ORCHARDING IN MINNESOTA. 339 



For seeding down the orchards red clover was the most 

 popular legume, as it was used nineteen times, white sweet clover 

 was used three times and alsike twice. Timothy was used nine 

 times, blue grass six times and red top once. Junegrass ap- 

 peared late in nine additional orchards, and so it was the most 

 prevalent grass. Timothy and quack grasses also gained en- 

 trance into one orchard each. Of the common mixtures, red 

 clover and timothy took the lead. 



Fifteen, or one-half of the sod orchards, were used as pas- 

 tures for calves, cows, hogs, sheep and horses. Injury was noted 

 in two cases from sheep, in one case by calves chewing off 

 branches and in one case by "hungry hogs." Probably minor 

 injuries were caused by the packing of the soil by the heavy 

 animals, as cattle and horses, but if they occurred they were 

 too small to be noted. In four cases the grass was removed and 

 in four cases it was left for a mulch. 



Twenty-nine of the thirty-seven orchards were manured or 

 mulched. The amount of manure applied varied from a light 

 dressing to a dressing six inches in thickness. Thus it is evi- 

 dent that sod, with a dressing of manure, is the most common 

 method of managing orchards in the southeastern part of the 

 state, that is, after they come into bearing. 



The central-east section of the state, which includes the well 

 known Minnetonka Lake fruit district, led all the other districts 

 by a margin of eighteen reports. Of the fifty-five growers, forty 

 have cultivated their orchards at one time or another, although 

 only five have practiced tillage alone. Of these five, probably 

 two or three will soon put their orchards into sod, and probably 

 at least one will continue tillage, as his orchard has already been 

 cultivated forty years. Forty-eight growers have used sod in 

 their orchards and fourteen of them do not admit of having ever 

 cultivated their orchards. Probably some of them have, how- 

 ever, as some of them state that cultivation increases vigor, 

 growth, etc. As in the southeastern section, cover crops are 

 little used. Five growers stated that they had planted cover 

 crops, but sufficient data were not given to form an estimate of 

 their value. One grower, however, reported that he used millet 

 to reduce the growth of his trees, and another that he obtained 

 no benefits, as his soil was sufficiently fertile. 



Intercrops are very popular, as twenty-seven, or nearly one- 

 half of the growers, have grown small fruits, vegetables, or 

 both, in their orchards. As in the previous section, strawberries 



