220 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



hard and retentive of water will result much worse in hot/ drouthy 

 weather against tree and its products and would be of little account 

 unless artificial assistance is given. 



Heat and drouth affects the tree and its product accordingly 

 as those natural laws of vegetable growth are complied with. 

 Those fine fibrous roots size of cambric needles are the feeders and 

 life and support of the tree. 



In dry hard soil they cannot feed and support the tree and 

 fruit no more than the fibrous roots of corn can support the stalk 

 and make large fine ears of corn under the same circumstances. 



We distinctly understand in corn farming we must give the 

 small roots a chance to feed the stalk to make the ear grow to per- 

 fection and in like manner the fibrous roots of fruit trees must 

 have a chance to feed in order to j)erfect their fruit. 



In apple orchards, all conditions being favorable, the roots ex- 

 tend out as far as the tops go high or wide. They naturally require 

 a reasonably moist and mellow soil and to secure this result in dry, 

 hot weather I prefer cultivating, and do it thoroughly, and more 

 particularly in southwest Missouri. Indeed, I know from practical 

 experience in southwest Missouri, that to have healthy, fine trees, 

 we must cultivate and never cease doing so. Our apple trees 

 commence to decline and this affects the fruit. "\Ye can mulch, 

 though I do not think it practicable in large bearing orchards, or 

 even those of common size, on account of being very expensive. 



It is not within the line of my essay, though permit to say, 

 and I have no fear of successful contradiction, that the unhealthi- 

 uess of our apple orchards in southwest Missouri is due to the 

 three following causes : Wet soil, deep planting, non-cultivation. 



In small fruits mulching is practicable, and in some cases 

 preferable, for a portion of the time, to so much cultivation. 



In summing up this article, I will say, we must seek to furnish 

 food for the fine roots, in dry, hot weather. Or else, to the extent 

 we fail to do so, we injure the growth of the tree, and everything 

 that does this affects its products. 



