AN APPLE ORCHARD SURVEY OF WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK. 265 



one. If a sod orchard is giving good yields, and if the trees are mak- 

 ing sufficient growth to keep up their vitality, it may be desirable to 

 keep it in sod. By the liberal use of barnyard manure or straw mulch, 

 an orchard may be kept in good condition without tillage. The trouble 

 is that so many do not receive enough of either. The same results may 

 be accomplished with much less manure if the orchard is tilled. If the 

 orchard is in sod and is not yielding well, or if the trees are losing their 

 vitality, even if the yield is still good, it will probably pay to till. 



FIG. 41. One year's growth in a cornfield. A five-acre orchard planted by Jay E. 

 Allis. Compare with Fig. 42. 



Whatever the best treatment of a thrifty orchard may be, there is 

 no question about the advisability of tilling one that needs renovating 

 or of tilling young trees (see page 309, and Figs. 41, 42, 43). 



There are some marked advantages of sod. It requires less work 

 to leave the trees in sod. If the land is very stony, the tillage brings 

 the stones to the surface and makes a bad place for the apples to fall. 

 Sod is also better to haul spray rigs over. Perhaps the greatest 

 advantage is in having a sod for the apples to fall on. This is par- 

 ticularly desirable when the entire crop is to be shaken off for evapo- 



