ORCHARDING IN MINNESOTA. 341 



especially the raspberry, have caused injury in two of the or- 

 chards. Vegetables have apparently done no harm. Four 

 growers stated that cultivation has increased the vigor, growth 

 and productiveness of the trees, while one grower asserted that 

 "tillage is a sure method of killing." 



One of the sod orchards was in wild grass and the other 

 in Junegrass. Grass was left in both of them for a mulch, with 

 the exception that in one the grass was removed in the fall by 

 cattle. 



Cultivated orchard, mulched with straw manure, at University Farm, Minnesota 

 State Agricultural College. 



Manure was reported as being used in five of the orchards 

 and with one exception its effects were considered beneficial. 

 One grower applied in the fall, in addition to the manure, two 

 bushels of sawdust per tree. The sawdust was removed in the 

 spring, and he reported that it protected the roots and did not 

 harbor mice. 



Neither cover crops nor blight were mentioned, but, accord- 

 ing to Dr. E. C. Stakman, no significance can be attached to the 

 absence of blight, as it occurs in the northern part of the state. 



The northwestern section also contributed six reports and, 

 like the northeastern section, two orchards were reported as 

 being in sod. Four of the orchards have been cultivated from 

 two to ten years and no complaint of injury has been noted, and 

 in fact an increase in health, vigor, growth and productiveness 



