Sod Mulch

The ordinary sod culture which is practiced in so many

orchards should not be confused with the sod mulch system. The one is

a system of neglect, the other of intention. In the sod mulch system

the grass sod is stimulated and encouraged and when the grass dies or

is cut, it is left on the ground to decay, forming a soil mulch

meanwhile. The removal of grass from the orchard as hay is poor

practice and should be discouraged. The grass mulch may well be

supplemented by the addition of other grass, straw, leaves, coarse

manure, or other similar materials. Sometimes this mulch is put on to

the depth of six inches or even a foot around the tree. Thus practiced

it is very effective in conserving moisture and in adding the humus

which is so necessary to the soil.



Sod and tillage have somewhat different effects on the tree and on the

fruit. Let us see what these effects are. It is common knowledge that

fruit is more highly colored when grown in sod than when grown under a

tillage system. This is probably largely due to the fact that tillage

keeps the fruit growing so late that it does not mature so well or so

early. Fruit is usually two or three weeks later in tilled than in sod

orchards. It has been shown that fruit grown under tillage keeps from

two to four weeks longer than that grown in sod. It is claimed

also--but this is a disputed point--that tilled fruit has a better

quality and flavor. Certain it is that fruit grown in sod is drier

and less crisp and juicy.



The effect of tillage on the trees is more marked and better known.

Tilled trees have a darker, richer green foliage, indicating a better

and more vigorous health. The leaves are also larger and more

numerous. They come out three or four days earlier in the spring and

stay on the trees two weeks later in the fall than the leaves on trees

kept in sod. Tilled trees make nearly twice the growth in a season

that those in sod do, in fact there is danger of their making wood

growth at the expense of fruit buds. Tillage also gives a deeper,

better distributed root system.



Despite the advantages and the disadvantages of each system, there are

times, places, and circumstances under which one is more advisable

than the other. On lands rich in humus and in plant food and level so

as to be easily tillable, cultivation is without doubt the best

system. But it should be practiced in connection with cover crops, and

the orchard should be given occasional periods of rest in sod--say one

year in from three to five.



The sod mulch system of orchard culture is probably better adapted to

rather wet good grass land and where mulching material is cheap and

readily available. It is undoubtedly at its best on lands too steep or

rough to till, or otherwise unsuitable to cultivation. Tillage is the

more intensive method and where labor is scarce and high sod culture

might be more advisable for this reason, other conditions being not

too unfavorable.



In order to illustrate a method of management under the tillage system

we may suggest the following as a good one for level to gently rolling

land:



1912. Early plowing in spring, cultivation to July first to

fifteenth. Then sow red clover as a cover crop.



1913. Repeat previous year's treatment, varying the time of

sowing cover crop according to conditions.



1914. Let the clover grow, mowing and leaving on the ground as a

mulch, June fifteenth to twentieth, and again in August.



1915. Plow early in spring, cultivate to midsummer, and then sow

rye or buckwheat as a cover crop July fifteenth to August

fifteenth.



1916. Repeat 1915 treatment and if trees are not growing too

fast, sow clover or hairy vetch as a cover crop.



1917. Same as 1912, etc.



PASTURING THE ORCHARD.--The sod mulch system explains itself and does

not need illustration. Sod orchards are often managed as pasture for

animals, however, and this practice should be discussed. An orchard is

considered as pastured when a considerable number of animals are

turned into it for a greater or less portion of the year. Results in

orchards where pasturage has been thoroughly tried out show that it is

never advisable to pasture an orchard with horses or cattle, but that

fairly good results may be expected where sheep or hogs are used.



The evidence of yield of fruit and appearance of trees both indicate,

that pasturing an orchard with horses or cattle is about the worst

possible practice. These animals rub against the trees, break the

branches, browse the limbs and leaves, and destroy the fruit as high

as they can reach. All experience is against this practice which

cannot be too strongly deprecated.



Pasturing an orchard with sheep, although a somewhat doubtful

practice, often gives good results. Sheep crop the grass close to the

ground and to some extent prevent the extensive evaporation which

usually takes place from the leaves of grass. Their well distributed

manure is worth considerable. They also browse the branches to some

extent and should not be allowed to run in the orchard late in the

season as they will destroy considerable fruit.



Pasturing an orchard with swine gives better results than any other

pasture treatment of the orchard. Hogs do considerable rooting which

prevents the formation of a stiff sod and itself may often amount

almost to cultivation in well stocked orchards. A good deal of manure

is added to the soil, especially when the hogs are fed outside the

orchard. Hogs also destroy many insects by eating the wormy fruit.



Pasturage of orchards has its advantages. It gives a double

utilization of the land. It is a cheap method of management. When the

animals are fed outside the orchard, as should always be the case, it

adds considerable plant food to the soil. When plenty of outside food

can be given and when the orchard is not overstocked--the animals

should never be hungry--hogs and sheep may be used to advantage in

pasturing orchards. In very rough fields incapable of tillage, this is

undoubtedly the very best system of orchard management.



Pasturage has the disadvantage of exposing young trees to injury from

the animals, but this may be at least partly avoided by protecting

them with stakes or a heavy wire meshed screen. Hogs especially soil

the fruit and make the land rough and difficult to drive over. Under

the proper conditions pasturage may be practiced to advantage,

especially on small areas and on the general farm where it is more

advantageous than it would be commercially.