The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-13

system OF a tree can be deepeueQ py
cutting the cot closely, to short
stubs, n planting in small holes
with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
this system of planning GEMS to be
an essential part IN successful sod
mulch culture, more So, I think, than
where the trees are to be cultivated.
If a man were to start out TO grow
trees in this way by simply sticking
them into the sod, without mulch en-
ough to keep the ground moist, I
should think it would be the worst
thing he could possibly DO. He would
do much better to pillow Int cultivate
those trees, or never plant them put
To make a fair comparison with
cultivated trees we must, as I have
said, use what amounts to a small
haystack around each tree. I don't
believe that the mulch system is
adapted to all conditions. There are.
without doubt, some sections where
thorough culture is o sensible.
You cannot lay down n cast iron
rules for growing a tree, because soil,
climate conditions and varieties of
trees all differ.
On some level, naturally moist
lands, which are naturally grass
lands. 1 can understand why sod, not
mulch, would pay better han Guilt
walton. especially in a very wet sea-
Sol The constantly growing grass
would take the surplus water out of
the soil, as l believe the trouble with
such soils is not hat there is need
of more water, but that there is too
mucn. When, however, the drought
comes, such soil, left by its-self. ap-
pears to be the worst possible place
for trees to grow, because it bake
up as hard as a brick.
Orchards on Rough Land.
This mulch method can be used to
good advantage on the rough or steep
lands where cultivation would be out
of the question. The trouble is to
find the mulch. In parts of Ohio
and West Virginia fruit growers in
the hill lands are buying straw from
h farmers who live on the level
bottom. In my own case 1 have used
weeds, grass, rotten sawduSt, brush
and anything hat will finally rot.
with the aid of lime around the trees.
1t may be asked why go to this
rough lane for fruitgrowing, when
our best results thus far have been
obtained on the more level rich land.
in my judgment these rough hills are
to produce the fruit for future mil
lions. When this mulch method is
h1OIO SSlIOI dtIJ uuuOlStOOu lnCS0
rough hills can be and will be utiliz-
ed as a business proposition. Thus
far it has been impossible to apply
to these hills the methods which have
made fruit growing a large business
Many of our present successful orch
ards are on rich level and that would
pay better in other crops. l also be-
lieve That in the course of time in
sects and fungus diseases will &C
cumulate so on these level lands that
the business will be far more expen-
sive and hazardous. The clean new
lands on the hills are cheap, because
their possibilities in fruit production
have never been demonstrated. Above
all else let us contradict the impress
sion that his mulch system Of rails
ing fruit is of necessity a lazy mans
method. The lazy man has no oppor-
tunity in agriculture or fruit growing.
This mulch method is within the
reach of a mar of moderate means,
or a man who, from one reason or
another, cannot do the hardest physi-
cal labor. 1t is also within the reach
for example, of a woman left with no
property save a rough farm. With her
children, willing to work, and a fair
amount of capital with which to buy
trees and a spraying outfit and SINH
lar tools, sucn a woman, can, by care
fully following this method, develop
an excellent orchard, not of large ov-
ergrown trees, but of stocky low
down fellows within the reach of the
nozzle, and capable of producing first
class fruit. In fact, I think this mulch
method on rough land will be one of
the ways in which the small family
or the man with moderate means will
be able to keep up with the big fell
lows, VINO, unconsciously, are crowd
ing the little fellows out of the race.