472 



BULLETIN 229. 



sod treatment thus far generally tested is to pasture with sheep or hogs 

 and give liberal applications of barnyard manure. 



There are many sod orchards that are giving good yields. Some of 

 these are producing well, but are having their period of productiveness 

 shortened by sod ; some are yielding well and are thrifty. Of the seventy 

 orchards that have been in sod five to ten years or more and that reported 



FIG. 162. Fall Pippin. One of the old household favorites. 



the yields for 1904, only 14 gave yields equal to the average of the tilled 

 ones. The average proportion for the five years has been the same. 

 That is, one in five of the sod orchards give as good yields as the average 

 tilled ones. Not nearly this number could be said to be very successful. 

 To be called successful the orchard should certainly be in the better half 

 of the tilled ones not merely equal to the average, which has been low- 

 ered by the neglected orchards. Allowing for the trouble and cost of 

 plowing, the loss of pasture, etc., it would still seem that about four-fifths 

 of the sod orchards would pay better if tilled. 



Many who have tried tillage have made the mistake of tilling too late 

 in the season. Much of the objection to the practice would not exist were 

 it not for this mistake. If a cover-crop is sown early in July, the trees 



