STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETr. 87 



nv^a}' I have put three hundred barrels in a large bin five feet deep 

 running through the cellar, with a few left over that I put in barrels, 

 with one end left open. The fruit in bulk came out last week in ap- 

 parently perfect condition, bright and fair. If anj* apples had 

 <;hanged it was those on the top ; those in the interior being perfect. 

 This, I think, is the experience of apple growers in my own town. 

 Last year they shipped in the cars 12,000 barrels besides those con- 

 sumed in Lewiston and Auburn, nearly all of which were stored in 

 bulk and taken immediately from the trees to the cellar. I wish to 

 endorse one point in Mr. Leland's paper in relation to mulching. It 

 has been my experience that^nulching is a great protection to trees. 

 I have heard arguments against it because it sheltered the mice. The 

 mice are there but they are no more likely to girdle trees that are 

 mulched than those that are not. If it has lain long enough to de- 

 stroy the grass it is a good protection. 



Mr. Atherton. I wish to go on record right in relation to this 

 matter of storing apples. It is my opinion that, on the whole, it is 

 preferable to store apples in bulk rather than in barrels. I consider 

 mulching a protection rather than otherwise. 



Mr. Briggs. I wish to say that I never lost but one tree on ac- 

 count ot uiice, and I never took exira precautions against their rav- 

 ages. I mulch heavily and find a good many nests of mice but never 

 lose trees. 



Mr. Gilbert. I would like to ask whether mulch is of value as 

 regards its efficiency for apple production or not? I have never found 

 it so. It is excellent for young trees to keep them healthy and thrifty, 

 but I have found that mulch, such as ha}' and straw, does not take 

 the place of manure. 



President Pope. I don't know about that point, but if I had 

 large trees and wished to put on a coat of dressing of any kind, I 

 would also put on a good supply of mulch, and for this reason, in 

 iipplying fertilizer it first strikes the grass and two-thirds of the benefit 

 goes to the grass, but this application when spread under the tree and 

 then covered with a mulch insures that the tree gets all the benefit. 



Mr. Nelson. Did I understand Mr. Gilbert to say that he did 

 not believe in mulching? 



Mr. Gilbert. I had an orchard and spent twenty j'ears in finding 

 out that mulching will not take the place of manure. 



Mr. Nelson. Have you any trees along by the side of double 

 walls ? 



