Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-02
ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
The Methods Which Give the Best
Results.


An interesting discussion upon the
| cultural and sod methods or orchard
MANAGEMENT is now going on I'm hor-
/ ucIltural circles. Valuable informa-
ton is given by the adherents Of the
different methods Arguments fin sup
port of either method are not only
losical, but are supported by expert
ments successfully conducted. extend
ing over a period Of years. The
i searcher for knowledge is left I'm doubt
as 20 which system is best. unless he
has had personal experience or as
able % read between the lines of the
/ discussion and get no the true IN
wardness OF the situation
IL as Wei for an persons 20 under
stand that few men fail under any
system where intense energy fs urac-
ticed. and signal ability iu utilizing
conditions and circumstance SIS dis
played. Grant Hitchings brought lime
mense success TO q sod mulch system
where hundreds would fail To is the
man In my opinion that constitutes
the first requisite. 7 would emphasize
writes A. Y. Brown in ORANGE Judd
Farmer, that Nr. Hitchines studied
and understood his conditions 40
knew exactly how 20 control them. He
could calculate results. based urou his
own experiences. just as iDteurently
as he coul5 solve "a r-,tre-, i7 -,.t-,o-
matics.
IL is my nurnose 10 take r, tbe
Issue and discuss either ev-..r, b,,+
/ lest we forget want IN c,Ir ,ttl-tf-.,
TO rovr facts fb,+ tho tro-..l..r.,l ,..
chsrdist must ever Keen before him
~ he wishes To- make the best off lis
environment. Tf he practfcas tho sod
system. or the sod mulch system or
the cultural mulch system. Tine fYrda-
mentals must be observed rt ie
known that "a fruit tree makes SO nor
cent 90 its wood growth and buds be-
fore July I.
There fs then p cessation of wood
growth and rr7 formation oe+,-.,r1,.
Goo allow 70 90 mature fiuv before tho
approach Of winter ANY e,,tar, rrac.
ticed not fn accord with tbis Man az
nature is family
Again. BEARING annie tree roouires
60 make ITS growth. 1.4- mounds MI
troCcn. O29 pounds phoerbo-ic acid
and 1877 pounds potash These pIant
food elements must De eurrrfod i7 This
ratio. A deficiency fn arv ono of tho
elements lowers Tho ration 90 the same
extent. We know that these clements
must be supplied either naturally or
artifciauy. Tn runrIvinr Thorn how
ever. we dare not lose sleht OF the
fact that moisture. tUth and hun,us
are factors in the availability and solu-
buity % these plant food clements.
A propor cultural system viii oIeo
stimulate growth ana make necessary
soil conditions nc tho time when such
wood growth and bud growth must
take place such cultural system. nc.
companied by tho fan and winter
mulch system. with some lerumos.
which must never DE removed. but
plowod under. will furnish the neces-
sary humus so that moisture consumed
by culture as held for supplying the
tree as needed. and in dissolyine and
making available the mineral plant
food elements latent in the soil.
The locumo cover croD furnishing
an needed nitrogen. or. in fact eucb
system pracuced, VIII furnish 90 each
acre 203 pounds nitrogen. 40 pounds
phosphoric acid and 202 pounds pot
ash. This amount OF plant food is re-
turned 20 the soil less the amount re
CURED for the growth OF the crop
itself. and such as may be eliminated
IN the process OF dIsintegration. A
culture mulch system practiced along
these lines with a view OF meeting
the natural requirements Of tree and
fruit IS ideal. 1t Is within the reach