808 



THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN Xi-:w YORK STATE 



Table 1 speaks for itself. It can be seen that tillage lias in all 

 cases increased the yield considerably, while the sod treatment 

 has lowered it. 



GEXERAL EFFECT OF SOD MULCH FOR TEX YEARS COMPARED TO 

 TILLAGE AXD COVER CROPS 



In comparing the quarter of the orchard that had been in sod 

 for ten years with the quarter under tillage and cover crops for 

 the same length of time, probably the greatest difference could be 



FIG. 215. Row OF TOMPKIXS COUNTY KTXGS C.ROwixa UXDKR THE MULCH 

 SYSTEM ON FARM OF L. L. MORRELL, KIXDERHOOK, X.. Y. 



seen. At the end of the ten years, the tilled trees looked more 

 vigorous and healthy than ever before, but the trees in sod cer- 

 tainly presented a sickly appearance. The foliage was sparse, 

 the leaves small and yellow. The trees were making practically 

 no terminal growth. Their appearance was that of a starved 

 orchard. Measurements showed that during the ten years the 

 trunks of the tilled trees had increased 1.51 inches more in trans- 

 verse diameter than had those in the sod plat. This means much 



