92 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



very serious obstacles to overcome. The first is the loss 

 of moisture by its evaporation from the grass and leaves, 

 and the second is, the difficulty of supplying plant-food 

 enough to support both trees and grass. Both can be 

 overcome by the use of the grass as a mulch. If this is 

 not sufficient, other coarse material, as brakes, moist 

 grass, decaying brush, machine shavings from planing- 

 mill, etc., may be very cheaply obtained. I am quite 

 satisfied that if plant-food, to the value of the cost of 

 labor for cultivating, be added to the soil annually, with 

 the method of preventing the loss of moisture by mulch, 

 our peach orchards will live longer and produce more 

 fruit. Should it be decided most advisable to cultivate 

 the orchard, care must be taken not to injure the roots 

 by too deep working of the soil, and not to cultivate 

 after August first. In case of the use of mulch, it 

 should be removed from the immediate vicinity of the 

 trees and piled up, about September first, to prevent a 

 late growth of the tree, and to cause a ripening and 

 hardening of the roots. Then if the trunks of the trees 

 are protected from mice by a mound of earth, it may be 

 put back again just before the ground freezes, to prevent 

 injury to the roots from the cold. If an early starting 

 of the tree is desired, the mulch may be removed as soon 

 as freezing weather ceases, or if a late starting is desired, 

 let it remain. But by whatever system of cultivation 

 the orchard is managed, the orchardist must know the 



