1362 Depaetment of Agkicultuee 



the size of leaves, amount of foliage, weight of foliage, total leaf 

 area and length of time the leaves remain on the trees, all prove 

 tillage the better method of orchard management to obtain health 

 and vigor of tree. 



One factor alone is quite sufficient to account for the differ- 

 ences noted between sod and tillage, namely, the supply of water. 

 It is held by all soil authorities that in this climate, conserve it as 

 best one can, the seasonal rainfall on the average soil is not more 

 than sufficient for the best development of any crop ; indeed it is 

 seldom sufficient. If then we divide the rainfall between two 

 crops, grass and apples, both must suffer. 



A financial statement is always of interest. The average costs 

 per acre of the two methods were: for the sod, $17.92; tillage, 

 $24.47 ; $6.55 per acre in favor of the sod-mulch. But the cost 

 per barrel of apples was $1.65 for the tilled plat and $2.15 for the 

 sod plat, $.50 per barrel in favor of tillage. It is not cheap 

 methods that give highest profits, but lowest cost of production. 



The best modern orchard practice permits the growing of in- 

 tercrops, hoed crops preferred, in an orchard until the trees come 

 in bearing, and insists upon there being a cover crop sowed at the 

 close of the season's cultivation to be plowed under as a fertilizer 

 the following spring, and to cover the ground in winter as a pro- 

 teetion to the tree roots from cold and to keep the ground from 

 being worked and puddled by fall and spring rains. The use of 

 intercrops and cover crops in orchards gives a splendid opportunity 

 for the study of the likes and dislikes of plants, for some plants 

 seem to be really particular as to the company they keep. For 

 instance, there are observations and some experimental data to 

 show that the peach and the potato will not break bread and sup 

 together in peace and if grown in intimate contact the results are 

 disastrous, especially to the peach. Much ill-feeling is manifest 

 between the cereals and the peach ; not so marked between the 

 cabbage family and the peach ; while members of the clover family 

 are pleasant and profitable companions for peaches. All this sug- 

 gests that crops for the orchard must be chosen with some care. If 

 an intercrop is sown, keep tree and crop so separated that they 

 can not trouble each other. In the use of cover crops usually 



