PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 103 



It is claimed by some persons that cultivation late in the season causes 

 a late growth, and that the trees are likely to be winter-killed, but this 

 seldom results if the cultivation has been continuous. When, from press 

 of work or other cause, no cultivation is given during the month of July, 

 the trees suffer from lack of water, growth stops, and the wood and buds 

 ripen up for winter If, after this has taken place, the soil is again stirred, 

 a second growth is likely to occur and winter-killing will be almost certain 

 to follow. 



The operation of rolling is thought by some to be of benefit by prevent- > 

 ing the evaporation of water from the surface, but if anything it has the 

 opposite effect. Upon light soils, rolling is of value to increase the capil- 

 lary passage of the water from the under soil into the portion that was 

 turned by the plow, by bringing the particles closer in contact. This will 

 increase the amount that is available to the plants, and for increasing the 

 amount of water in the very surface soil it is of special value to aid the 

 germination of seeds. The opposite effect is often seen when a soil that 

 is quite dry is plowed for some crop in the midst of a drouth. The capil- 

 lary movement is greatly hindered and the surface soil will become so dry 

 that the seeds will germinate very slowly, if at all, while, had the land 

 been rolled; or, in the case of wheat, drilled in without plowing, more 

 water would have been available and a better germination would have 

 been secured. 



While the nature of the operation required in the fitting of the land and 

 its oare will vary according to the soil and crop, every one should have a 

 knowledge of the requirements of each, and of the effect upon the move- 

 ments of the water in the soil, of the various methods of treating the land, 

 and then should take such steps as will secure and retain for the crop the 

 desired amount of water. 



Mr. Gould : How about late cultivation of the peach ? 



Prof. Taft: Much depends upon the age of the trees and condition of 

 the soil. Young trees should not be cultivated much later than August. 

 Bearing trees may be cultivated on till the middle of September; but after 

 stopping, do not begin again. Raspberries should be cultivated con- 

 tinuously during the bearing season, but strawberries, of course, should 

 not be so treated. The surface soil, by cultivation, becomes dry, but it 

 makes a perfect mulch, and so it sliould be stirred every week or ten days. 

 Rolling helps make the surface moist, but should not be practiced in the 

 orchard. Rolling helps in the germination of small seeds, when sown in 

 dry soil, but even then the surface should be stirred, when possible, so 

 soon as germination has occurred. If your soil is heavy and wet, stir 

 deeply at first, and till the roots take possession, then shallower. Rolling 

 is also sometimes desirable in order to break up lumps, but then stir at 

 once to pulverize the surface. 



Prof. Tracy: I have to examine thousands of acres each season, and 

 have sometimes thought that more harm than good is done by the ordi- 

 nary cultivator. I have in mind a case in which a hired man cultivated a 



