92 



the ground under and around the trees with some kind of 

 coarse material which has not been grown in the orchard, as 

 hay, straw, cornstalks, etc., and may be applied thick enough 

 to prevent the growth of grass and weeds in the orchard. 

 However, I am unable to distinguish between the sod mulch 

 orchard and the mulch orchards reported in my survey. Both 

 are lumped together. The sod mulch method is practiced in 

 9.86 per cent of the bearing orchards. In most cases the 

 mulch is obtained by cutting the grass in the orchard and 

 having the same as a mulch to lie on the ground. Several 

 growers stated that they were using stable manure as a mulch. 

 Some pasture the sod and top-dress with stable manure. There 

 are other cases where the mulch is obtained by hauling into 

 the orchard leaves, straw, etc. 



3. Tillage . - By referring to the table given above, 

 it may be seen that a large majority of the fruit growers, 

 to be exact 76.05 per cent, are practicing tillage in one 

 form or another in the management of their orchards. 



Tillage should begin when the orchard is planted, 

 and the entire surface of the land should be tilled. The 

 most usual practice reported by the growers is to plow the 

 land very early in the spring. It is important to get on 

 the land early, in order to conserve the moisture which has 

 accumulated in the soil during the winter and early spring. 



