98 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE, 



outside. Our mulch method, therefore, differs somewhat from 

 the so-called "Hitchings" plan, the difference being primarily 

 in the maintenance of a definite mulch under the trees, with 

 materials brought from outside sources when necessary. As a 

 means of conserving moisture, the definite vegetative mulch is 

 greatly superior to the other plan. 



Incidentally it may be noted here that some definite protec- 

 tion against mice must be provided in any mulching system. 

 This can be done by screens, poisons, or proper coatings, and 

 especially by maintaining a clear space for at least a foot out 

 from the bases of the trees. In ordinary practice also, the best 

 results with the mulch system can doubtless be secured by using 

 leguminous plants of relatively low moisture draft, such as 

 hairy vetch, to act as the permanent cover and to furnish at 

 least part of the mulch. Although essentially an annual, this 

 plant frequently lasts fairly well for two or more seasons after 

 a single seeding. 



This is especially true after the soil gets properly inoculated, 

 and where the winters are not too severe. The latter are appar- 

 ently withstood better when the vetch is planted along with rye, 

 or some similar plant than when planted alone. Incidentally, 

 we know of one orchardist who is apparently maintaining hairy 

 vetch permanently by letting it grow until the seed has formed 

 in considerable abundance and then giving it a rather thorough 

 discing about midsummer or whenever a sufficient number of 

 seeds have matured. 



RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS IN YOUNG ORCHARDS. 



These experiments — on trees planted for the purpose — natur- 

 ally have not yet fruited to any important extent. They are 

 showing considerable differences in growth, however, and it is 

 the latter feature that will be considered here. 



The effects on wood growth obtained from various treat- 

 ments in one of the young orchards at the College are shown 

 in Table II. These trees were planted in the spring of 1908, 

 in a much depleted soil of limestone origin. In the first 5 plats, 

 the soil was plowed in the fall of 1907, and prepared about as 

 for corn before planting in the following spring. In the last 

 three plats, no tillage was given either immediately before plant- 

 ing or afterwards. The trees were simply planted with a spade 



