52 NEBRASKA STATE IIORTICULTUUAT. SOCIETY 



similar measurements from the past season's growth of these plats for 

 comparison also, but owing to the lack of time and the cold weather of 

 late, they have not been measured, but will be very soon. 



However we have compared the trees in these plats, and find there 

 is quite a noticeable difference in the growth the trees made last year 

 in favor of the cultivated area. This would indicate that many of our 

 old orchards in the state, which are now growing In stiff grass sods or 

 weeds, would be induced to throw out quite a vigorous growth and in 

 this way help to rejuvenate them, if they were plowed up and cultivated 

 for two or three seasons. In fact T know of several instances where sucli 

 has been the case, and the results have not only been an increased vig- 

 orousness in the trees themselves, but larger yields of fruit have resulted. 

 In talking with some of these men, who l)y the way are mostly those who 

 have been leasing orchards, I find that they intend to keep their orchards 

 under cultivation. 



As was stated at the beginning of this paper, no definite conclusions 

 are to be obtained from this work, as it should cover a period of several 

 years. However they would indicate that in order to obtain the largest 

 growth of new wood each j^ear, that clean cultivation, i. e. cultivation 

 every ten days to two weeks, throughout the entire growing season, or a 

 straw mulch should be used. The former may be used for only a short 

 series of years, as the erosion of the soil and the lack of organic matter 

 added would soon be showing up very strongly again.st this method of 

 culture. Then there is the danger of the wood not becoming mature 

 by the time weather, that would injure the late growth, would set in. 



The straw mulch is objectionable as it does not encourage deep root- 

 ing, is a breeding place for insects and diseases and then there is the 

 danger of fire if orchard heaters are used. 



While the clean cultivation followed by a cover crop does not seem 

 to send out as much new wood each year, we must remember that what 

 new wood is produced is fully matured, thus eliminating any loss due to 

 the early freezing of the twigs. The trees in this plat seem to be as 

 thrifty and have made as great a total growth in the series of years 

 since the culture plats were started as any of the plats. Alternate 

 freezing and thawing is also lessened as the cover crop holds a carpet 

 of leaves and snow on the ground better than any of the other methods. 



In conclusion, I would recommend that the clean cultivation with 

 the cover crop sown in July be used wherever possible, and especially 

 where the same method of culture is to be practiced year after year. 

 Orchards in sod or weeds should receive a thorough cultivation for two 

 or three years to put the trees in a more vigorous growing condition, but 

 do not continue too long, as serious losses of soil by surface runoff are 

 sure to follow as soon as the vegetation consisting of roots and growth 

 above ground are thoroughly decayed. 



