STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 165 



leaves and blossoms, this one had drawn enough moisture from the 

 cistern to keep it in a fine growing condition. 



In visiting, the same day, the orchard and nursery belonging to 

 Mr. J. Webster, I found that on the west side of the orchard, be- 

 tween the two outer rows of trees, was a strawberry bed. This had 

 been mulched during the past winter, and last spring the straw was 

 removed and scattered a))()ut ecfually along the ground under the 

 two rows of trees. Whether there was any effort to distribute the 

 straw evenly as it was taken from the strawberry bed, or not, I can- 

 not say, but should judge that the straw lay where it would be the 

 most conveniently thrown in removing it, without much thought of 

 its benefit to the orchartl. But it did have a decided effect upon the 

 trees. The foliage looked brighter, was more profuse, and there were 

 more and fairer apples on these trees than on those in adjoining rows. 

 It can not be said that this better condition was due to the trees be- 

 ing of souie particular kind that would do well without the mulch, 

 for, fortunately, there were several varieties in these two rows, so 

 that here at least was a fair trial, so far as varieties are concerned. 



But I have another instance from the northern part of the 

 State. While in Belvidere I learned that a Mr. Tripp, living on 

 Bonus Prairie, a few miles to the northeast of that town, was in the 

 habit of mulching his trees, and as a result his trees were not in- 

 jured by these climatic conditions we have been considering, and he 

 always had a good supjjly of apples. His plan is, I believe, to mulch 

 in the fall, spreading the straw over the ground so as to cover it as 

 far as the roots extend. This is what nature does with leaves in a 

 forest. 



Last year, in the Centralia meeting, Mr. Johnpeter said: "I 

 planted an orchard many years ago, and for three or four years 

 planted to potatoes and mulched thoroughly with straw. The mulch 

 acted as a fertilizer, as well as retained the moisture in the soil, keeping 

 the trees in a fine condition.'" This is as far as my observation ex- 

 tends as to cases where mulching has been practiced. In talking 

 with horticulturists I find that several favor something of the kind. 

 Mr. Coleman, of Belvidere, the nurseryman, says we ought not to 

 expect to raise apples by starving the trees, speaking more especially 

 at that time of the benefit of a mulch as a fertilizer. His plan is 

 like Mr. Hammond's, to grow some crop on the ground, like clover, 

 and allow it to remain as a mulch. But all agree that good drainage 

 is of great importance. I do not agree, however, with one of the 

 Prairie Farmer writers, who quoted that our soil is too rich. On 

 the contrary, I would agree with the article quoted from Mr. Ham- 

 mond, that, through neglect and other causes, our soil is much of it 

 too poor, and needs replenisiiing. I find this is the view of many of 

 our most observing orchardists. In addition to this 1 would say, 



