32 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



be protected by tin, wire netting or even old newspapers. How- 

 ever, don't have any of these too dose to the trees. 



Spray young trees with "Sculecide" or whale-oil soap emul- 

 sion. This will invariably add to the vigor of the tree. Above 

 all, make your trees grow, which can be done, either with the 

 cultivation or manure mulch system. 



CULTIVATION vs. OTHER METHODS. 



This topic implies a controversy. While I know full well 

 that the natural condition of much of our New England 

 orchard lands is such that it may not always be feasible to till 

 constantly, nevertheless, as an apple grower striving for methods 

 which shall bring the most profitable results, I am fully per- 

 suaded both through experience and observation that cultivation 

 should be the rule and all other methods, such as manure and 

 grass mulch, are but substitutes to be used wherever cultivation 

 is not possible or feasible. 



Hogs are good cultivators in orchards where plowing may not 

 be feasible, likewise pasturing an orchard with sheep is bene- 

 ficial, but in every case the orchard should be the first considera- 

 tion and the stock the second. As food for thought for those 

 who may be interested in this vital question, I would quote 

 literally the objects and aims of tillage as set forth by one of 

 the leading living authorities on the subject. Professor F. H. 

 King. 



(i) "To secure a thorough surface uniformity of the field, 

 so that an equally vigorous growth may take place over the 

 entire area. 



(2) To develop and maintain a large effective depth of 

 soil, so that there shall be ample living room, an extensive feed- 

 ing surface and large storage capacity for moisture and available 

 plant food materials. 



(3) To increase the humus of the soil through a deep and 

 extensive incorporation of organic matter, 60 that there may 

 be a strong growth of soil micro-organisms and the maintenance 

 of a high content of water-soluble plant food materials. 



(4) To improve the tilth and maintain the best structural 

 condition of the soil so that the roots of the crop and the soil 

 organisms may spread readily and widely to place themselves in 

 the closest contact with the largest amount of food materials. 



