MANAGEMENT 4I 



indeed, throughout the country, is wholly indefensi- 

 ble. It has not a respectable apologist in the field. 

 Those who dissent from the accepted method of 

 cultivation usually make a plea for what is known 

 as the mulch method. This method deserves a brief 

 examination, though not much more. 



It is claimed that trees, apple trees especially, 

 growing on rich soil of high water-holding capacity, 

 may be handled more cheaply and easily by leaving 

 them in sod than by keeping them cultivated. The 

 land is sown down to blue grass, red top and clover 

 in the ordinary manner. This grass is cut two or 

 three times a year and is drawn about the roots of 

 the fruit trees. In this respect the mulch method is 

 radically different from the robbery method wherein 

 the hay is carted to the barn. The mulch men, 

 moreover, being fruit growers and not live stock 

 growers, supply their trees with whatever addi- 

 tional fertilizer may be required ; and in instances 

 where the method is honestly and intelligently prac- 

 ticed, such men add more or less mulch to the land 

 from other sources. 



It is claimed that the mulch method is easier and 

 cheaper than cultivation, that it may be used on 

 hillsides so steep as to preclude cultivation, and that 

 it produces fruit of higher color and better keeping 

 quality than clean culture methods do. The objec- 

 tions to it are that it induces surface rooting of the 

 trees, which is dangerous, that it keeps the soil in 

 a poor physical condition, that it does not use the 

 fertilizer to so good advantage, and especially that 

 the grass robs the trees of large quantities of much- 

 needed water. 



As already stated, the best authorities in this 

 country, both scientific and practical men, almost 



