298 



BULLETIN 262, 



IX. TREATMENT IN 1905 OF MATURE ORCHARDS 



(a) Not included in percentage determinations. 



X. TREATMENT IN 1905 OF YOUNG TREES. (SET SINCE 1895) 



Soil methods with young orchards in 1905. Most of the young 

 orchards in 1905 were given proper soil treatment; 72.7 per cent were 

 planted with hoed or cultivated crops, 18.2 per cent were sown to grain 

 and only 9.1 per cent were left in sod and handled as a hay field. 



Average returns in relation to soil treatment. A careful study of 

 yields and prices was made to determine what relation exists between soil 

 treatment and profits. The product of these computations in terms of 

 averages is given in the accompanying table. These tabulations cover 

 a period of ten years or more, and extend over the entire county, and 

 therefore furnish a fairly accurate index to the economic status of this 

 factor of orchard management. If the reader consults a table of these 

 averages for any individual year, he may find some inexplicable figures ; 

 but these should be viewed as arising out of peculiar environmental 

 conditions. However, we are concerned more with the general rule, 

 and thus find the most reliable information comes from a study of 

 the five-year averages. 



The table of five-year averages shows that a long-term tillage, say 

 ten or more years, gives not only the largest yield, but also the largest 

 income. A long-term tillage is far superior to a long term of sod treat- 

 ment, This table shows also that a five- or even three-year tillage 



