9 

 "Our trees under cultivation both with and v/ithout cover crops 

 have made a fine new growth yearly, have increased greatly 

 in size, have healed over most of the damaged ba(|k areas, and 

 are to-day in a most healthy and robust condition. Another, - 

 "The effect as noticed from cultivation is slightly larger 

 fruit but not such good color. Another writes, "Cultivation 

 much better for all trees" , meaning both young and old. A firm 

 of landscape forresters and entomologists favors cultivation as 

 evidenced by the following. "T'/e generally recommend cultivation 

 except on hillsides and even then in strips." This is evidently 

 to get the benefits from cultivation amd at the same time pre- 

 vent rapid washing. Another grower writes , "Cultivation used, 

 as secured thereby better annual growth and wounds heal more 

 quickly; no injurious effects noted." All men quoted so far 

 as favoring tillage had tried the sod method first as being cheap- 

 er, and had had poor, unsatisfactory results. Others of the 

 eight tried the tillage method first and were well enough 

 pleased with their results to continue ?/ith it and recommend it. 

 From the foregoing evidence it seems to be aparant that for 

 average soil and topographic conditions cultivation and cover 

 crops are the more desirable method and gives financially the 

 better results. Yet there are conditions where , if apples are 

 to be grown at all, the sod mulch method must be use(J; as for 

 instance in the case where the trees are on a steep hillside and 

 the danger of washing is great, or in the much more unusual 

 case v;here the soil is so rich that the trees must be checked, 

 rather than stimulated. It is only under such special conditions 

 that, as far as the writer can see, sod mulch for any aged tree 

 Ik to be recommended. 



