STATI-: IIORTCIULTURAI. SOOIETV. 



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Very tine trees are found ;4r()wiii<4- w liere the snbsoil is sandy and 

 gravelly, but the chiy bottom is preferable when it can be had. The 

 trees on it will. ])erhai)s. not bear s()sot)n. but they will be less liable 

 to exhaustion from overcro})i)ing-, and will endure lon;;er. Whatever 

 may be the quality of the soil, it must be dry; that is. free from 

 stagnant moisture.' Many soils are apparently dry. and are suffi- 

 ciently so to ])roduce good farm cro])s. l)ut not suitable for fruit 

 trees. In Western New York, where I reside, I think that there is 

 not live per cent, of the land fit for fruit trees without under-drain- 

 ing, and the land that needs draining is far the best. Very few soils. 

 indeed, anywhere, are suitable for fruit culture without this prepara- 

 tion. 1 recommend, therefore. fJioromjh iJniinaiic for all soils for 

 pear orchards, except when the surface is rolling and the subsoil ab- 

 solutely jiorous of sand or gravel. One of the best pear gardens I 

 have seen was in a reda'inied DiarsJi." 



I might cite yOu many other authorities, but these are sufficient. 



Prof. Burrill and I went through the Experimental Orchard at 

 the University and examiiuHl the trees, and I am sorry to report that 

 its days are aljout numliered. Had the land on which this orchard 

 is planted been thoroughly tile-drained, and good, healthy and vig- 

 orous trees of one or two year's growth been selected, the result 

 would have l)een different, and I am sure more satisfactory. 



The following trees in this orchard seem to be doing well: Shia- 

 wasse Beauty — a goood fall apple: Red Astrachan, is very satisfac- 

 tory: Johnson, of Pennsylvania, has borne for a number of years. 

 It is a bright red apjile: tree of dwarfish habit. Dana Greening has 

 borne well. Tree vigorous; a winter fruit. Downing's Favorite 

 has done well in previous years, but no apples this season : fall apple. 

 Higby's Sweet is a fine vigorous tree, and has borne well, and fruit 

 of fine quality. Downing says: godd to best — season December to 

 January. English Golden Kussett has generally borne every year 

 until tins: good healthy tree. Winesap has done nothing in this 

 orchard. 



I believe if our lands, both liigh and low. unless uuderhiid with 

 sand or s^ravel. were thorouglily tile-drained, and a careful selection 

 of our most hardy and best varieties of trees, that our orchards will 

 be more fruitful and long-lived. I would prefer the lower land if it 

 were not for tlie s])riiig frosts, and I am not sure but even then they 

 would l)e more profitable. We are often deceived about the higher 

 land being the drier. I think it is more retentive of moisture, and 

 in the early part of the season it l)econies perfectly saturated, and in 

 time of drouth it l)ecomes baked almost as hard as a brick: and when 

 the rains come during the hot summer months, it runs off to the 

 low lands and is absorbed, the ground being more porous, and has not 

 so good a chance to esca])e. 



Uespectfully submitted, 



H. K. \'l(KKOY. 



