38 . STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Few realize that a ton of mixed hay such as we commonly find 

 growing takes fertility out of the soil in large amounts. The 

 following figures tell the story. 



Nitrogen Potash Phosphoric Acid 



1-37% 1-54% 0.35% 



20 cwt. 



27.41135. 3o.8ft)S. 7fbs. 



1 8c 4^c 5c 



$4.93 $1-38 $ .35 



Total = $6.66 for plant food in i ton hay. 



This taken together with that which goes to building up the 

 tree, the leaves, and the fruit, shows how large the drain 

 on the fertility is under this system of management. Hay 

 is the curse of the apple business as well as the run-down farm 

 in the state of Maine today. 



The third method, that of growing the orchard in grass land, 

 using all the grass as a mulch under the trees, has been widely 

 discussed, being championed by Mr. Hitchings, of New York 

 state. 'Sir. Hitchings' farm is naturally good grass land, and 

 a visit to the place is well worth the expenditure of time and 

 money. Heavy hay crops have been piled under the trees for 

 years until a thick pad or mulch of decaying vegetable matter 

 has been formed into which one sinks ankle deep when he 

 walks through the orchard. The windfalls drop and are 

 imbruised, the trees are low headed and thrifty, the pruning is 

 done so that the trees are open and the fruit takes on a high 

 color. The fact that apples from this orchard have taken first 

 prizes at St. Louis, Buffalo, and the Paris Expositions in com- 

 petition with others grown under dift'erent systems causes one 

 to wonder why the method is not adopted on a larger scale. 



The fourth system, that is, growing cover crops, turning 

 these under, and practicing clean cultivation for a part of the 

 year, seems to be the best method to use on lands which can 

 be easily plowed and harrowed. The beneficial effects of till- 

 age are the same in an orchard as in the open field, namely, that 

 tillage renders the mineral elements in the soil more available, 



