218 ANNUAL REl'ORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



almost every one who i)l;mts an orchard crop the soil to the ex- 

 tent of its capacity and makes but little effort to keep up the sup- 

 ply of humus it must be that the opinion is nearly general that such 

 a course is not harmful. 



Let us start with the self-evident x^roposition that the need of 

 humus is greater in an old than in a young orchard. This being 

 true the supply ought to be kept up in an increasing ratio. In 

 practice this cannot well be done, for the cover crops which may 

 be grown between the trees are in a decreasing ratio. We have 

 then, two alternatives; to manure the orchard in its old age, or 

 to fill the soil at the beginning as full as possible of humus, and 

 to keep up the piocess as loug as may be done without injury 

 to the trees. That means to reverse the usual custom and instead 

 of using up the humus as fast as possible hold it in reserve against 

 the old age of the trees. According to this doctrine we ought 

 never, at any period of the orchard's existence, allow the supply 

 of humus to run low, even if cultivation must be diminished, tempo- 

 rarily, or suspended altogether. 



No one will deny the need of humus during the productive years 

 of an orchard, and the difficulty of adding to or keei)iug up the 

 supply at this time is apparent. It follows, then, that to begin 

 early to store it in the soil is the only logical course. Coupled with 

 this must be an earnest effort to save from needless destruction 

 that which is already on hand. Treat humus in an orchard pre- 

 cisely as an annuity, to be jealously guarded against the time when 

 it will be needed most. One can no more afford to fritter away 

 the humus in an orchard by trivial intercropping, and needless 

 cultivation, than he can to put a bank deposit at the disposal of a 

 spendthrift. 



Doubtless my position on this matter may seem extreme and 

 some of the statements made may be questioned, but it is hardly 

 worth while to prolong the discussion on this point in view of the 

 necessity of considering the practical details of conserving and in- 

 creasing the humus content of the soil, while starting an orchard. 



There are two methods of orchard management which are com- 

 monly regarded as opposite and antagonistic: viz., The grass mulch 

 method and the cover crop and culture method. Formerly I be- 

 lieved fully in the cover crop and culture system and later gave 

 my preference to the grass mulch plan, at least on hill lands, but 

 now the good points of both seem to be about equal. I would adopt 

 either one, or a combination of both, to suit the circumstances and 

 conditions. Both are good, if suitably adapted to the conditions 

 and properly carried out, which unfortunately is not often done. 



A cover crop is required by both methods. One involves tillage 

 and the other substitutes a mulch for culture. To start an orchard 

 properly according to the grass mulch method a well seeded tract 

 should be selected, and preferably one in pasture, and to specify 

 more particularly, an old pnsture; the best of all being one which 

 was seeded when the timb'er was cut and never plowed. 



Dig holes in the grass two or three feet across and place a liberal 

 mulch about each tree as soon as planted. Mulch each year, gradu- 

 ally extending the circle, keeping out a little beyond the spread of 

 the branches. Mow the grass once or twice each year and if the 

 growth is sufficient it may, for a few years, be gathered and placed 



