fertilizing and watering, excellent turf can be grown on as little as four inches of topsoil, it is a trying business, not recommended for the amateur. Depth of soil is mighty important. I prefer eight inches of moderately good topsoil to four or five of very good overlying a poor substatum. The roots will go deeper in the former and deep rooting is one of the chief secrets of success with lawn grasses. Deep rooting makes for strong plants, able to take up sufficient food and moisture to insur face -rootinge vigorous growth. When dry weather or other adverse conditions come deep-rooted grasses sur face -rootingvive when others die out miserably.
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