The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-09-07
ORCHARD CULTIVATION.
The Practice o. Manure Mulch.ng
Compared with Other Methods
of Treatment.

L. f. Spradlmg, Graham county,
Kan, writes for information concern
ing the setting out Of fruit trees, He
viii set out some trees about a haif
mile from home and wishes to know Il
be can mulch them With stable
manure SO as to avoid cultivation. lie
intended to do this until he saw an
article by the writer on cherry grow.
Ing. asserting that mulCning causol
the roots to grow too close to the TOP
OF t1s ground. He wants to know II
apple, pear and apricot trees WI. %
affected the same way,
The position that roots take in the
soil whether near the surface or
deeper down depends to consider.
able extent on the region, says the
Prairie Farmer Under shallow cul-
tivation the oxygen Of the air pene.
trates the soil OXygenation sets free
latent plant food. At just the point
in the soil where air and moisture
come together To the best degree,
there the feeding roots are more Tree.
ly developed, 4 heavy mulch OF straw
shuts the air cat OF tho soil. brngs
moisture 10 the surface and develops
feeding ruouets ON the surface This
happens when We mulch with straw
TO the depth OF ~ TO 20 inches. II
ii was fine straw and pretty well com.
pactcd a lesser depth would produce
tie same result
Under such conditions the writer
has seen tree roots as large as your
finger on the surface Oi the ground.
As long as the heavy mulch was kept
up no harm resulted from this surface
roofing. when howeyc the strawy
litter rots away exposing this root
ystcm, then the tree suffers. Whore
the soil can be cultivated once a week
or oitener II crusted by rainfall. then
a soil mulch Is the best OF all he.
cause aoratlon ~ the soil and the ue.
yelopmcnt OF latent plant food can 90
forward while conserving moisture.
\ mulch u two or three Inches u
stable litter loose upon the surface
would not be likely TO bring the root
system TO the surface In one sea son.
an occasional working Of the dix
or cu!tva,or running through this
mulch would combine the best tea.
tures Of both methods.
As the trees elt larger with a spread
OF branches Of six TO eight feet or
more v becomes more difficult 10 chi.
tiyate close 10 the trunk Of the tree.
We have secured excellent results by
mulchng the row OF fruitsrees to the
width 81 six 10 eight feet from end
10 end one way and kgep "a, remain.
Ing portion Of the orchard open with
pillow. disk. harrow or cultiyator. We
have had most excellent results In ~.
ohards With this method The mulch.
Ing OF stable litter conserved some
Cesrcg Of moisture. increased the Ter.
til.T Of the soil ana kept the weeds
down on the ground that cou1i not
be ear''y reached with pillow or cuitl.
yator. our most successful cherry or
eaaFd was handled To- this manner.
We would very much pr fer 20 uss
stable n'frr Tor tnis combined pur.
poe OF uulch.ne and culture tAru %
use straw To a certain extent td POO.
fresh straw fgNo.1 tic un ls1ut
the trunk u the tree and A. Inches
OF straw .s no NOR. effective than tWO
or three inches of uahI, litter
IN uues answer CD your CORE
fprnlaut. We sUrs q that who're the
trees ore planted a half mile from
home and a1t 90 be neglected. would
use or" combined method OF narrow
nuirh.Hs AMI cultivation.