CULTIVATING AND CROPPING 



1916. Repeat 1915 treatment and if trees 

 are not growing too fast, sow clover 

 or hairy vetch as a cover crop. 



1917. Same as 1912, etc. 



Pasturing the Orchard. — The sod mulch 

 system explains itself and does not need illus- 

 tration. Sod orchards are often managed as 

 pasture for animals, however, and this practice 

 should be discussed. An orchard is considered 

 as pastured when a considerable number of ani- 

 mals are turned into it for a greater or less por- 

 tion of the year. Results in orchards where 

 pasturage has been thoroughly tried out show 

 that it is never advisable to pasture an orchard 

 with horses or cattle, but that fairly good re- 

 sults may be expected where sheep or hogs 

 are used. 



The evidence of yield of fruit and appear- 

 ance of trees both indicate that pasturing an 

 orchard with horses or cattle is about the worst 

 possible practice. These animals rub against 

 the trees, break the branches, browse the limbs 

 and leaves, and destroy the fruit as high as 

 they can reach. All experience is against this 

 practice which cannot be too strongly depre- 

 cated. 



75 



