462 Report OF THE HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
If we had but one phase of growth by which to measure vigor, 
and especially over a series of years, increase in diameter of 
trunk should take first place. | 
Table V shows the gains in diameter of the trunks under 
the two methods of treatment. In making these measurements 
diameters were taken one foot above the ground and one foot 
below the lowest branches, the length of the tree trunks averag- 
ing in this orchard about four and one half feet. The final 
figures are averages between these two measurements. The 
data in this table show clearly and most strikingly the greater 
vigor of the tilled trees. 
TABLE V.—GAIN IN DIAMETER OF TREE TRUNKS ON Sop AND TILLAGE PLATS. 



Sod—Average of 118 Trees || Tillage—Average of 121 Trees 
=< as ————E——— eee 


















Year | | 
Row | Row Row | Row | Row || Row | Row! Row | Row | Row 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
Tne Ia at Ian Gree tin a ee 
19082 as..e | 15.2) 15.2) 14.6). 14.9) (14014°15, 0b 14.5) dbe8) 925. Sie 
O08 cay eae | 15.6). 14.1)-13.0) 2420) 1327) 2259) 12.4 13.6) 13.8} 14.7 
Gainic wilses / z.6 1.1; 1.01 0.8 1.0] 2.3] 2.11 2.2] 24] 2.8 
Avg. gain for Sod=1.1 in. | Avg. gain for Tillage—2.1 in. 


The foliage.—The foliage is as ready a gauge and as delicate 
a one to determine the health of a tree as is the pulse in a 
human being. All leaf characters indicate greater vigor of 
tree from tillage. The tell-tale tints of the leaves spoke most 
eloquently of the superior vigor and health of the tilled trees 
in this experiment. So, too, the size of the leaves, their num- 
ber and weight, the total leaf area and the length of time the 
leaves remained on the trees, proclaimed, with color, that 
tillage is the better method of orchard management to obtain 
health and vigor of tree. Yet because of the countless numbers 
of leaves on a tree and the great variation between individuals 
