Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 181 



exposed to the sun and wind, the project is de- 

 clared unsuccessful. .Then orchardists are 

 ready to say the sod mulch system is a failure. 

 In order to mulch effectively the ground 

 should be completely covered. The old fence 

 corners in the field that have not had the grass 

 eaten off for years, so that v^hen it is stepped 

 upon it is like v^alking through a bed of straw. 

 These fence corners, overgrown with blue 

 grass, are like the sod mulch orchards should 

 be. There the grass has kept the ground dark, 

 cool and damp. Blue grass makes an ideal 

 permanent mulch, making its first growth early 

 in the season, when moisture is generally most 

 abundant. Then along through midsummer it 

 rests, or ceases its growth for a while. Again, 

 in late summer the second growth comes on, 

 making an abundance of green covering to 

 keep the fire from running through it during 

 fall and winter. This matter of fire protec- 

 tion is one that should not be overlooked, es- 

 pecially in mulched orchards. Fire in an or- 

 chard, although it may seem little more than 

 a smoke, often works great havoc, especially if 

 it be about the time growth begins. Often 

 whole boundaries of forests are completely 

 deadened by allowing fire to run through 



