12 MAINK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I903. 



of the soil, as a result of tillage, is also an important factor in 

 successful crop production, since, as a rule, the amount of water 

 which falls during the growing season is entirely inadequate for 

 the growth of plants during that time. 



Figure 7. Cultivated plot in 1902. Tallman shown in figure 6 in the foreground. 



Naturally those soils which are open and porous, which con- 

 tain a large number of spaces between the particles, will retain 

 the moisture to better advantage, and will give better oppor- 

 tunity for the roots of plants to penetrate them and take up the 

 food-laden moisture there stored, than will a compact soil — in 

 the same way that a sponge will take up a larger amount of 

 moisture than a block of wood. By deep plowing, thorough 

 working, and the addition of organic matter by means of cover 

 crops, this spongy condition desired is obtained, and the growth 

 of orchard crops as well as of farm and garden crops is fostered. 



But not all New England orchards are susceptible of culti- 

 vation. In such cases some other method of treatment must be 

 devised. A heavy mulch of hay, leaves or sawdust (preferably 

 not fresh sawdust) conserves the moisture and prevents the 

 growth of robber plants — weeds ; to this extent favoring growth 

 of trees. The roots, however, are developed near the surface 

 and in time of severe drough, especially if the mulching is not 



