Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-05-16
The Sod Mulch Orchard.

The Sod Mulch Orchard.
Few horticultural questions have beel
more bitterly debated than the relativ
value of sod mulch and cultivation for th
apple orchard. The reason for this 1
because some growers have experienced
splendid results with the former, whil'
others have found the latter satisfactor!
and probably not because either one hs
been tried out carefully and found un
successful. 1t is little wonder when
practice is found successful that tn
grower becomes strong advocate OF 1t
for We are likely to cling to the ship tha
carries Us through to safety. But th'
trouble which results is when the begin
ner adopts the practice of some enthusi
ast without knowing whether or not Il
fits his conditions. It would be better
to visit an enthusiast of both systems o.
culture before making final decision.
Personally, have seen both systeml
work SO we'll that often find 1t difficult
to advise which would be the best under
given conditions. In general, / believe
IL would be best, under most conditions,
to cultivate young trees for . few years
at least, for q strong, vigorous growth
when the trees are young is very desir-
able and cultivation will usually give
the greatest growth. However. there
are number Of conspicuous examples
where as strong growth is made under
the mulch system as where thorough
tillage Is practiced. But trees planted
in sod without mulch or fertilizers usual.
ly make q poor beginning and often
times quick ending. Also many oi
our old mature trees are showing the
evil effects Outstanding In sod, especially
after they suffer the additional strain OF
attack by brown-tail and gypsy moths.
Such trees are dying at an alarming
rate, Ii is not the ones which are titled
that are dying, but rather the ones In
sod. So this forces good grower to
adopt one or the other Of the above sys-
TENS or combination of the two.
There does not seem to be q uniform
idea as to what constitutes sod mulch,
for practices vary considerably. In
some cases the grass is cut rs often as 1t
will warrant and left lying where it falls.
In other cases the grass between the
trees is fertilized to increase the produc.
ton and the grass is moved and raked
under the branches. While In other
cases practically all the mulching mate
rial is hauled In from outside the orchard.
In each case chemical fertilizers or ma
nure or both may be used to supplement
The grass mulch.
WHAT SOD MULCH IS
The writer has usually considered a
,od mulch orchard as one in which as
much grass as possible Is grown be.
tween the trees and this moved and
raked under them, spreading it at least
ss far out as the drip of the branches.
About 200 pounds of material per ma.
lure tree would be necessary for the first
of mulch. As the trees be-
,ome 90 large that little space Is left be-
.w cen the trees 1t becomes necessary to
haul in mulching material from outside
The orchard.
The question of mulching material
may become quite serious one, and Tn
such cases I would advise that q portion
IF land as near the orchard as possible
be set aside for growing such material.
Millet, sweet clover, witchgrass, etc.,
nav be we'll used for the purpose. In
he central west IL is common to NOW
wheat and oats stubble shortly after
harvest and large amounts OF material
ire raked up to use as . mulch about
their trees.
In practically every case where apple
trees are mulched, they should also re-
,eive top dressing Of chemical fertiliz.
Or every year. 1t is simply broadcasted
on top OF the mulch about blooming
time and the rains wash 1t through to
the roots. The most essential element
Is nitrogen. and phosphorus is next 10
with potash OF least impor.
tsnce on most soils in New Hampshire
The amounts would vary depending On
the age and condition Of the trees. For
mature apple trees four or five pounds OF
soda and seven or eight pounds
Of acid phosphate or basic Stag and about
two pounds Of sulpbate of potash should
be applied. For the present year, be-
cause OF high prices Of fertilizers, II the
nitrate alone is applied the grower
should obtain quite satisfactory results
Where young trees are mulched they
should be protected from the injury oi
mice and rabbits by wire screen or 9th
or mechanical oontrivance, for seriou'
loss is often suffered In this way. It II
also we'll to keep the mulch from thu
base of the tree as no advantage is gain
ed By it and 1t affords harboring place
for mice.
For our billy and rough land where
labor conditions are unsatisfactory the
sod mulch system as above described
can be practiced successfully. It bal
same advantages over q system Of culti
vation.-J. q. Gourley, New Hampshire
College.