2o6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



ever grows in the orchard, whether clover or weeds, I mow and spread 

 over the ground, leaving it as a mulch and manure. Orchard-grass may 

 be admissible — I have never tried it. 



Mr. Minier. — Sow orchard-gras^ cut it and let it lie on the ground. 

 This does not make a sod like other grasses, and, consequently, does not 

 rob the soil of moisture as much. 



I would not sow it until the trees have been about five years in 

 orchard. In answer to a question, he said the seed can be obtained at 

 the large seed-stores in Chicago. 



Mr. Robison. — I would like to ask the Secretary if he has ever seen 

 an orchard with part in clover and part not seeded. 



Mr. Galusha. — Yes ; Esquire Ridings, of Grundy county, has such 

 an orchard, and, as he is present, I would like to hear from him. « 



Mr. Ridings. — I have an orchard which is partly seeded to clover, 

 and in that part I find some varieties do better than others; and in the 

 part that is unseeded I find the opposite condition of things often exist- 

 ing ; that is to say, that many of the varieties that do best where sowed to 

 clover, do the poorest where in unseeded ground, and vice versa^ I have 

 now tried sowing clover four years, and have less trouble with clover 

 than anything else. 



Mr. Spalding. — Which sorts do best in clover? 



Mr. Ridings. — Keswick Codlin, Sweet June and some other early 

 varieties. 



The Secretary. — I believe a portion of your orchard is in grass, is 

 it not? 



Mr. Ridings. — Yes; quite a patch of it, for hogs to run in, and on 

 this part the trees do not bear much. I would keep out grass, but would 

 sow clover in orchard. 



Mr. Wier. — I consider it a bad plan to seed an orchard down at all; 

 but clover may do on rich soil. Wagoner must have complete and thor- 

 ough culture, and no grass or clover allowed to grow near it. 



Mr. De Garmo. — I have a young orchard just coming into bearing 

 and am trying the plan of sowing a wide strip of clover along the rows 

 of trees and seeding the rest to timothy. 



Mr. Spalding. — I have tried seeding, but don't find it to work well ; 

 clover, however, has been the best. Some varieties do well in grass on 

 rich, fat prairie land, especially those which are extraordinary fast growers. 



Dr. Humphrey. — Do you mean to say that you sow to grass to pre- 

 vent rapid growth ? 



Mr. Spalding. — To throw the trees into fruiting. 



