300 



LEGUMES AND FERTILIZERS 



crumbled. Rains tend to spoil this mulch and the cultivator is 

 again needed. 



For hand work the garden rake is good for intertillage. Wheel 



Fig. 209. — Six-year-old trees grown under the sod mulch system of orchard management. 



(Indiana Station.) 



hoes are also useful in small gardens where a horse cultivator 

 cannot be used. 



The Sod-Mulch System of orchard management consists of 

 growing a permanent grass crop, as timothy or orchard grass, in 



Fig. 210. — Cultivation increases size of fruit. These piles show relative sizes of the same 

 variety treated by the sod and clean culture methods. (Indiana Station). 



the orchard as shown in the figure 209. This crop of grass is cut 

 once or twice a year and left on the sod or spread under the trees. 

 The mulch helps to protect the wind-fall fruits and to make the 

 work of pruning and spraying more pleasant in the winter time. 



