The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-04-17
ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.
The Methods Which Give the Best
Results.

management Ia now going on IN nor
ticultural circles Valuable informa.
ton is given by the adhercnts 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 Is best unless he
has had personal experience or is
able to read between the lines Of the
discussion and get at the true in
warinoss OF the situation.
1t is well for all persons to under.
stand that few men fail under any
system where intense energy Is prac.
ticed, and signal ability in utilizing
conditions and circumstances is dis
played Grant HitChings brought i'm
mcnSe success to u sod mulch system,
whore hundreds would fail. II is the
man in my opinion that constitutes
the first requisite | would emphasize,
writes A. ~ Brown in Orange Judd
Farmer, that Mr.. Ilitchings studied
and understood his conditions. lie
knew exactly how to control them. He
could calculate results. based upon his
own experiences, just as iulcligcntly
us he could solve problem in mathe-
matics
II is my purpose TO take mp the
issue and discuss either system, but
lest We forget, want to call attention
to a few facts that the thoughtful or
chardist must ever keep before him
# he wishes to make the best Of his
environment If he practices the sod
system or the sod mulch system. or
the cultural mulch system. the funda
mentals must be observed. 1t is
known that fruit tree makes so per
cent Of its wood growth and buds be-
fore July /,
There is then cessation of wood
growth and bud formation. ostensibly
to allow 1t to mature fully before the
approach Of winter Any system prac
ticed not in accord with this plan of
nature is faulty.
Again, bearing apple tree requires
% make its growth. 147 pounds nj
trogcn 039 pounds phosphoric acid
and l57 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
artificially. In supplying them, how
ever, we dare not lose sight OF the
fact that moisture tiTth and humus
are factors in the availability and sOlu-
hility Of these plant food elements.
A proper cultural system will also
stimulate growth and make necessary
soil conditions at the time when such
wood growth and bud growth must
take place Such cultural system, aC-
companied by the fall and winter
mulch system. with some legumes,
which must never be removed. but
plowed under, will furnish the neces-
sarv humus so that moisture consumed
by culture IL held for supplying the
tree as needed and In dissolving and
making available the mineral plant
food elements latent In the soil.
The legume cover crop furnishing
all needed nitrogen. or, in fact, such
system practiced, will furnish to each
acre 203 pounds nitrogen. ~ pounds
phosphoric acid and 202 pounds pot.
ash This amount OF plant food is re-
turned to 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. 4
culture mulch system practiced along
these lines with a view OF meeting
the natural requirements OF tree and
fruit is ideal. II is within the reach
of every orchardist except upon ex.
tremely hilly or rocky situations.
A mulch system t. be successful
must be such that humus and mois.
ture are supplied in full amount at
the proper time, and IN such form or
manner that nitrogen. phosphoric
acid and potash are furnished as
needed A purely sod system ia
faulty. by reason of the fact that no
humus is furnished. The moisture is
taken when II 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 to the plant food needed
The cultural mulch system is within
the reach of every orchardist The
sod mulch system is within the reach
Of only certain orcharGists; those who
have n 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