PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 67 



Mr. M. B. Williams: I have been surprised to see how rauch Mr. 

 Steaens has done with a little water. His practice of pulling the soil 

 back over the water provides a mulch and is superior by far to surface 

 irrigation in his soil. I think the amount of water and the manner of its 

 application, however, would not be so good for my lighter soil. 



Mr. Morrill advocated planting further apart all sorts of fruit trees 

 and vines, partly in order that they shall not so quickly absorb all the 

 water from the soil. 



To this Mr. Stearns agreed, saying his observation had convinced him 

 that more room should be given to fruits of all sorts. He instanced the 

 much greater yield of his outer row of gooseberries, as an illustration of 

 the better results to be obtained by such wider planting. 



Mr. C. B. Welch: Will subsoiling answer as a substitute for 

 irrigation? 



Mr. Stearns: Nearly all of my ground is subsoiled, which I think 

 nearly equal to underdraining, but I do not regard it as a substitute for 

 irrigation. 



Question: What is the proper distance for planting peaches and 

 pears ? 



Mr. Morrill: Not less than 20x20 feet, and better 24x24 feet for 

 peaches and standard pears. Like Mr. Stearns, I find my best product 

 of gooseberries at the outer rows of the field. 



Mr. Stearns: I have made two mistakes in my planting of fruit 

 orchards and fields: I have planted too closely and taken too many crops 

 from a plantation before replanting. 



