-5- 



(4) The Sod Mu lch Method. By this method the graes 

 is allowed to grow end form a sod over the entire surface 

 of the orchard. Instead of spading fnd cultivatirg cir- 

 cular areas about each tree, these spaces are mulched with 

 straw. The grass is also mowed at intervals and used to 

 maintein the mulch about the trees. This method is well 

 adapted to orchards on steep slopes where cultivation 

 would result in severe loss througli washing of the soil. 



These last three methods of orchard culture were prac- 

 ticed at the Ohio Experiment Station with the result that 

 the trees made a greater annual growth in the cover-crop 

 plot than in the sod-culture plot, but not as great as in 

 the sod-Eulch plot. 



On the sod-mulch plot there were produced 172 apples 

 weighing 55,5 Its; on the cover-crop plot, 70 apples, 

 weighing 21 lbs; end on the sod-culture plot, 29 apples 

 weighii.g 7 lbs. Thus showing a decided advantage in 

 favor of the sod-mulch. 



In two experir-iente conducted by the Geneva Experiment 

 Station, as to whether the apple does better under tillage or 

 in sod, the results were somewhat different from those 

 found at the Ohio Station. This experiment was begun in 

 1S03 in the orchard of Mr, W. D. Auchter, near Rochester, 

 New York, The orchard consisted of nine fjid one-half acres 

 of Baldwin trees, set 40 feet apart each way. On one-half 

 of this orchard, or 118 trees, the sod^aulch treatment 



