1907. 
APPLE CULTURE IN WESTERN NEW YORK. 
CULTIVATION OR MULCH ? 
An Important Experiment. 
Part VII. 
Last week I gave three of Prof. Hedrick’s reasons 
for the superiority of the tillage over the sod orchard. 
He thinks the tillage holds moisture better; that the 
open soil is better for the “soil activities,” and that it 
is warmer than the sod, and therefore better for the 
trees. A fourth reason given is that the tilled soil gives 
a better airing and .better regulation of the water sup¬ 
ply. Now it will be clear to all that the “mulch cul¬ 
ture” men do not agree with this, since one of their 
pet arguments is that the humus or vegetable matter 
scattered all through the soil holds the moisture. It 
is doubtful if I can give the other side better than by 
printing this letter, just received from Mr. Hitchings: 
“A few more facts in regard to a mulched orchard 
may interest you at this time. The past week, while 
digging a ditch through a five-year planted orchard for 
water supply, I took particular pains to observe the 
condition of soil near trees, and also the tree’s root 
system. 1 found the soil mellowed up and in fine 
condition for at least two feet below the surface, being 
dark colored, which shows plainly that the humus 
works down without plowing, either from action of 
earthworms or from decaying grass roots. The soil 
certainly was spongelike in consistency. As to position 
of roots of trees in soil, most of them were below l l /z 
foot from surface; some of them on trees five years 
planted were three feet deep, penetrating the subsoil 
and extending at least eight feet from tree. This shows 
that trees planted and cared for right, with 
mulch method, need have no fear of grass rob¬ 
bing them of all the moisture. In fact I have 
seen in a drought the grass turn brown under 
the trees, while leaves of trees showed no effect 
of drought. I am of the opinion that roots of 
trees are drawn toward surface by cultivation. 
If this is a fact, it would have a bearing on the 
behavior of the mulched trees in Auchter’s 
orchard, they having been cultivated previous 
to the experiment. After all, I am firmly of 
the opinion that a steady, uniform supply of 
moisture to the trees has more to do with their 
success than anything else.” 
I observe much the same condition that Mr. 
Hitchings mentions in my own soil, and it is 
surely the way we find the soil, along the stone 
walls. It will be seen that Mr. Hitchings and 
Mr. Ballou, who writes on the first page, do 
not consider this sod orchard a fair test of 
“mulching.” But how then are we to obtain 
a fair test in a commercial orchard in western 
New York? Albert Wood used stable manure 
freely on sod, but, as we have seen, lost several 
barrels of fruit per tree as compared with thor¬ 
ough culture. Tt will evidently take several years to 
put an old bearing orchard into grass and make it pay, 
and we can readily see that men who are forcing their 
orchards under high pressure cannot afford to do this. 
Mr. Hitchings and Mr. Ballou have had success with 
comparatively young trees started in the sod and kept 
there. Now I think this is one of the essential features 
of the mulch system 
—that the tree be 
started in grass or 
go into grass when 
comparatively young. 
I think the root sys¬ 
tem of the tree has 
much to do with it, 
and that is why I fa¬ 
vor planting trees in 
small holes with roots 
closely pruned, for in 
my experience, this 
induces deep rooting. 
The final argument 
which Prof. Hedrick 
gives is that grass 
mgy have some pois¬ 
onous effect upon the 
apple. He has not 
been able to demon¬ 
strate this, but thinks 
it may be true. Per¬ 
sonally I do not be¬ 
lieve in • this theory. 
Surely there is noth¬ 
ing sickly about the 
tree Mr. Ballou 
shows, and I have hundreds of strong thrifty trees 
which have grown in grass ever since they were 
planted. But some of these tillage men in western New 
York have the figures to prove their works. Let us see 
some of them next week, and hear what they say 
about thorough culture. H. w. C. 
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR S REPLY. 
A physician in a rural community was much an¬ 
noyed with circulars and requests for subscription to 
stock from a western mining corporation. This 
printed matter and correspondence was regularly con¬ 
signed to the waste-basket without being read or 
SOLANUM COM.MERSONI. NATURAL SIZE. 
See Rural isms, Page 938. 
Fig. 478. 
commented on. But the company was persistent, and 
was determined either to elicit a favorable reply or a 
flat refusal to have any dealings with them. One day 
the doctor received a mass of circulars, prospectuses, 
and a long letter accompanied by a form for sub¬ 
scription to the stock, which he was earnestly urged 
to fill out. Exasperated, the doctor determined to put 
an end to the annoyance. The form was provided 
9 3 5 
PROPAGATING FROM NURSERY STOCK. 
I was much interested in the article by Mr. Powell 
on the above subject on page 885. W hat he says 
regarding the advisability of nurserymen propagating 
from well-known bearing fruit trees is both common 
sense and good practice. Yet the nurserymen con¬ 
tinue to propagate from' young, immature, non-bear¬ 
ing trees. This practice has been kept up so long 
that it is a wonder that the average nursery-grown 
fruit trees bear at all. Certain it is that a man going 
into the commercial fruit business will do well to 
know just where his trees come from. Supposing it 
does cost a little more for the trees propagated in 
the manner mentioned by Mr. Powell. Is not a tree 
that will produce fruit in five years worth more 
than double one that will produce only in 15 years? 
It would seem that this subject is a matter of con¬ 
siderable importance to the nurserymen. If there are 
any of them making a practice of propagating only 
from known bearing trees, I should like to know it. 
It is surely to the nurserymen’s interest to have their 
stock produce fruit as early as possible. This would 
encourage the nursery business and bring about in¬ 
creased sales. There is also an increasing demand 
for dwarf stock. As a landscape architect I have 
occasion to recommend its use considerably. Many 
of'my clients in discussing the planting plans for their 
grounds say to me, “Be sure to put in a few fruit 
trees.” They want a dozen fruit trees with room for 
only three or four. But where can dwarf stock be 
obtained? Not long since I wrote to one of the oldest 
nursery firms in Rochester for a list of such dwarf 
stock, and received the reply, “We have only 
very little dwarf stock; not enough to list.” 
Illinois. HOWARD EVARTS WEED. 
NEW POTATO ELDORADO. NATURAL SIZE. 
See Rural isms, Page 938. 
Fig. 479. 
with spaces for “number of shares, street address, 
city, state, and signature.” Snatching up one of the 
forms, the doctor filled it out as follows: 
Number of shares .1,250,000.000 
Street Address .23 Comn.onsense Avenue 
City.Dedbrok 
State.Maturity 
Signature ...Not. A. Sucker.. 
POTATO “COMMERSONI VIOLET.” NATURAL SIZE. Fig. 480. See Ruralisms, Page. 938 
The capitalization of the company was only 1,000,- 
000 shares. Needless to state, the doctor was never 
again annoyed. Presumably this mining company 
learned that not all dwellers in the country districts 
are to be caught with the bait put forth by many 
promoters. c. f. b. 
CHANCES FOR THE CITY MAN. 
I think you are rather discouraging in your 
advice to the city man in regard to buying a 
farm. With his $2,000 here he could buy a good 
farm with an apple orchard on it; pay $500 or 
$1,000 down on a place quoting from $1,500 to 
$3,000, with good buildings, and the land is such 
that you can grow any farm or garden crops 
to perfection; keep a few cows, sell the cream 
to the creamery. Here is a steady income; feed 
skim-milk to pigs for another income; take good 
care of the orchard, another source of profit. I 
have here an article from the Maine Farmer of 
a woman who sold her apples on the trees this 
Fall for $1,000. I would also keep hens. W ith 
the above compensation, a man does not need to 
slave on a farm, and he has the satisfaction of 
knowing that all his work is for his own benefit. 
I have worked in the shop, and my pay was $5.25 
per day, but I can do better on the farm, also 
have better health, and am my own boss. But 
a man bas to work whether he be in office, shop or 
farm if he expects to get along. w. L. h. 
Brunswick, Me. 
IN OLD NEW YORK.—Let me describe a farm 
right here in New York State for that city man with 
$2,000 who wants to make a living in the country. 
This farm lies within one mile of the main creek road 
(the creek runs 
through the farm) of 
three stores, two 
churches, schoolhouse, 
successful creamery, 
blacksmith shop, two 
mills, foundry, etc.; 
has 30x40 foot barn 
with stable annex, 
fairly good h o u s e, 
more than 150 acres 
of land, with timber 
enough on it to fur¬ 
nish him a fairly good 
living. I should think 
that with his $2,000 he 
could settle here, keep 
a few hens, rent his 
pasture, sell his hay, 
and take life very easy. 
The taxes in this town 
last year were $6.50 on 
$1,000 assessment, and 
were the lowest in 
the county. Or if he 
wants to hustle with 
right management it 
can be put in shape 
to keep 30 or 40 
cows, or is finely adapted to keeping sheep. There is 
a good maple sugar bush on the farm, and excellent 
running water to the house; a good orchard, in¬ 
cluding several pear trees. He could live simply 
and cheaply on that farm, or get rid of his .money. 
It is the best proposition I know of. j. d. seelev. 
