530 Keport of the Department of Horticulture of the 



The tilled fruit keeps from two to four weeks longer than the 

 sodded fruit; it is also better in quality, being crisper, juicier and 

 of better flavor. 



The average gain in diameter of the trunks for the trees in sod 

 fcr the ten years was 2.39 inches; for the trees under tillage 3.90 

 inches; gain in favor of tillage 1.51 inches. 



The trees in sod lacked uniformity in every organ and function 

 of which note could be taken. The uniformity of the trees under 

 tillage in all particulars was in striking contrast. 



The grass had a decided effect on the wood of the trees, there 

 being many more dead branches on the sodded trees and the new 

 wood was not as plump or as bright in color. 



The leaves of the tilled trees came out three or four days earlier 

 and remained on the trees several days longer than on the sodded 

 trees. They were a darker, richer green, indicating greater vigor, 

 were larger and more numerous on the tilled trees. 



The average cost per acre of growing and harvesting apples in 

 sod was $51-73 5 under tillage $83.48; difference in favor of sod 

 $31.75. Subtracting these figures from the gross return leaves 

 a " balance " per acre for the sodded plats of $74.31; for the tilled 

 plats, of $140.67, an increase in favor of tillage of $66.36. For every 

 dollar taken from the sodded trees, after deducting growing and 

 harvesting expenses, the tilled trees gave one dollar eighty-nine 

 cents. 



The effects of the change from sod to tillage were almost instan- 

 taneous. Tree and foliage were favorably affected before mid- 

 summer of the first year; and the crop, while below the normal, 

 consisted of apples as large in size as any in the orchard, the falling 

 off in yield being due to poor setting. 



The change for the worse was quite as remarkable and as 

 immediate in the quarter of the orchard turned from tillage into 

 sod; the average yield in this quarter was not half that of any one 

 of the other three quarters. 



The use of nitrate of soda in the sod plats greatly increased the 

 vigor of the trees and was a paying investment, yet for the five-years 

 period they bore but a trine more than half as much as the tilled trees. 



The very marked beneficial influence on the sodded trees of 

 ground adjacent under tillage teaches that not only should apples 

 not be grown in sod but that for the best good of the trees there 

 should be no sod near them. 



