52 



that grows in an orcliard for hay and leave it on the ground at 

 the same time to decay and enrich the soil. 



The sod mulch system, means that there must be a mulch. As 

 j)racticed by those who are the most consistent in the matter, the 

 grass that the sod produces is allowed to lie on the ground where it 

 falls, or in the case of young orchards perhaps it is gathered more 

 or less under the trees, to serve as a mulch to protect the soil form 

 the excessive heat of summer, and, in time, to decay and become 

 incorporated into it. Commonly the grass is cut two or three 

 times during the season, especially if it is making an abundant 

 growth. Frequently it is the case, especially after an orchard has 

 reached considerable age and the ground becomes much shaded 

 thereby, that there is not sufficient grass grown in it to supply an 

 adequate mulch. AMiat does he do in that case? If he is consist- 

 ently following this system, he mulches his orchard without fail. 

 But he hauls straw and other similar material into the orchard to 

 accomplish the purpose. This may seem more or less visionary to 

 some but the practice is a reality all the same. 



The effects of tillage have already been enumerated, \Miat of 

 the sod mulch system — what is that accomplishing in comparison 

 with tillage? Well, the mulch doubtless conserves the moisture 

 to some extent so far as its evaporation from the soil is concerned 

 because it serves as a covering for the soil if it is properly main- 

 tained. But on the other hand, granting that the mulch consists 

 entirely of the grass grown in the orchard, the fact that it requires 

 a vast amount of moisture to grow it should not be overlooked. In 

 many cases this moisture might better be conserved for use of the 

 trees. Then too, the mulch as it decays, works down to the sur- 

 face of the soil through the grass stubble and becomes more or less 

 incorporated into the surface, but it cannot be that the influence of 

 its ameliorating eft"ect extends into the soil to any considerable 

 depth. Of course there is more or less decay of the fine hairy roots 

 of the grass each year and in this way humus is added to a slight 

 extent. But Avhen we contrast the two methods — tillage and sod 

 mulch — their influence so far as soil conditions are concerned ap- 

 pear more by contrast than they do in comparison one with the 

 other. 



Xo one would think of growing corn or potatoes or pumpkins 

 in sod. So far as the philosophy of tillage is concerned, if it is 

 good for corn or pumpkins, it is also good for apples. There are 

 no essential differences between trees and the annual crops in the 

 manner in which they live and grow. Experience. I think, fully 

 demonstrates that this reasoning is sound ; that tillage should be 

 the rule and that when variations from the rule are made, it should 

 be the sod mulch method that becomes the exceptional one. 



It is true that many orchards which are given the sod mulch 

 treatment, or even orchards used as hay fields, if you please, are 

 measurably successful. But where such success appears to be 

 marked and perhaps appears to completely vindicate the wisdom of 

 the practice, it should not be forgotten that the measure of success 

 that obtains may be in spifc of the method rather than because 



