STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 43 



them verj' much. It is well known that sheep are advantageous in an 

 orchard for many reasons. The apples are of very fine flavor and 

 free from worms in orchards pastured to sheep. 



Mr. Whittier There is no animal that will eat green apples so 

 well as sheep. They will eat them when they are in the blow up to 

 harvest time. There is one thing that should be done All who have 

 plowed know that there is general!}' but about two inches of sward ; 

 well, if you mow that sward and plow, you will turn that sward eight 

 inches deep. In pasturing all the earth should be in this condition 

 and' then it will produce the best results. 



Question. Will you please give your experience in mulching? 



Mr. Whittier. I cut all the way from thirty to one hundred loads 

 of mulch each year and I wouldn't know how to get along without it. 



Question. Do you mulch large trees? 



Mr. Whittier. Yes, very frequently. 



Question. Do you use anj' other mulch besides ha}' and straw? 



Mr. Whittier. Yes. I use brakes sometimes, but would use ha}' 

 when it is in the orchard. Hay used for mulch is worth ten dollars 

 per ton. 



Question. Do you have any trouble with the mulch harboring 

 mice? 



Mr. Whittier. Do not use the mulch too near the trunk of the 

 tree, and you will have no trouble. Spread the mulch on thick so 

 that it will kill the witch grass. 



Mr. Atherton. Did I understand you to say that hay was worth 

 ten dollars per ton for mulch? If good would you let the stock have 

 it? 



Mr. Whittier. I should use it on the orchard if it grew in the 

 orchard. It will pay, however, to feed it to the stock and use the 

 manure for the orchard. There is always plenty of material for 

 mulch. 



Question. Does it make much difference what you use? 



Mr. Whittier. There are two things I would not use under any 

 conditions, and those are green sawdust and apple pommace. 



Question. Have you tried muck ? 



Mr. Whittier. Yes, I have put it on and plowed it in. 



Question. What was the result? 



Mr. Whittier. I got a good crop of hay and apples. 



Question. What is the value of ashes as a mulch? 



Mr. Whittier. They are good and will make nice fruit. I have 

 not used ashes much, but like them as far as known. 



