The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-04-16
ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
The Methods Which Give the Best
Results.

An interesting discussion upon the
CT ltufal and sod methods or orchard
management Is now going on In hor-
ticultural circles. Valuable informa-
tioa IS given by the adherents OF the
different methods. Arguments In sup
port OF either method are not only
logical. but are supported by expert
ments successfully conducted, extend
Ing over period of years. The
searcher for knowledge Is left In doubt
as to which system In best, unless he
has had personal experience or ~
able 20 read between the lines OF the
discussion and get at the true In
wardness OF the situation.
II is well for all persona TO under
stand that few men fail under any
system where lntense energy Is prac-
ticed. and signal ability IN utilizing
conditions and circumstances In dis
played. Grant Hitchings brought i'm
mense success 20 a sod mulch system.
where hundreds would fail. n Is the
man In my opinion that constitutes
the first requisite I would emphasize.
writes A. y. Brown in Orange Judd
Farmer. that Mr.. Hltchings studied
and understood bis conditions. lie
knew exactly how TO control them. He
could calculate results. based upon his
own experiences. Just rs inteiligentiy
as he could solve a problem IN mathe-
matics.
IL Is my purpose 20 take up the
issue and discuss either system. but
lest we forget. ! want TO call attention
to a few facts that the thoughtfui or
chsrdlst must ever keep before him
N he wishes = make the best of his
environment. n he practices the sod
system. or the sod mulch system. or
the cultural mulch system. the funda.
mentals must be observed. II IL
known that fruit tree makes so per
cent OF IFS wood growth and buds be-
fore July !.
There Is then cessation % wood
growth and bud formation ostensibly
to allow Il TO mature fully before the
approach OF winter. Any system prac-
ticed not IN accord with this plan ~
nature IL faulty.
Again. a bearing apple tree requires
% make It's growth. i.i7 pounds nj
trogon. 0.39 pounds phosphorsc acid
and i.57 pounds potash. These plant
food elements must be supplied In this
ratio. a deficiency In any one OF the
elements lowers the ration to the same
extent We know that these elements
must be supplied either naturally or
arsincially. In supplying them. how.
Ill II h..
fact that moisture. tiith and humus
are factors in the availability and solu-
hIiity OF these plant food elements.
A proper cultural system viii also
stimulate growth and make necessary
soil conditions at the time when such
wood erowth and bud growth must
lake place. Such cultural system. &C.
tompanied by the fall and winter
mulch system. with some legumes,
which must never he removed. but
plowed under. viii furnish the neces.
sarv humns 30 that moisture consumed
hy culture Il held for supplying the
tree ar needed. and IN dlssoiyiue and
making available the mineral plant
food elements latent In the soil
The lcgume cover crop furnishing
all needed nitrogen. OF. In fact. such
system practiced. will furnish 10 each
acre 203 pounds nitrogen. 4s pounds
phosphor.c acid and POS pounds pot.
ash. This amount OF plant food is re-
turned TO the soil less the amount re-
qulred for the growth OF the crop
itself. aad such as may be eliminated
A. ~. ..wrr..a ~
culture mulch system practiccd along
these lines with n view Of meeting
the natural requirements Of tree and
fruit Is ideal u IL within the reach
OF every orchardist except upon ex.
tremeiy billy or rocky situations.
A mulch system 20 be successful
must be such that humus and mois-
ture are supplied in full amount nc
the proper time. and In such form or
manner that nitrogen. phosphorIc
acid and potash are furnished rs
needed. A purely sod system Is
faulty. by reason of the fact that no
hmmus is furnished The moisture Is
taken when IL Is most needed. and
the growing OF the sod at the season
when the tree needs moisture and
food takes from instead Of furnish
Ing 10 the plant food needed
The cultural mulch system r. within
the reach OF every orchardist. The
sod mulch system is within the reach
of only certain orchardists; those who
have particularly moist and poor
soil. The sod method should only be-
practiced where the other systems
are impossible. In every fruit section
It is now pretty generally conceded
that the cultural mulch system OF
orchard management Is the most eco