KEPOKTS FROM LOCAL SOCIETIES. 103 



this grass theory ; it is not a safe rule to adopt in the general cultivation of 

 orchards. As I look at it this is a matter of common sense. 



Does it look reasonable that an orchard bearing heavy crops of perfect fruit, 

 can also raise a crop of grass that absorbs all the moisture from the ground 

 during an ordinary drouth. I believe more fruit trees, old and young, have 

 died within the last twenty years for want of moisture in the soil than all other 

 causes combined. AVe talk of top dressing the ground and keeping it rich, 

 which is all very well Avhcn trees are bearing heavy crops of fruit ; but we may 

 do all this, and if the ground lacks a good degree of moisture, botli tree and 

 fruit will fail. I should as soon think of getting large crops of perfect fruit 

 (especially of Peaches, Apples, and Plums) where the ground was covered with 

 sheep-skins, wool side up, as from an orchard covered with an old sod of June 

 or blue grass. I never plowed a piece of old sod any time during the summer 

 months that had any moisture in the ground to speak of, but almost invariably 

 as dry as powder. There are only a few seasons in the lifetime of a fruit tree 

 when there would be a sufficient amount of moisture under such a sod necessary 

 to the growth of the tree, and in the same season bear a perfect crop of fruit. 

 Some one will say, "Do you expect a perfect crop of fruit every year?" No. But 

 if everything is done which is necessary to be done, such as proper pruning, 

 destroying insects, etc., in order to insure a perfect crop, it would be the height 

 of folly to have a failure for the sake of getting a small crop of grass that robs 

 the trees of the necessary amount of moisture. Finally, we may be sure of one 

 thing, if we do not rob the ground of its natural moisture by straw crops, grass 

 or weeds, and other things being done necessary for a perfect crop, the failures 

 will be the exception, and not the rule. 



MULCHING YS. CULTIVATION". 



Perhaps there are no two practical theories connected with fruit culture in 

 all its various branches that have been so widely discussed, enlisting so many 

 able advocates on both sides, as these two subjects of mulching and thorough 

 cultivation. 



Let us briefly consider some of the arguments for and against both of these- 

 theories, and by rejecting some of each, we may be able to arrive at a proper 

 conclusion of the whole matter. 



WHAT ARE THE CHIEF BENEFITS OF MULCHING? 



The practice of mulching may be said to be almost indispensable to all fruit 

 trees during the first year after they are planted in the orchard, but more espe- 

 cially if it is done at the time of setting, or very soon afterwards. It is a very 

 great protection to the roots during a drouth by keeping the soil in a fine tilth 

 and holding the moisture during the hot dry weather of the summer months. 

 Not only is it a very great protection to young trees in summer, but it is abso- 

 lutely necessary to be applied in some form for the protection of the roots of 

 all fruit trees through the vigorous changes of winter. Clean culture of fruit 

 orchards and allowing them to remain so during the winter in our very change- 

 able climate, is too hazardous to risk, and often proves very destructive. It 

 would be better, if we must choose between the two, to adopt the grass theory, 

 and top dressing, but both systems should be discarded by the grower of per- 

 fect fruit. So much has been said on this subject of mulching, that it would 

 seem no one who has paid any attention to the subject could be misled. Yet, 

 I fear that some wiio are now practicing mulching will, after a series of years, 



