Sod in Orchards 73 



If no animals are pastured, the orchard may need liberal 

 fertilizing. The general color, vigor and productiveness 

 of the trees afford a good index of the effect of the sod. 



The sod-mulch method, or any acceptable sod treat- 

 ment, must not be confused with weeds and neglect. If 

 the sod is employed at all, it should be good sod, which 

 means that it must be fertilized or top-dressed, bad weeds 

 kept out, and bare or thin spots re-seeded. 



Fia, 8. Where tillage is impossible. — ^An old orchard that in its day has borne 

 well among the rocks. 



Sod lands are not only drier than cultivated groimd, 

 but they are favorite breeding-places of insects. Borers 

 are particularly bad in grass land. No stone-fruits should 

 ever be allowed to stand in sod, and the same may be said 

 of dwarf pears. Very thrifty young apple and pear 

 orchards may sometimes be thrown into bearing by seed- 

 ing them down for a time, but the sod should be broken 

 up before the trees become checked in vigor. 



The whole question as to whether sod is hurtful or 

 beneficial to an orchard is a local question. The grower 

 must determine it for himself. If the orchard is in sod and 



